The Grove TMS9000E Telescopic Boom Truck Crane: A Closer Look
Grove's TMS9000E telescopic boom truck crane, although no longer in production, is still a popular model on the rental and resale fronts. The four-axle crane has a 110-ton (99.8-metric-ton) lift capacity and a gross vehicle weight of 86,056 pounds (39,034 kilograms).
As the successor to the TMS900E, the TMS9000E offered a 23% overall capacity increase, better service and maintenance access, improved boom support and counterweight support designs, and enhancements in both its carrier and superstructure cabs. The TMS9000E was superseded in 2017 by the lighter, stronger TMS9000-2, which also has a longer boom.
Here’s a closer look at the TMS9000E based on the latest information from Grove.
Boom
The TMS9000E has a full-power Megaform main boom with five sections and a length of 36 to 142 feet (11.2 to 43.3 meters). A single cylinder extends the telescoping boom. The crane uses the Twin-Lock horizontal pinning system to lock the boom in place.
The truck crane’s standard bifold lattice swingaway extension has a length of 33 to 56 feet (10 to 17 m). It is manually offsettable from 0 degrees to 20 or 40 degrees. There is also an optional power luffing version of the extension with the same length. The operator can offset the powered extension hydraulically from 5 to 40 degrees from inside the cab of the superstructure.
The Grove TMS9000E can attain a maximum tip height of 237 ft (72.2 m) with optional lattice insert extensions. The crane can carry enough ballast with it to be considered a taxi crane for many applications, and it can often be set up by a single operator.
Cab & Controls
The TMS9000E’s sound-insulated superstructure cab can tilt up to 20 degrees and features a suspension seat. The operator can control the crane’s hydraulic counterweight removal system from within the cabin.
The crane’s functions are controlled by the Electronic Crane Operating System, or ECOS, which uses a graphic display as an interface. ECOS is connected to the engine management system and the crane’s EKS5 load moment indicator by a CAN bus link. The TMS9000E can support telematics and parent company Manitowoc’s CraneStar asset management system.
Carrier
The wheeled chassis of the Grove TMS9000E has been outfitted with different engines at various times and for various markets. There are models with a six-cylinder Cummins ISM or ISX 11.9, turbo-charged, aftercooled diesel engine generating 450 horsepower (336 kilowatts). Other units for international markets have a Cummins QSM 11 engine rated for 402 HP (300 kW).
The TMS9000E’s carrier has a manual transmission with 11 forward speeds and three reverse. The 8x4x4 truck has two drive axles and two steering axles. Rear inter-axle differential locks come standard; cross-axle diff locks are optional.
The standard suspension on the TMS9000E’s front and rear axles is a walking beam arrangement with air bags and shock absorbers. Grove says it provides a comfortable ride at the truck’s top speed of 65 mph (105 km/h). Antilock air brakes come standard, as does traction control for crossing problematic terrain on the jobsite.
The carrier uses two-stage, inverted jack outriggers that can telescope out to 50% and 100% deployment positions. The crane comes with a standard 16,000 lbs (7,257 kg) of counterweight. Its maximum ballast load is 48,500 lbs (21,999 kg), available with optional packages.
Source: Manitowoc