A knuckle-boom (or articulated) crane has two or more boom sections hinged together at a ‘knuckle’ joint. The geometry lets the boom fold up compact for transport (the load sits over the flatbed) and then unfold out and over to reach places a straight-stick boom couldn’t get to.
How it works in practice
The knuckle gives the crane its key advantage on restricted-access jobs: it can drop straight down over a fence or wall, where a straight boom would need to swing the load in horizontally with no clearance. That’s why Hiabs are the go-to for over-the-fence work.
What it means for your job
Most modern road-going Hiabs are knuckle-boom designs. Telescopic sections inside the outer boom give extra reach when needed. Hydraulic rams power every joint. The result is a crane that fits behind the cab of a flatbed lorry but can lift, slew, and place loads in places no straight boom could touch.
Related reading
All our Hiab haulage services · Why a Hiab beats a standard wagon · Where we operate.
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