Get FinancingA Closer Look: Tadano GR1600XL Rough-Terrain Crane
According to its manufacturer Tadano, the GR1600XL is the world’s largest rough-terrain crane. With up to 160 tons (145 metric tons) of lift capacity and a 302.5-foot (92.2-meter) maximum lift height, the big Tadano certainly impresses. Let’s take a closer look.
Long Reach & Strong Charts
The heart of the Tadano GR1600XL’s lifting prowess is its six-section, box-type boom. At 42.8 to 200.1 feet (13.1 to 61 meters) in length, the telescoping boom is the longest in its class, according to Tadano. It uses a single cylinder and pins to extend in a preprogrammed manner. The maximum lift height mentioned above requires a combination of the boom, a jib, and optional lattice inserts.
The standard jib for the GR1600XL is a 33.8- to 59.1-ft (10.3- to 18-m), two-stage, bi-fold lattice-type, which can be manually offset to 20 or 40 degrees. An optional hydraulic offset jib uses a cylinder to tilt 5 to 40 degrees. To extend the reach of the already-impressive crane, there are two optional 23-ft (7-m) insert lattice jibs, yielding a maximum working radius of 220 ft (67.1 m). Finally, there’s an optional heavy-lifting jib for maximum performance at shorter distances. The crane comes standard with Tadano’s AML-C load moment indicator for safe operation. The system auto-calculates safe lifting parameters based on the extension width of each asymmetric outrigger.
Tadano used FEM (Finite Element Method) analysis in the design of the GR1600XL’s slewing frame to develop a structure with compactness and rigidity. The crane’s high-speed main winch and auxiliary winch both have cable followers. For ease of setup and teardown, the Tadano’s 64,600-lb (29,300-kilogram) counterweight is self-removable, as are its outriggers. The bi-fold jib can be deployed by one worker, the company says.
The Carrier
The three-axle GR1600XL’s 130.5-inch (3,315-millimeter) width helps it fit into confined areas on the jobsite, as do its four steering modes from two-wheel to six-wheel steering. Overall, the crane measures just 149 in (3.79 m) in height and 637.4 in (16.19 m) in length in travel trim. Top speed is 9.3 mph (15 km/h) en route to or from the location of the work.
Powering the big crane is a 270-horsepower, six-cylinder, direct injection, Cummins QSB6.7 diesel engine. The motor is Tier 4 Final emissions-compliant. An electronically controlled, fully automatic transmission gives the crane five forward speeds and two in reverse. The carrier is 6x4x6-wheel drive, as the middle axle is solely for steering, not propulsion. Gross vehicle weight for the GR1600XL is 134,028 lbs (60,795 kg). Its motion is controlled by air-over-hydraulic disc brakes on all six wheels with an electro-pneumatic auxiliary brake as backup. The crane functions of the big Tadano employ two variable piston hydraulic pumps, while a tandem gear pump handles the slewing, power steering, and other hydraulic systems.
Technologies & Interior
The GR1600XL’s 15-degree tilting cab makes operation more comfortable for the user when working at height. The cab has heating and air conditioning as well. The crane’s Slow-Stop feature helps the operator avoid shock loads with a soft stop near the load limit. Meanwhile, Tadano’s Hello-Net telematics system allows fleet managers, rental companies, and their dealers to monitor the machine’s location, work history, and maintenance data, facilitating faster, more accurate customer support.
The GR1600XL comes with various features to reduce fuel consumption and corresponding emissions. One is Tadano’s Positive Control system, which matches the hydraulic pump discharge to the operating lever movement, mitigating waste during standby. The engine supports fuel-saving ECO modes, while a Fuel Monitoring gauge on the digital display shows the operator the current consumption rate.
Source: Tadano