I am not a crane guy either and I know someone on here can explain this better than me, but I believe that the telescopic truck cranes you see today are still based around the overall design/idea of the conventional lattice crane carrier (chassis) from the 50’s, 60’s 70’s and 80’s. Most of the crane carrier chassis from that time were one driver cab, two steer axles, two drive axles with some carriers had more or less axles depending on the capacity. These carriers were originally made for conventional lattice cranes, and were later made to accept telescoping crane superstructures as they became popular. A great example of this is how a P&H T750 telescopic crane shares the same or similar carrier to that of a P&H 670TC conventional truck crane. I think as time went on and truck mounted lattice cranes decreased in popularity, manufacturers still built telescoping truck cranes while keeping the same overall design and layout of the carriers originally designed to work with lattice cranes. All while this was happening, all terrain cranes were making a name for themselves.
-Mike, Collecting 1/50th Construction Diecast Since 2003.
View My Collection Here, As of 09/21/23
