A 25 ton knuckle boom crane lifts its full 25,000 kg only close to the slewing column. Further out, the load chart takes over. Our SQZ500 25 ton knuckle boom truck mounted crane is rated at 25,000 kg and 53.9 t·m. Its load chart allows 11,650 kg at 4.2 m and 2,840 kg at its full 15.9 m reach. The crane itself weighs 6,300 kg, so it belongs on a heavy-duty truck chassis.
Many pages that sell a 25 ton knuckle boom crane give the headline rating and a list of applications, and stop there. A buyer needs more: what the crane lifts at the reach the job needs, what it weighs, what oil flow it takes from the truck and how much ground its outriggers need. This guide answers those questions with the technical-department drawings and load charts of our 20 t to 30 t knuckle boom cranes. BOB-LIFT has built truck mounted cranes in Xuzhou, China, since 2003.
Key takeaways
- The 25 t rating applies near the column. Our SQZ500 lifts 11,650 kg at 4.2 m, 4,950 kg at 9.4 m and 2,840 kg at 15.9 m, about 11% of its rating at full reach.
- Compare cranes by lifting moment and by the load chart at your working reach, not by the tonnage in the name.
- From about 13.5 m out, our 30 t SQZ600 lifts about the same as the 25 t SQZ500. It earns its rating close in and with its longer 20.3 m reach.
- The truck has to carry 6,300 kg of crane plus the subframe, supply 70 L/min at 33 MPa from a 50 kW power take-off, and leave room for outriggers that spread up to 7.4 m.
- A 25 t knuckle boom folds compactly, but it is still a heavy-truck crane. Check folded height and outrigger space before you plan it for a tight site.
What does “25 ton” mean on a knuckle boom crane?
It is the maximum load at the shortest working radius, with the boom pulled in close to the column. It is not what the crane lifts at reach. The figure that describes the crane’s real strength is its lifting moment: the load multiplied by its distance from the slewing centre. On our SQZ500 drawing that moment is 53.9 t·m.
Divide the moment by the rating and you get the radius at which the full rating roughly applies: 53.9 t·m ÷ 25 t is about 2.2 m. That is our calculation, not a figure printed on the chart, but it shows why the name alone tells you little. Two “25 ton” cranes with different moments, booms and chassis can lift very different loads at 8 m. Our guide to how much a knuckle boom crane can lift explains the same rule across our whole range, from 2 t to 50 t.
25 ton knuckle boom crane load chart: what it lifts at each reach
From 11,650 kg at 4.2 m down to 2,840 kg at 15.9 m on our SQZ500. The load chart gives a capacity at each point where another hydraulic extension runs out. The table below uses the chart’s first line, the only one that runs to full reach and the lowest figure at each radius.
| Working radius | Rated load | Share of the 25 t rating |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2 m | 11,650 kg | 47% |
| 5.6 m | 8,710 kg | 35% |
| 7.4 m | 6,450 kg | 26% |
| 9.4 m | 4,950 kg | 20% |
| 11.3 m | 4,050 kg | 16% |
| 13.5 m | 3,350 kg | 13% |
| 15.9 m | 2,840 kg | 11% |
Read it from the job backwards. If you set 6 t precast panels 7 m from the crane, the 25 t class is the right size: the SQZ500 allows 6,450 kg at 7.4 m. If the same panels go 10 m out, it is not, because the chart allows 4,950 kg at 9.4 m. Leave a margin for the hook block, slings and spreader beam, which count as part of the load. For a step-by-step walk through a chart, see how to read a crane load chart.
