Feature
Altec recently launched their next generation fiberglass bodies rated up to 36,000 foot-pounds with features such as an integrated full-steel subbase and built-in tower for a 6,000-pounds service crane.
Working Together
“ By collaborating with our dealer network, we can recommend the right equipment tailored to the customer’ s specific application,” said Weckwerth.“ That partnership is crucial for minimizing downtime and keeping equipment operating at peak efficiency.”
Tyler Coverdell, fleet sales manager at Knapheide, pointed out that mechanic’ s trucks are a significant capital investment.“ Ensure that you select a body manufacturer or upfitter with extensive experience in installing, upfitting and after-sale service to keep your equipment running at its full potential,” he added.
At Altec, Boullion noted, the company’ s service technicians provide firsthand feedback to guide mechanic’ s truck and service crane designs. For example, starting this year all of the manufacturer’ s service trucks will have fiberglass bodies.
Next Generation Products
Altec recently launched their next generation fiberglass bodies rated up to 36,000 foot-pounds with features such as an integrated full-steel subbase and built-in tower for a 6,000-pound service crane.
“ This new fiberglass body saves on average 11,000 pounds compared to the same steel body design,” Boullion related.“ Anytime you can decrease weight, it extends the service life of brakes, tires and other parts that may wear out prematurely with a heavy load on the chassis.”
The Altec fiberglass body has barn doors so mechanics can get close to tools without navigating around a drop-down door. In addition, Boullion pointed out the body’ s optional rolling roof, which the mechanic can stand on safely and not need to use ladders to work on equipment.
Altec steel and fiberglass crane bodies are offered in preconfigured lengths of 108 and 132 inches with up to 43,000 foot-pounds of crane capacity. The bodies have an isolated rear crane compartment and interlocks that prevent crane use until the outriggers are lowered. Standard features include heavyduty aluminum drawers, a modular track system for hook and shelf installation, D-Ring tiedowns in the cargo area and a master body locking system.
PAL Pro mechanics truck models from PALFINGER North
America are available in 9- to 14-foot lengths with crane capacities ranging from 20,000 to 86,000 foot-pounds. Optimized for Class 5 chassis applications, the latest additions to the company’ s lineup of mechanics trucks and service cranes are PAL Pro 58 mechanics trucks and the PSC 8600 TEC service crane.
The PAL Pro 58 mechanics truck is constructed from 12-gauge A-60 galvanized steel and features a hybrid torsion box that eliminates frame and side pack deflection. It also undergoes a 12-step E-coat process for enhanced paint coverage and corrosion protection. The body is available in 11-foot configurations with standard options, including bolton mounting locations for accessories like compressors and welders, headache racks and aluminum roll-out drawer units.“ Our service cranes like the PSC 8600 TEC have safety features such as overload protection systems and load moment indication to ensure real-time load monitoring and prevent equipment overloading,” Weckwerth said.“ The PAL Pro 58 also has body, crane and cargo lights. These products provide for the highest level of safety, reducing workplace injuries.”
The PALFINGER PSC 8600 TEC service crane has a lift capacity of 8,600 pounds and is available with 22- or 31-feet of reach by incorporating internal extension cylinders that power hexagonal booms. The crane also has the manufacturer’ s intelligent winch console, a damage prevention system integrated into the winch mounting platform that eliminates the need for a boom tip apparatus and cord reel.
Other features of the PALFINGER PSC 8600 TEC service crane include 360-degree continuous rotation with a fully sealed crane base that eliminates water intrusion into the crane compartment, automated boom stowing with optional stowage monitoring and synchronized rope control for the ability to keep the load hook parallel to the ground or the boom tip.
The latest mechanic’ s bodies from Knapheide, reported Coverdell, are the company’ s aluminum AKMS and AKMT product lines built using aerospace assembly processes that reduce welding. The AKMS body, which can be equipped with an electric service crane, features standard 44-inch-tall by 22-inch-deep compartments and is fitted with a VMAC G30 compressor with electric on / off start and choke that is mounted street side for ease of access from the ground.
18 | 515-574-2203 | 515-574-2189 | April 2025