Products & Equipment Cranes
National Crane displays short-configuration NBT45-2 boom truck

At the recent Work Truck Week 2022 in Indianapolis, National Crane highlighted how its Voice of Customer (VOC) program can customize its cranes to customer needs.

At the show, National Crane displayed an ultra-nimble, short-chassis version of a National Crane NBT45-2 boom truck.

The boom truck highlights the role that Manitowoc’s Truck Mod Center and Lift Solutions departments play in developing customized solutions to meet the industry’s evolving needs.

The short-chassis model is one example of the many configurations the company engineers to ensure a customer’s truck and crane match and are field-ready when they leave the factory.

Based around a 2023 Peterbilt 567 chassis, the short-configuration NBT45127-2 is flexible in confined spaces and on congested job sites because of shortening the wheelbase by about 23 inches, so it now measures only 250 inches.

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“Our customers were telling us they needed a 40-ton to 45-ton capacity crane, but on a more compact chassis than standard,” said Bob Ritter, National Crane product manager. “Our application engineers put a lot of effort into fine-tuning the chassis until they delivered a boom truck with a chassis with the tightest turning radius in its class.”

This was made possible by relocating the hydraulic tank from the frame rail to the deck, freeing space between the back of the truck cab and the crane torsion box. With the full machine length now under 38 feet, its flexibility in both urban and suburban settings has been enhanced.

Another notable advantage of the new chassis configuration is the 13,500 lbs. pusher axle, rather than a tag axle, alongside the existing 46,000 lbs. rear tandem arrangement. By helping operators navigate inclines and narrow driveways, this improves the speed with which they can complete projects.

“The shorter chassis also makes it easier for the operator to ready the crane for transport by tying off the block without extending the boom,” Ritter said.

“They can now stow the boom and hook the block to the front of the truck more efficiently, so they can get to the next jobsite faster.”

Once reaching the next jobsite, the simplified setup allows outriggers to be quickly set and hook blocks to be unstowed using front bumper-mounted controls, removing the need to climb in and out of truck and crane cabs.

Cummins X15 engine

With a GVW of 79,500 lbs., propelled by a 500 hp Cummins X15 engine and Allison 4500 RDS transmission, the new crane also benefits from the optional 6,000 lbs. counterweight package. It features a 127 ft five-section full-power main boom, plus a 31 feet to 55 feet telescopic jib that produces a maximum tip height of 189 feet.

Operator neck strain can be averted thanks to a hydraulic tilting cab that offers inclinations up to 20 degrees. Other ergonomic perks include a heated seat and high-output HVAC system, while the speed of the single- and dual-axis electronic joystick controls can be easily adjusted to suit operator preference.

The colour, graphical RCL with integrated control system enables monitoring of all vital truck and crane data from within the crane cab, such as hydraulic system pressure and temperature. The need for troubleshooting with a laptop is further minimized through state-of-the-art onboard diagnostics and real-time error code reporting.