Crane lorries are one of the most valuable categories of rigid truck in the UK, because you’re selling two expensive assets bolted together — the chassis and the crane. On a well-specified 32-tonne 8×2 with a big Palfinger or Fassi on the back, the crane can be worth more than the truck underneath it.
This guide has been updated for 2026 with current market values, the full crane model ranges, and the DVS and LOLER requirements that now materially affect what buyers will pay.
First — It Probably Isn’t a HIAB
Worth clearing up, because it changes how you should advertise.
HIAB is a brand, not a product type. It’s a Finnish manufacturer whose name became the generic term in the UK — such was HIAB’s market dominance some years ago that HIAB truck cranes became the “hoover” of the industry.
Your truck may well have a Palfinger, Fassi, Atlas, PM, Effer, Cormach, HMF or Epsilon crane on it. We buy them all, and the correct brand name in your advert matters — buyers searching for a Fassi F315 won’t find a truck listed only as “HIAB”.
The Crane Brands and Their Model Ranges
HIAB (Finland) — the name everyone knows, still one of the two most sought-after brands in the UK used market.
Key ranges: X-CL (compact light), X-CLX, X-DuoPro, X-HiDuo, X-HiPro (the flagship). Model numbers reflect capacity — X-HiDuo 062, X-HiDuo 158, X-HiPro 192, X-HiPro 232, X-HiPro 262, X-HiPro 302, X-HiPro 408. Older ranges still widely traded: XS 111, XS 122, XS 144, XS 166, XS 211, XS 244, XS 288, XS 322, XS 377, XS 477.
Palfinger (Austria) — the global volume leader, claiming around 35% market share in loader cranes, with a range of over 100 truck-mounted cranes from small 1.5 tonne-metre units suitable for a dropside Transit up to the PK 200002 L SH High Performance with a lifting height over 49 metres and a maximum moment of 140 tonne-metres.
Key models in the UK used market: PK 12001, PK 15500, PK 16001, PK 18002, PK 19001, PK 22002, PK 23080, PK 27001, PK 33002, PK 42002, PK 48002, PK 53002, PK 65002, PK 78002. Suffixes: EH (electronic-hydraulic), SLD (load-sensing), EHC (cabin control).
Palfinger Epsilon — the timber and recycling crane range. M125L, S260, Q170Z, Q150L. Commonly fitted to tipper-grabs and timber trucks.
Fassi (Italy) — Fassi knuckle boom cranes span the full capacity range, from the M10A light truck crane at just 1.12 tonne-metres up to the F2150RAL xhe-dynamic at 160 tonne-metres with a maximum outreach of 41.3 metres with a jib.
Key UK models: F85, F110, F155A, F165A, F195A, F215A, F245A, F305, F315B, F365, F455, F545, F710, F820. The F110 and F155A are the volume sellers on 18-tonne trucks; F315B and F710 appear on 8×2 and 8×4 heavy spec.
Atlas (Germany) — solid UK presence, particularly on brick grab and builders merchant work. Models: 65.2, 105.2, 125.2, 145.2, 165.2, 185.2, 210.2.
PM (Italy) — PM 12, PM 20, PM 23.5, PM 30, PM 38, PM 50, PM 65, PM 10006. Well regarded, particularly on beavertails and plant lorries.
Effer (Italy) — 145, 175, 205, 265, 305, 395, 545, 655. Strong in heavy lift.
Cormach (Italy) — 45000, 58000, 71000, 85000. Seen on heavier drawbar spec trucks.
HMF (Denmark) — 1220, 1680, 2020, 2620, 3220, 4220. Respected, less common in the UK.
Kennis — roller crane specialist, commonly on brick and block delivery trucks.
Understanding Tonne-Metres
Tonne-metres ™ is the crane’s lifting moment — capacity multiplied by reach. A 15tm crane can lift roughly 5 tonnes at 3 metres, or 1.5 tonnes at 10 metres.
It’s the single most important number in the crane’s value, and it should be in the first line of any advert.
| Tonne-metres | Typical chassis | Typical work |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5–8tm | 3.5t–7.5t | Light delivery, pole carrier, small plant |
| 9–16tm | 7.5t–18t | Builders merchant, brick grab, general |
| 17–30tm | 18t–26t | Heavier merchant work, plant delivery |
| 31–50tm | 26t–32t | Plant transport, machinery, steel |
| 51–100tm+ | 32t 8×2/8×4 | Heavy lift, cabins, machinery installation |
Mounting Position — Behind Cab or Rear Mount
Behind-cab mount — the traditional position. Better weight distribution, crane lifts over the body, standard on most flatbed and dropside crane trucks.
Rear mount — crane sits at the back of the chassis behind the body. Better for brick and block delivery because the crane is right where the load comes off, and it frees up the full body length. Rear-mounted brick grab trucks have their own dedicated buyer pool and sell well.
State clearly which you have — buyers search for both separately.
What Adds Value on a Crane Lorry
Remote control. Wireless radio remote is the expectation in 2026. A crane with cable-only or manual lever control is worth notably less and has a much narrower buyer pool.
