Spider cranes are compact, mobile, and versatile cranes that provide a great alternative to truck cranes and crawler cranes. With a lift capacity of between 1–12 tons and a small footprint, spider cranes are versatile machines suitable for small jobs, both indoor and outdoor. Which one is right for your requirements?
This article reviews the range of spider cranes available, and considers the key factors in choosing the most suitable model for your needs.
Table of Contents
The projected growth of the spider crane market
What is a spider crane?
What are the main features of a spider crane?
What is the range of spider cranes available online?
Final thoughts
The projected growth of the spider crane market
Spider cranes fit within the overall mini crane market, which as a category includes many types of lifting devices, such as hand-operated wheeled lifts, small gantry cranes, mini crawlers, and small truck cranes. Mini crane capacity is usually limited to between 1 and 5 tons, but there are larger versions that can lift up to 10–12 tons.
The global market for mini cranes is estimated to be worth US $422.2 million, and grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% to a value of US $761 million by 2033. Mini cranes are compact, flexible, and suitable for indoor warehouse use, so growth is partly fueled by the increase in warehousing and ecommerce.
Within that overall mini crane demand, spider cranes are estimated to hold over 60% of that global market, at around US $254.3 million, and projected to grow to over 63% market share with a healthy 6.7% CAGR, to around US $483 million by 2033.
What is a spider crane?
Spider cranes are small manually operated or remote-controlled, rubber tracked vehicles, with a telescopic box boom. The cranes are distinct for their spider-like, or scorpion-like appearance, with four stabilizing outriggers that open up to look like spider legs.
When the boom and legs are folded up, the crane takes up a very small amount of space and can easily be loaded and transported on a small truck.
Once the spider crane is moved to the desired location, the outriggers are extended and the tracks may be raised off the ground. The telescopic box boom is extended and rotates on a small turntable or slewing platform.
Spider cranes typically have a modest lifting capacity of between 1–5 tons, with a lifting height of around 32 ft (10 m), although larger models can be found. Their small size makes them a flexible machine, with the ability to lift heavy loads in compact spaces. This makes them suitable for use in confined work spaces, in and around buildings, within factories and warehouses, and also for small outdoor projects such as landscaping or building maintenance.
The stability provided by the extendable outrigger legs give the crane a steady working platform for uneven surfaces and where weight needs to be spread across low load bearing floors.
In selecting the best fit spider crane, a buyer will want to consider the projects intended, the access restrictions, height and weight lifting requirements, as well as the mobility and flexibility required.
What are the main features of a spider crane?
There are a few key features of a spider crane, as shown in the above diagram:
Tracked undercarriage: Spider cranes have a rubber tracked undercarriage for slow and steady movement on even or rough terrain. Their rubber tracks make them suitable for use on roads and pavements. The base acts as the counterweight, but the narrow footprint is not stable enough for high lifts without extending the outriggers.
Engine and controls: The crane is driven either by a small gasoline or diesel engine, which is often paired with an electric engine of between 300–400V. Operation is through a compact seated console with operating levers or by remote control.
Telescopic outriggers (spider legs): The outriggers have a two-part spider-leg construction that folds out hydraulically. As the upper leg extends from the main chassis, the lower leg section also extends out. The outrigger foot can then be lowered further manually and fixed by pin.
Telescopic box boom: The boom can be completely contracted and lowered fully down onto the chassis for transport. Once the crane has been positioned and stabilized, the hydraulic boom can be extended out to its full length and lifted by the luffing (derricking) cylinder up to around 65 ft (10 m), depending on model.
Slewing platform: The boom is attached to a hydraulic winch and to the turntable. This turntable (slewing platform) can be rotated up to 360 degrees. The hoist rope feeds through the winch drum and along the boom to the block and hook (or other fittings).
Overwinding limiter: Most new spider cranes are fitted with an overwinding limiter to automatically stop further lift once the block and hook are at the top of the boom. This prevents damage to the block and boom and avoids nasty accidents.
Load moment indicator (LMI): Most new spider cranes will also be fitted with an LMI to prevent overloading or overbalancing. If no LMI is fitted, they can usually be purchased and fitted for that particular model.
What is the range of spider cranes available online?
Spider cranes are all rather similar in design and have the features described above, but they can differ in lifting capacity, with the smallest capacity at around 1 ton and the largest at over 10 tons. There are also different options of engine type between gasoline and diesel, and some models may offer a choice of either.
There may be some difference in extended boom length and therefore overall lift height. Most available souder cranes can lift up to a maximum of around 32 ft (10 m) height, although some can extend to over 50 ft (15 m). Some models may also fit an additional jib to extend lifting height further.
