A 6.3 TON ARTICULATED CRANE FOR TRUCKS THAT ALREADY WORK EVERY DAY
The Terra TK126-4 is a 6.3 ton knuckle boom crane rated at 126 kN·m lifting moment, built on a four-section synchronized telescoping boom that reaches 9.58 m. It sits between the 5 ton TK1004 and the 6.5 ton TK1304 — the band where municipal crews, delivery fleets and small construction outfits handle lifts of one to six tonnes without paying for a heavier chassis, a bigger outrigger footprint or a longer bed.
The whole crane weighs 3,300 kg and needs 740 mm of mounting space. On a standard 4×2 medium-duty truck that leaves the bed free for cargo, which is the point: a crane that only lifts is a crane that sits idle between jobs.
WHY CHOOSE THE TK126-4 KNUCKLE BOOM CRANE?
FOLDS BEHIND THE CAB, KEEPS THE WHOLE BED
The articulated boom folds into the transport position behind the cab instead of lying over the load. Bed length stays usable, so the same truck runs a delivery route in the morning and lifts on site in the afternoon. For a fleet buying one chassis, that doubles utilisation without adding a second vehicle to the insurance and maintenance line.
SYNCHRONIZED FOUR-SECTION TELESCOPING BOOM
All four sections extend together rather than one after another, so the boom reaches working length in a single control movement. Maximum outreach is 9.58 m, and the boom tip reaches roughly 12.6 m of lifting height at a 75° boom angle — enough for second-floor material placement, streetlight and sign maintenance, and loading a container from the bed side without repositioning the truck.
3,300 KG OF CRANE, NOT 5,000 KG OF COUNTERWEIGHT
Crane weight is the number that decides whether a 6.3 ton crane is practical on your truck. At 3,300 kg the TK126-4 leaves payload for the cargo it is meant to carry. A heavier crane in the same lifting class forces either a bigger chassis or a permanently reduced load — and the second option is what kills the economics of a truck-mounted crane.
360° CONTINUOUS SLEWING, GROUND LEVEL CONTROL
The slew system rotates continuously through a full 360°, with no sector lock and no cable wrap limit. Controls are mounted at ground level beside the outriggers, which keeps the operator’s eye on the load and the stabiliser legs at the same time — the configuration most crews actually work in, rather than a top seat that needs its own access ladder.
LOAD CHART: WHAT 6.3 TONNES ACTUALLY MEANS
Published capacity figures are usually quoted at the shortest radius, which is not where the work happens. The 6.3 ton knuckle boom crane load chart below is measured with outriggers fully extended to a 5,010 mm span:
| Working radius (m) | 2 | 4.43 | 6.06 | 7.78 | 9.68 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifting capacity (kg) | 6,300 | 3,010 | 1,800 | 1,500 | 1,000 |
Read it this way: at 4.4 m — a typical side-load onto the bed — the crane lifts 3,010 kg, which covers a pallet of blocks, a water tank, a small excavator bucket or a bundle of pipe. At full outreach it still holds 1,000 kg, enough for a one-tonne bag, a concrete skip or a man basket with two people and tools. Capacity includes the hook and lifting gear; the hook itself weighs 160 kg.
If your lifts sit between 1.5 and 3 tonnes at four to six metres, this is the right crane class. If they routinely run past 5 tonnes at that radius, step up to the TK1304 or the 16 ton TK3205 — a 6.3 ton crane worked at its limit every day is a maintenance bill, not a bargain.
TECHNICAL DATA
- Max lifting moment: 126 kN·m (12.6 t·m)
- Max lifting capacity: 6,300 kg at 2 m
- Max outreach: 9.58 m
- Boom configuration: 4-section synchronized telescoping knuckle boom
- Slewing angle: 360° continuous rotation
- Crane weight: 3,300 kg
- Installation space: 740 mm
- Outrigger span: 5,010 mm
- Hydraulic system pressure: 24 MPa
- Rated hydraulic flow: 50 L/min
- Oil tank capacity: 90 L
- Recommended power: 20 kW
- Control type: Ground operation
- Hook self-weight: 160 kg
MOUNTING: WHAT THE CHASSIS NEEDS TO PROVIDE
Two numbers decide whether the TK126-4 fits a truck you already own. 740 mm is the mounting space the crane base occupies between the cab and the bed — the subframe has to be rated for the 126 kN·m moment, not just the 3,300 kg static weight. 5,010 mm is the outrigger span with legs fully extended, so the truck needs clear ground on both sides before any lift.
The crane is normally installed on a 4×2 medium-duty chassis in the 10 to 16 tonne GVW class, the same platform family used for the TK1304. ISUZU, HINO, FUSO, SHACMAN and JAC forward-control cabs are common matches. GVW is not a fixed specification — it follows from the crane weight, the bed, the payload you intend to carry and your local axle-load rules, and we calculate it against your actual chassis rather than quoting a generic figure.
If you are comparing this against a straight boom on the same truck, the TS125-4 stiff boom covers the opposite trade-off: cheaper per metre of reach, no folding articulation, load carried over the bed. The full range is on the knuckle boom loader cranes page.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the lifting capacity at full outreach?
1,000 kg at 9.68 m on this 6.3 ton knuckle boom crane, with outriggers fully extended to 5,010 mm. Capacity drops as radius grows: 3,010 kg at 4.43 m, 1,800 kg at 6.06 m, 1,500 kg at 7.78 m. Always work from the load chart for the radius you are actually lifting at, and deduct the weight of hook, slings and any attachment from the figure.
Can the TK126-4 run a grab, brick clamp or man basket?
Yes, with auxiliary hydraulic lines specified at order. Common fitments are a hydraulic brick clamp, a man basket and a clamshell grab for loose material. Fitment is not universal across crane models — bracket geometry, valve section and accessory-port flow are checked against your specific configuration before an order is confirmed, so send the crane model with the enquiry.
Is a 6.3 ton crane worth it over a 5 ton or a 6.5 ton?
It depends on the radius, not the headline number. The 5 ton TK1004 is lighter and cheaper but runs out of capacity sooner at reach; the 6.5 ton TK1304 carries more at the same radius but adds weight and cost. The TK126-4 sits in the middle with 9.58 m of outreach and 3,300 kg of installed weight — the version that fits a truck you can register and insure without a chassis upgrade. The five-year cost comparison behind that decision is set out in crane total cost of ownership.
REQUEST A TK126-4 QUOTE
Send four things and you get a real answer rather than a catalogue: your chassis make and GVW, the typical load and radius you lift at, the destination country, and whether you need auxiliary hydraulics for a grab or basket. We reply with the configuration that fits, the load chart for that configuration, HS classification for your market, and a delivered price.