25 ton vs 20, 28 and 30 ton knuckle boom cranes
Buyers looking at a 25 t crane usually compare it with the sizes either side. Here are our four models from 20 t to 30 t, side by side, from their drawings.
| Model | Rated capacity | Lifting moment | Load at about 4.2–4.4 m | Load at about 9.4–9.9 m | Full reach | Crane weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SQZ430 | 20,000 kg | 42.3 t·m | 8,700 kg at 4.4 m | 3,430 kg at 9.9 m | 1,910 kg at 16.6 m | 5,500 kg |
| SQZ500 | 25,000 kg | 53.9 t·m | 11,650 kg at 4.2 m | 4,950 kg at 9.4 m | 2,840 kg at 15.9 m | 6,300 kg |
| SQZ560 | 28,000 kg | 57.3 t·m | 12,300 kg at 4.2 m | 5,320 kg at 9.4 m | 3,050 kg at 15.9 m | 6,100 kg |
| SQZ600 | 30,000 kg | 63.3 t·m | 12,840 kg at 4.4 m | 5,300 kg at 9.4 m | 2,150 kg at 20.3 m | 7,500 kg |
Three things stand out on the charts:
- A higher rating does not always mean more load at reach. The 30 t SQZ600 lifts 3,360 kg at 13.6 m and 2,830 kg at 15.7 m; the 25 t SQZ500 lifts 3,350 kg at 13.5 m and 2,840 kg at 15.9 m. The 30 t model pays off close in, and with the extra reach out to 20.3 m, but it weighs 1,200 kg more. At 9.4 m it even lifts 20 kg less than the 28 t SQZ560.
- The 28 t SQZ560 shares the SQZ500’s geometry. Both reach 15.9 m and spread their outriggers 2,300 to 7,400 mm. The SQZ560 lifts about 6% to 7.5% more at every radius and weighs 200 kg less, but it needs a bigger hydraulic supply: 80 L/min at 35 MPa and 65 kW, against 70 L/min at 33 MPa and 50 kW.
- The step from 20 t to 25 t is the largest. Close in, the SQZ500 lifts about 34% more than the SQZ430 (11,650 kg at 4.2 m against 8,700 kg at 4.4 m), and 4,950 kg at 9.4 m against 3,430 kg at 9.9 m, for 800 kg more crane weight.
So choose the 25 t SQZ500 when your heavy picks fall between about 6 t at 7.4 m and 3.5 t at 11.3 m, rigging included, on a truck sized for a 6.3 t crane. Choose the SQZ560 when you need a few hundred kilograms more at the same reach and the truck’s power take-off can deliver the extra flow. Choose the SQZ600 when you need more than 16.6 m of reach.
What truck does a 25 ton knuckle boom crane need?
A heavy-duty chassis that can carry the crane, supply its hydraulic oil and give the outriggers a stable footing. The SQZ500 drawing sets out what to check:
| Requirement | SQZ500 figure | What it means for the truck |
|---|---|---|
| Crane weight | 6,300 kg | Comes out of the truck’s payload, before the subframe and the goods. |
| Recommended power | 50 kW | The power take-off (PTO) and pump must deliver it at working engine speed. |
| Hydraulic flow and pressure | 70 L/min at 33 MPa | Sizes the pump and the PTO ratio. |
| Oil tank | 240 L | Needs a place on the chassis and adds its weight. |
| Outrigger span | 2,300 to 7,400 mm | The site must leave room to extend them on firm ground. |
| Slewing | 360° | Lifts on either side and behind the truck, within the chart. |
Check payload first, then the chassis frame and the space behind the cab, then the PTO. A crane mounted behind the cab puts much of its weight on the front axle, so the body builder should run an axle-load calculation before the crane is fitted; treat any quick estimate as a first check only. Our cranes have been fitted to Dongfeng, Isuzu and Sinotruk chassis; send us your truck model and we will check the fit. Our truck mounted crane installation guide covers the subframe, the PTO and the checks in order.
Rules on the crane itself depend on where it works. In the United States, articulating boom cranes are covered by ASME B30.22; in the United Kingdom, lifting equipment falls under LOLER, which sets thorough examination and safe-use duties. Ask your dealer which standard and inspections apply in your country before the crane goes to work.
Is a 25 ton knuckle boom crane right for tight or low-clearance sites?
Sometimes, but check the numbers first. Some sales pages pitch 25 t knuckle boom cranes for confined indoor spaces and low-clearance workshops. The folding boom does help: it stows in a compact block behind the cab, and the dual four-bar linkage allows reverse-angle work, so the boom can reach under a roof edge or down into a pit. But on its drawing the folded SQZ500 stands about 2.5 m tall before you add the height of the truck frame. It is mounted on a heavy truck. And its full chart assumes outriggers spread up to 7.4 m.
