A JAC 8×4 Crane Truck for Peru: The 9.6 m Body Design

Our customer in Peru began by sharing reference vehicles for a truck-mounted crane. The discussion included drawings of 6×4 and 8×4 layouts before the project settled on an 8×4 chassis for the long crane-and-body arrangement.

Our team recommended the 460 hp JAC configuration during that discussion. The completed truck has four axles, a red cab and a knuckle-boom crane mounted immediately behind it. The dropside body occupies the space behind the crane.

The side photograph is particularly useful here: it shows the cab, folded crane, cargo deck and axle positions in one view. These parts need to be considered together when laying out another crane truck.

The cargo-body drawing used a design length of 9.6 m. We discussed that length with the customer alongside the crane installation. It refers to the cargo body, rather than the overall length of the truck.

For a comparable build, the goods you intend to carry should guide the body dimensions. A long deck may accommodate long items, but deck length alone does not tell you how much weight the completed vehicle can carry. The chassis, crane and body all contribute to the vehicle’s own mass, so payload and axle loads need to be checked for the proposed configuration.

It also helps to describe where the load will sit on the deck and where the crane will pick it up or set it down. That gives the layout discussion a practical starting point before the dimensions are agreed.

The customer asked how the crane would be driven. We confirmed a power take-off (PTO) connection for the crane hydraulics. The selected conversation below includes both the body-length discussion and our reply about the PTO.

For buyers planning a similar truck, the PTO connection is one part of the hydraulic specification. The pump and crane requirements must also be matched. When requesting a quotation, include the weight of the loads and the distance from the crane at which they need to be handled; the crane’s load chart is used to review the lift at that working radius.

The 460 hp chassis figure describes engine power. To select the crane, we need the lifting requirements as well as the chassis and body layout.

The customer sent a deposit document and asked about the next drawing. We explained that our finance team would check receipt with the bank before production could begin.

That exchange was a practical step between discussing the truck and moving ahead with the order. The workshop photographs in the next section show the completed installation that was later shared with the customer.

We sent the customer photographs of the completed red truck in the workshop, and they acknowledged the update. The front view shows the cab and the folded crane behind it. The rear view shows the finished dropside body, side panels and rear structure.

Together with the side view, these photographs let the customer see how the arrangement discussed in the drawings looked on the completed vehicle. This update follows the project through the factory stage.

A useful crane enquiry describes both ends of the movement: where the load starts and where it needs to be placed. Give the load dimensions and weight, then show the pickup and set-down positions relative to the parked truck. Note any height or access restriction that affects the boom’s movement.

Working radius is the horizontal distance from the crane’s rotation centre to the load line, rather than simply the length of boom extended. Ask for the chart for the exact crane and installed configuration, and check the required positions against its stated limits.

The chart also needs to match the proposed outrigger setup and boom arrangement. Lifting accessories, chart deductions and restrictions must be included in the review. A headline maximum capacity cannot be used as the capacity at every reach.

This information is for selecting and reviewing a proposed installation. Each actual lift still requires the equipment’s operating instructions and an assessment of the setup and ground conditions.

For the chart terminology and configuration checks, read our truck-mounted crane load-chart guide.

A crane truck has to handle the load at the site and carry it on the road. The crane, body and permanently fitted equipment use part of the completed vehicle’s mass allowance. That makes the cargo requirement relevant even when the first discussion is mainly about lifting.

For a long-body layout like the one shown here, mark the expected cargo positions on the deck. Include heavy items and any loads that remain after a partial delivery. The proposed chassis and body should be checked for those arrangements, including axle loading and the support areas where the goods rest.

Also describe the space available beside the parked truck. The folded crane position, the room needed for the stabilizers and the intended loading side all belong in the layout discussion. Review these before treating a preferred body length as the final vehicle specification.

To compare crane arrangements for another job, see our knuckle-boom and stiff-boom guide.

Start with the heaviest item you need to lift, its dimensions and the working radius. Then describe the goods that will travel on the deck and the body length you need. A sketch of a typical loading position can help explain a job that is difficult to describe in a short message.

Include the destination, expected road conditions and any overall-size limits for the places the truck must enter. With those details, we can discuss the chassis, crane position and cargo body together. The Peru order provides a useful layout example, while the crane selection and final vehicle dimensions need to be reviewed for your work.