---
title: "Types of cranes and lifting equipment"
subject: "Construction Management"
chapter: 4
key: "semester_8/construction_management:cranes-lifting-equipment"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/cranes-lifting-equipment
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Types of cranes and lifting equipment

Construction Management · Chapter 4: Familiarization with Construction Equipments

- Asked in: 2068 Bhadra (old course), 4 marks; 2064 Poush (old course) (asked 2 times)
- Video: [Types of CRANES in Construction - Uses of 15 Types of Cranes [DETAILED GUIDE]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L7WojxvuPY) — Iamcivilengineer
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/construction_management/cranes-lifting-equipment
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/construction_management/chapter-4

## Question

List different types of cranes (equipment for lifting) and discuss in brief with sketches.

## Short answer

Cranes include mobile, crawler, tower, derrick, gantry, overhead travelling, rough-terrain, all-terrain, hoists and cableways. Selection depends on load weight, radius, height, ground conditions and duration. Mobile cranes use telescopic or lattice booms; crawler cranes give very high capacity on rough ground.

## Answer

Cranes lift and move heavy loads vertically and horizontally. Types:

1. **Mobile crane (truck-mounted):** a telescopic or lattice boom on a truck chassis, with outriggers; used for general lifting and precast erection, and can travel on roads.
2. **Crawler crane:** a lattice boom on tracks; very high capacity, travels on rough ground, suitable for heavy lifts.
3. **Tower crane:** a fixed vertical mast with a rotating jib; for high-rise buildings.
4. **Derrick crane:** a mast with a boom held by guy ropes; used for heavy loads in a limited area.
5. **Gantry (portal) crane:** a bridge on legs running on rails; used in precasting yards, workshops and dam construction.
6. **Overhead travelling crane:** moves on rails along a building; used in factories and powerhouses.
7. **Rough-terrain and all-terrain cranes:** rough-terrain cranes have large tyres and four-wheel drive for travel on rough sites; all-terrain cranes can travel both on site and on public roads.
8. **Hoists, chain blocks and winches:** simple lifting of light loads; goods hoists in buildings.
9. **Cableway:** for dams and mountain areas.

```text
 Mobile crane:      Tower crane:
   boom  /            ____|____
   _____/ hook        counter  jib
  [cab]=O==O=         |mast|
```
Selection depends on the load weight, lifting radius, height, ground conditions and the duration of use.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What identifies a mobile (truck-mounted) crane?
   A. Fixed mast with rotating jib
   B. Bridge on rails
   C. Cableway
   D. Telescopic or lattice boom on a truck chassis with outriggers
   Answer: D. Mobile cranes have boom on truck chassis with outriggers. (Key point: Mobile crane)

2. Where is a gantry (portal) crane used?
   A. Only underwater
   B. Only for hand lifting
   C. Precasting yards, workshops and dam construction
   D. Only on highways
   Answer: C. A gantry crane runs on rails; used in precast yards, workshops, dams. (Key point: Gantry crane)

3. What is notable about crawler cranes?
   A. Operate indoors only
   B. Lattice boom on tracks, very high capacity, travels on rough ground
   C. Low capacity
   D. Fixed on rails
   Answer: B. Crawler cranes combine high capacity with rough ground travel. (Key point: Crawler crane)

4. What does crane selection depend on?
   A. Load weight, radius, height, ground conditions and duration of use
   B. Paint colour
   C. Brand only
   D. Distance to office
   Answer: A. These factors determine the crane type. (Key point: Selection)

## Related in Construction Management

- [Excavation equipment and sketches](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aexcavation-equipment-sketch) — Construction Management, chapter 4, asked 6×
- [Earth compaction equipment with sketches](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Aearth-compaction-equipment) — Construction Management, chapter 4, asked 3×
- [Equipment for highway and pavement construction](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Ahighway-pavement-equipment) — Construction Management, chapter 4, asked 3×
- [Equipment used in hydropower construction](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fconstruction_management%3Ahydropower-equipment) — Construction Management, chapter 4

## Related in other subjects

- [Conveyors versus cranes and trucks](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Findustrial_engineering_and_management%3Aconveyors-cranes-and-industrial-trucks) — Industrial Engineering and Management, chapter 2
- [Equipment earthing objective and earth resistance factors](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Findustrial_power_distribution_and_illumination%3Aearthing-objective-factors) — Industrial Power Distribution and Illumination, chapter 2, asked 2×