Cranes represent some of the highest-value pieces of plant machinery that change hands in the UK. The market is specialist, the buyer pool is international, and getting the sale right requires understanding the machine in detail — capacity, boom configuration, hours, inspection status, and what documentation exists.
This guide covers the main crane categories, key manufacturers, and what affects value in the current market.
Types of Crane We Buy
All-terrain mobile cranes are the most versatile and most actively traded category in the UK crane market. Road-legal, multi-axle carriers with hydraulic telescopic boom and outrigger system. Capable of travelling between sites on public roads. Key capacity ranges: 40–1,000 tonnes.
Rough terrain cranes — four-wheel drive, four-wheel steer, designed for off-road site work. Shorter transport reach than all-terrain cranes. Capacities typically 18–120 tonnes. Key brands: Tadano, Grove.
Truck-mounted cranes (truck cranes) — crane superstructure mounted on a standard truck carrier. Simpler than all-terrain cranes; limited boom reach. Capacities 25–100 tonnes.
Crawler cranes — lattice boom or telescopic boom cranes mounted on tracked undercarriage. No road travel capability but high capacity and very stable. Capacities from 50 tonnes to 2,000+ tonnes for the largest lattice boom crawlers.
Tower cranes — static, assembled-on-site cranes for construction projects. Self-erecting (Potain, Liebherr) and top-slewing (Liebherr, Potain, Terex) types. Valued by jib radius, hook height, and maximum load moment.
Pick and carry cranes / franna cranes — a specialist category used in industrial maintenance; the machine lifts and carries loads while travelling. Manitowoc and Franna are the key brands.
Major Crane Manufacturers
Liebherr (Germany) — the global benchmark for quality in both mobile and tower cranes. Liebherr cranes consistently achieve the strongest resale values of any brand. Key mobile crane models:
- LTM series (all-terrain): LTM 1030-2.1 (30t), LTM 1050-3.1 (50t), LTM 1070-4.2 (70t), LTM 1090-4.2 (90t), LTM 1100-4.2 (100t), LTM 1130-5.1 (130t), LTM 1160-5.2 (160t), LTM 1220-5.2 (220t), LTM 1300-6.2 (300t), LTM 1350-6.1 (350t)
- LTC series (compact): LTC 1045-3.1, LTC 1050-3.1
- Tower cranes: 200 ECH10, 112 ECH8, MK 88
Grove (USA — Manitowoc) — the other major all-terrain brand alongside Liebherr, with a very strong UK and European presence. Key models:
- GMK series (all-terrain): GMK3055, GMK4080-1, GMK4100L, GMK5095, GMK5120B, GMK5150L, GMK5165-2, GMK6300L, GMK6400
- RT series (rough terrain): RT530E, RT635E, RT760E, RT890E
Tadano (Japan) — major global crane manufacturer. Key models:
- AC series (all-terrain): AC 4.080-1, AC 5.110-1, AC 3.200-1, AC 7.450-1
- GR series (rough terrain): GR-300EX, GR-500EX, GR-750XL, GR-1000XL
- ATF series (formerly Faun/Tadano Faun): ATF 50-3, ATF 60-4, ATF 80-4, ATF 100-4, ATF 130-5
Manitowoc (USA) — primarily known for large crawler cranes but also all-terrain. Key crawler models: MLC165-2, MLC300, MLC650, 21000.
Potain (France — Manitowoc) — leading tower crane brand. Key models: HDT 80, MDT 178, MCT 205, MDT 489.
Terex — all-terrain and rough terrain. AC series and RT series models in the used market.
What Affects Crane Value?
Inspection and certification status. LOLER thorough examination for lifting equipment is mandatory in the UK; all cranes must be examined by a competent person. For mobile cranes, an in-date LOLER certificate is non-negotiable for UK buyers and adds significant value. For cranes with lapsed inspections, buyers factor in inspection costs and the risk of defects.
Boom configuration and condition. For telescopic boom cranes: boom extension configuration, jibs, and luffing fly options. For lattice boom crawlers: complete boom sections and condition.
Outrigger pad and mat condition. Often overlooked by sellers but checked by all buyers.
Counterweight completeness. Cranes with complete counterweight sets are worth significantly more than those with missing sections.
Service history and load charts. A complete original load chart and service history is expected by professional buyers. Missing load charts reduce value and complicate sales.
Hours. Mobile crane hours are a useful guide but condition and inspection status matter more than raw hour count.
Indicative Values (2026)
| Machine | Capacity | Year | Approx. Value (ex VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liebherr LTM 1050-3.1 | 50t | 2012–2016 | £180,000–£320,000 |
| Liebherr LTM 1100-4.2 | 100t | 2012–2016 | £280,000–£480,000 |
| Grove GMK4080-1 | 80t | 2012–2016 | £150,000–£260,000 |
| Grove GMK5120B | 120t | 2014–2018 | £280,000–£460,000 |
| Tadano ATF 60-4 | 60t | 2012–2016 | £140,000–£240,000 |
| Tadano GR-750XL (rough terrain) | 75t | 2012–2016 | £120,000–£200,000 |
| Potain MDT 178 (tower crane) | — | 2012–2016 | £35,000–£70,000 |
Crane values are highly individual — contact us for a specific assessment of your machine.
Related Guides
- Sell My Access Platform or MEWP — The Complete UK Guide
- How to Transport Plant Machinery Safely in the UK
- Plant Machinery Insurance UK — What You Need to Know
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