Trailer cranes are lightweight and durable, handling loads from 150kg to 2000kg. Simple to operate electric and hydraulic cranes can be installed on most trailer brands.
Lightweight trailer cranes are the best way to leave a tow vehicle free to carry its full payload. The challenge with trailers, is they are not designed to be fitted with a crane. Compared to a vehicle, trailers have little self-weight, resulting in lower stability when in use.
Choosing the right trailer crane balances the lightest possible crane whilst meeting lift capacity and reach requirements. Please visit our comprehensive Trailer Crane Guide where we work through all the key considerations in detail. It is important that you understand the limitations of cranes being fitted to trailers.
We provide a full crane installation service for both customer supplied trailers and trailers sourced by Penny Hydraulics. All trailer cranes are rigorously tested before use, including stability, axle weights, hitch height and nose weight checks to ensure safe operation within the trailer and tow vehicle’s specified parameters.
Trailer cranes do all the heavy lifting. Simple to operate for fast loading by a single worker.
An essential tool for logistics, eliminate the risk of manual handling injuries with vehicle mounted lifting equipment.
Electric and hydraulic cranes for trailers open new possibilities to lift heavier loads faster, up to 3000kg.
Durable and lightweight design minimises emissions and reduces impact on the trailer’s maximum payload.
UK crane manufacturer
Electric trailer cranes are designed and manufactured at our dedicated UK factory, built to customer requirements with best-in-class lead times.
Approved converters
Penny Hydraulics are recognised as an approved converter of leading commercial vehicle brands for the integration of lifting equipment.
Servicing, training and maintenance
UK-wide network of service engineers deliver on-demand support with an impressive first-time fix rate.
Committed to sustainability
We invest in carbon footprint reduction across operations, promote engineering and apprenticeships, and work with our local community on a wide variety of projects.
Once you know what you need to carry you can think about which trailer to buy. Always include the weight of the crane and mounting frame as well as your required payload in any calculation of carrying capacity. A crane system can weigh anywhere between 100kgs for a 250kgs SwingLift to 750kgs for a 2.0 tonne PH all hydraulic unit.
Pay particular attention to the maximum permissible nose weight for your trailer, (the “S“ value on the trailer data plate), and the maximum loading for your vehicle’s tow bar, (usually 80kg to 150kg). This often means that mounting a larger crane at the front of a trailer can easily exceed one or both of these values and result in it being unsafe to use on the road. Things to consider when choosing a trailer.
Check the data for your proposed towing vehicle. It is all published by the manufacturer and will be on a load plate on the vehicle. More information can be found on our comprehensive guide to Trailer Cranes.
What is the height of your tow ball? The UK and EU standard is for it to be between 350mm and 420mm when the vehicle is laden. This is particularly important for multi-axle trailers as the trailer needs to ride horizontally with each axle taking equal weight. Also, if you have to lift the nose of the trailer onto the tow ball you will increase the nose weight imposed on both the trailer and vehicle quite dramatically.
Penny Hydraulics trailer cranes typically have a lead time of 4 to 6 weeks from when you place the order.
Penny Hydraulics will help you make sure that you have a successful crane/trailer/tow vehicle combination. To be able to specify one of our cranes we need to know the following key details:
The Load
The Crane
The data above will help us to specify a suitable crane. We then need to see if it can be safely fitted to the trailer/vehicle combination.
The Trailer
The Tow Vehicle
Find out more information here.
BS 7121-1 is the essential standard for those planning and carrying out lifting operations with cranes in the UK. BS 7121-1 gives recommendations for the safe use of cranes permanently or temporarily installed in a work environment.
BS 7121-1 covers the following for lifting operations:
BS 7121-1 provides guidance on complying with the requirements of the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment 1998 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. This standard is also used by Health and Safety Executive and Courts as an indication of good practice.
I need help finding the right trailer crane, what are my options?
You can contact the sales office on 01246 811 475, contact your local area manager or use our handy product selector.