Prices for spider cranes can vary enormously, from under US $5,000 to over US $100,000. Lifting capacity is not a clear indication of price, and some larger machines can be much cheaper than smaller ones. So buyers will need to shop around for the right price for the size of machine desired.
Most suppliers offer prices in a range, with purchase of a single unit commanding the highest price, but with significant per-unit savings if the buyer orders multiple units.
Here is a selection of ten different available models ranging from the smallest at 1 ton to the largest at 12-ton lifting capacity:
Model: 1-ton micro spider  |  | ||
| Lift Capacity | Lift Height | Engine Type | Price Range (USD) |
| 1 ton | 18 ft (5.5 m) | Gasoline | $32,500–80,000 |
| Additional features: Level alarm device and abrupt stop button | |||
Model: 1.2 ton mini spider |  | ||
| Lift Capacity | Lift Height | Engine Type | Price Range (USD) |
| 1.2 tons | 19 ft (5.8 m) | Gasoline | $4,000–7,500 |
| Additional features: Gasoline plus electric Manual and remote control operation | |||
Model: KB3 2.5 ton |  | ||
| Lift Capacity | Lift Height | Engine Type | Price Range (USD) |
| 2.5 tons | 30 ft (9.2 m) | Diesel or gasoline | $5,000–10,000 |
| Additional features: Available with gasoline or diesel engine, plus electric Manual or remote operation OneKey levelingOutrigger sensor, torque limiter, and height limiter Alarm device and emergency button | |||
Model: Beta 3 ton  |  | ||
| Lift Capacity | Lift Height | Engine Type | Price Range (USD_ |
| 3 tons | 31.2 ft (9.5 m) | Gasoline orDiesel | $24,000–46,000 |
| Additional features: Available with gasoline or diesel engine, plus electric Manual or remote operation Intelligent display screen Load Moment Indicator | |||
Model: HXB3.0 3 ton |  | ||
| Lift Capacity | Lift Height | Engine Type | Price Range (USD) |
| 3 tons | 31 ft (9.5 m) | Gasoline or Diesel | $24,000–46,000 |
| Additional features: Available with gasoline or diesel engine, plus electric Manual or remote operation Intelligent display screen Load Moment Indicator | |||
Model: XCMG ZQS125-5 5 ton |  | ||
| Lift Capacity | Lift Height | Engine Type | Price Range (USD) |
| 5 tons | 56.4 ft (17.2 m) | Diesel | $40,000 |
| Additional features: Diesel and electric Proportional remote control One-button boom retraction, tilt alarm function Automatic leg position detection | |||
Model: TDER TSC50 5 ton  |  | ||
| Lift Capacity | Lift Height | Engine Type | Price Range (USD) |
| 5 tons | 53 ft (16 m) | Diesel | $20,562 |
| Additional features: Diesel and electric Manual or remote operation | |||
Model: SPT1009 10 ton |  | ||
| Lift Capacity | Lift Height | Engine Type | Price Range (USD) |
| 10 tons | 66.3 ft (20.2 m) | Diesel | $8,000–9,000 |
| Additional features: Diesel engine + electric Smart display Proportional remote control Boom/outrigger safety interlock function Safe torque limiter, outrigger position detection function Anti-tip protection function, automatic hook function | |||
Model: Yuanxing YX-SC8T 8 ton |  | ||
| Lift Capacity | Lift Height | Engine Type | Price Range (USD) |
| 8 tons | 88.5 ft (27 m) | Diesel | $25,700–26,000 |
| Additional features: Diesel plus electric Manual and manual walking operation | |||
Model: HAOY LQ12S5 12 ton | | ||
| Lift Capacity | Lift Height | Engine Type | Price Range (USD) |
| 12 tons | 48.5 ft (14.8 m) | Diesel | $148,000–150,000 |
| Additional features: Diesel and electric | |||
Final thoughts
Spider cranes are increasingly in demand for small-scale projects and they offer several advantages over larger cranes. They are compact and can maneuver between buildings and limited-access sites. They are the crane of choice for many building installation and maintenance jobs and can often be found in and around building lobbies, installing glass panels or equipment.
With the growth of ecommerce logistics and warehousing, spider cranes are a useful machine to have around a storage facility or factory. Their small rubber tracks allow the crane to move easily over flat or uneven terrain, and their compact size when folded makes them easy to transport on small transports.
Their engines are typically diesel or gasoline, but they do usually pair with an electric engine for crane operation. For operation, they frequently come with a remote control option or can be operated with the seated control, or by walking control. Most spider cranes also come with a wide range of sensors for load moment and overwinding together with digital control displays and alerts.
The potential buyer will have plenty of choice of size, engine, and automation options to find a price range to meet their budget. Check out the online showroom at Alibaba.com to see the wide range of spider cranes on offer.
