A HIAB crane can lift almost any load that fits within its weight and reach envelope — which, depending on the model, means anything from a 500 kg palletised delivery to a 12+ tonne transformer. The key is understanding how weight and outreach interact, because the maximum lift weight reduces significantly as the boom extends.
The most common loads lifted by these cranes in the UK fall into several broad categories. Construction materials — including structural steel RSJs, box sections and columns, precast concrete panels and lintels, block and brick packs, roof trusses, and timber frame sections — form the majority of everyday loader-crane work. These cranes are also extensively used for portable cabin and welfare unit placement, container loading and unloading, and machinery installation.
Beyond construction, they lift generators, transformers, compressors, HVAC units, agricultural machinery, signage gantries, street lighting columns, sculptures, swimming pools, hot tubs and specialist items for events and exhibitions. The diversity of this work is one of its greatest strengths.
Every loader crane has a rated capacity at a given radius. The HIAB 558, for example, can lift around 10 tonnes close to the vehicle but this reduces to roughly 3 tonnes at its maximum 14.5-metre outreach. The relationship is not linear — capacity drops more steeply at longer reaches. This means that for lifts over long distances from the vehicle, a larger model may be needed even if the load itself is relatively light.
When planning a lift, always consider the maximum reach you will need — not just the load weight. If you need to place a 3-tonne beam 14 metres from the vehicle, you need a HIAB 658 or 858 at minimum, even though 3 tonnes is well within the capacity of the HIAB 558 at close range.
A loader crane cannot safely lift loads that exceed its rated capacity at the required outreach, loads that are unstable or improperly rigged, or loads that would require the crane to operate beyond its safe working zone without outrigger support. Tandem lifts — where two cranes share a load — require specialist planning and are subject to additional risk assessment. Liquid-filled or pressurised vessels may have specific handling requirements depending on their contents.
Working to recognised UK transport, lifting and safety standards — across England, Scotland and Wales.