Number of extensions. More hydraulic extensions means more reach. 2 extensions is basic, 4–6 is well-specified. It’s always listed in adverts because buyers filter on it.
Fly jib. A jib extension on the end of the main boom adds considerable reach and real value on the larger cranes.
Attachments. Brick grab, clamshell bucket, timber grab, rotator, man basket, pallet forks. Each one included and working adds money — a hydraulic brick grab alone can be worth £4,000–£8,000.
Radio scales / on-board weighing. Increasingly expected on merchant and waste work.
Crane hours. Higher-spec cranes have their own hour meter. Low crane hours on a high-mileage truck is a genuine selling point — mention it.
Drawbar spec. A truck piped and plated for a drawbar trailer opens up plant and machinery transport buyers.
Fall arrest system. Increasingly required on site work and expensive to retrofit.
DVS and FORS — Now a Real Value Factor
DVS (Direct Vision Standard) applies to any HGV over 12 tonnes entering Greater London. Trucks need a star rating, and low-rated vehicles require a Progressive Safe System fit — cameras, sensors, audible alerts, side guards.
A DVS-compliant crane lorry with the camera system already fitted is worth materially more than an equivalent that isn’t, because the buyer avoids a £1,500–£3,000 retrofit. London DVS compliance with AI cameras is now used as a headline selling feature in crane truck listings.
FORS Silver or Gold kit fitted is similarly a selling point for anyone working construction contracts.
If your truck has DVS kit, AI cameras, or FORS spec, put it in the first three lines.
LOLER — The Thing Sellers Most Often Overlook
Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, every lorry-mounted crane used at work must undergo a thorough examination by a competent person at least every 12 months.
A crane lorry with a current, in-date LOLER certificate is worth meaningfully more than an identical truck without one — the buyer can put it straight to work rather than booking an inspection and risking what it finds.
If yours has lapsed, getting it examined before sale typically costs £150–£350 and usually adds more than that to the price. Keep the full inspection history if you have it; a documented run of clean examinations is genuine reassurance to a buyer.
What Is My Crane Lorry Worth in 2026?
| Configuration | Year | Approx. Value (ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 7.5t Isuzu/Atego, small rear-mount crane | 2018–2021 | £18,000–£32,000 |
| 12t DAF LF, Fassi F85 rear mount, remote | 2018–2021 | £24,000–£40,000 |
| 18t DAF LF 230/290, Palfinger PK19001 or Fassi F155 | 2018–2021 | £32,000–£55,000 |
| 26t DAF CF 320/340 6×2, Fassi F305 / PK33002 | 2017–2020 | £42,000–£72,000 |
| 26t 6×2 rear-mount brick grab, HIAB XS 144 | 2016–2019 | £30,000–£52,000 |
| 32t 8×2 flat, Palfinger PK48002 / Fassi F455 | 2017–2020 | £55,000–£95,000 |
| 32t 8×2 flat, Fassi F710 / PK78002, 6 ext | 2019–2022 | £85,000–£150,000 |
| 8×2 cheesewedge + crane combination | 2018–2021 | £60,000–£110,000 |
| Tipper grab, DAF CF 8×4, Epsilon M125L | 2019–2022 | £55,000–£95,000 |
Indicative. Crane brand, tonne-metres, extensions, attachments, DVS spec and LOLER status all move these figures substantially.
Body Configurations We Buy
- Dropside flatbed — the most common; crane behind cab or rear mounted
- Brick grab / builders merchant — rear-mounted crane with hydraulic brick grab
- Beavertail / cheesewedge with crane — plant delivery, crane assists loading
- Tipper grab — crane with clamshell or grab for waste and demolition
- Container / skeletal — crane plus twist locks for container handling
- Timber and pole carrier — Epsilon or Loglift crane, bolsters
- Plant body with drawbar — machinery transport spec
Sell Your Crane Lorry with Truck Trading
We buy crane lorries across the UK — every crane brand, every chassis, 7.5 tonne to 32 tonne and drawbar spec.
- Free quote within 24 hours — we value the crane and the chassis separately and properly
- Same-day payment — bank transfer on collection day
- Free UK-wide collection — we come to you
- No fees or commission — the quote is what you receive
- All conditions — expired LOLER, non-DVS, high mileage, hydraulic faults, non-running
Get your free crane lorry quote →
📞 0161 432 1477 | 07540 694069
📍 Stockport, Greater Manchester — collecting UK-wide
What Paperwork Do You Need?
- V5C logbook
- Current MOT / annual test certificate
- LOLER thorough examination certificate — and prior history if held
- Crane service records — separate from chassis servicing
- Chassis service history
- Finance settlement letter — if on HP or conditional sale
Related Guides
- Sell My Beavertail or Plant Lorry UK
- Sell My Tipper Grab or Grab Wagon UK
- Sell My Skip Lorry or Hook Loader UK
- Is Your Truck Worth More Than You Think? 2026 Valuation Guide
Truck Trading — the safe way to sell your truck. Free valuations, same-day payment, free UK-wide collection.
📞 0161 432 1477 | trucktrading.co.uk | Stockport, Greater Manchester