Before you plan a 25 t crane for a building or a narrow street, measure three things: the door or ceiling height against the truck with the folded crane, the width available for the outriggers, and the ground under each outrigger pad. If any of them is short, a smaller crane with a lower height and narrower span may lift more of what you need on that site. Our guide to how a knuckle boom crane works explains the linkage and outriggers in more detail.
What is a 25 ton knuckle boom crane used for?
Heavy, compact loads that have to be placed accurately within about 4 m to 12 m of the truck. Typical jobs in this class include setting precast concrete elements and steel sections, delivering building materials in bulk, and loading machinery and generators onto and off the truck bed. With a grab, auger or other attachment the same crane can handle bulk material or drill holes; the SQZ500 product page lists the attachments we offer.
The same crane family also goes to sea. The SQZ500T is the marine version of the 25 t knuckle boom, built for ships and barges. One went to a customer in Uruguay: see the Uruguay customer feedback and the 25 ton knuckle boom marine crane. If you are choosing a crane for a vessel, our marine crane buying guide covers sizing on deck.
How to choose a 25 ton knuckle boom crane
- List your heaviest lifts with their reach. Include the hook block, slings and any attachment in the weight.
- Check each lift against the load chart, not the rating. If a lift sits right at the chart limit, look at the next size up.
- Compare lifting moment and crane weight. Between two cranes that both cover your lifts, the lighter one leaves more payload for goods.
- Match the truck. Confirm payload, axle loads, frame and PTO output with your body builder against the crane’s drawing.
- Check the site. Outrigger space, ground bearing and overhead clearance decide whether the crane can use its chart at all.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a 25 ton knuckle boom crane lift at full reach?
Our 25 t SQZ500 lifts 2,840 kg at its full 15.9 m reach, about 11% of its rating. At 9.4 m it lifts 4,950 kg and at 4.2 m 11,650 kg. Other makes differ, so always ask for the load chart of the exact model.
How far can the 25 t crane reach?
The SQZ500 reaches 15.9 m horizontally from the slewing centre, and its range diagram shows a hook height of about 18.5 m. If you need more, our 30 t SQZ600 reaches 20.3 m.
How much does the crane itself weigh?
The SQZ500 weighs 6,300 kg without the truck, subframe or oil. For comparison, our 20 t SQZ430 weighs 5,500 kg and our 30 t SQZ600 7,500 kg.
What size truck do you need for a 25 ton knuckle boom crane?
A heavy-duty chassis with enough payload for the 6,300 kg crane, its subframe and your goods, front-axle capacity for a crane behind the cab, and a PTO that delivers 70 L/min at 33 MPa. The exact chassis depends on your local weight rules, so confirm it with an axle-load calculation.
Is a 25 ton knuckle boom crane the same as a 25 ton truck crane?
No. A 25 t knuckle boom crane is a loader crane mounted on a cargo truck, so the truck still carries goods. A 25 t mobile truck crane is a dedicated crane carrier with a long telescopic boom and its own counterweight. Both ratings are a maximum at short radius, but the booms, counterweights and load charts differ, so compare charts at your working reach rather than the names.
How we compiled this guide
Every figure comes from the BOB-LIFT technical-department dimension drawings and load charts of the SQZ430, SQZ500, SQZ560 and SQZ600, compiled in October 2026. The capacities are the first line of each load chart, which runs to full reach. The 2.2 m full-rating radius is our own calculation from the rated moment. The photos show real BOB-LIFT cranes at our factory and on a customer’s vessel. The figures were checked against the current drawings by Achord Chan, Product Operations Director, in October 2026. Specifications can change without notice, so ask for the current drawing before you order.
Get the SQZ500 drawing for your truck
Tell us your heaviest lifts, the reach for each and the truck you plan to use. We will check them against the SQZ500 load chart and its neighbours and send the drawings for the models that fit. See the 25 ton knuckle boom truck mounted crane, browse all knuckle boom truck mounted cranes, or contact us to start.
