NATIONWIDE DIRECTORYThe main differences
- Transport and lift in one: a Hiab carries the load, while a mobile crane needs the load delivered separately
- Capacity: mobile cranes lift far heavier loads and reach much higher
- Set-up: a Hiab is usually working within minutes of arriving, while larger cranes take longer and may need ballast
- Site footprint: a Hiab needs room for the lorry and its stabilisers; a large crane needs more space and firmer ground
- Cost: for loads within its capacity, a Hiab is often cheaper because one vehicle does both jobs
When a Hiab is the right choice
Containers, cabins, machinery, generators, steel, building materials and boats within the crane’s capacity at the reach needed. Especially where the load is collected from one place and delivered to another the same day.
When you need a mobile crane
Very heavy loads, very high lifts such as roof plant on tall buildings, long reach with heavy weights, or lifts where the crane must stay on site for a long time. Some jobs use both: a Hiab delivers and a crane lifts.
Not sure? Ask the operator
Give a Hiab operator the weight, dimensions and reach. If the job is beyond a lorry loader, a good operator will say so and may recommend a crane company.
Common questions
Is a Hiab a type of crane?
Yes. "Hiab" is a brand name widely used in the UK for any lorry-mounted crane, also called a lorry loader. It is a crane fitted to a lorry, rather than a standalone mobile crane.