Utility contractors, electrical contractors, telecom crews, and public works departments across Texas and Louisiana need a crane on their service truck — but not a massive industrial crane. They need something right-sized: enough lift to move transformers, reels of wire, conduit, and equipment, without overloading the truck or blowing the budget. Tiger truck-mounted cranes are purpose-built for exactly this application.

Star Truck Equipment in Wharton, TX installs Tiger Cranes on utility truck service bodies for contractors across South Texas, the Gulf Coast, and Louisiana.

What Makes Tiger Cranes Right for Utility Trucks?

Utility truck crane applications have specific requirements that differ from heavy construction crane trucks:

  • Moderate lift capacity — Typical utility crane work (transformer lifts, wire reel handling, junction box placement) requires 1–5 ton-meter capacity — well within Tiger’s range
  • Compact installation footprint — Tiger cranes install cleanly behind the cab or at the body’s forward crane mount, preserving maximum compartment space in the service body
  • Lightweight construction — Tiger cranes add minimal weight vs their lift rating, keeping payload available for tools, materials, and equipment
  • F-450 and F-550 compatible — Most utility truck platforms run F-450/F-550 — Tiger’s 3–5 ton-meter range is optimized for exactly these trucks

Tiger Utility Crane Configurations at Star Truck Equipment

  • Tiger 3 ton-meter + RKI Service Body on F-450/F-550 SRW — The go-to setup for electrical contractors, telecom crews, and light utility work. Enough crane to handle most utility lifts; compact enough to keep the truck maneuverable on urban job sites.
  • Tiger 4–5 ton-meter + RKI or STI Service Body on F-550 DRW — For heavier utility applications: transformer swaps, conduit reel handling, heavy municipal equipment lifts. More lift, still on a standard 1-ton plus chassis.
  • Tiger 5–7 ton-meter + STI Crane Body on F-600 — The heavy-duty utility crane truck build. Suitable for utility companies, large electrical contractors, and public works departments running regular heavy lift cycles.

Utility Industries We Serve

  • Electrical contractors — Transformer lifts, panel delivery, switchgear installation, pole hardware positioning
  • Telecom and communications companies — Equipment cabinet lifts, antenna and tower component handling, conduit reels
  • Water and wastewater utilities — Pump motor lifts, valve assembly installations, manhole cover handling
  • Municipal public works — Street light base installation, sign structure lifts, culvert work
  • HVAC commercial contractors — RTU lifts (with proper rigging), package unit positioning on commercial rooftops via boom truck assists
  • Solar installation companies — Panel pallet handling on large commercial and utility-scale solar projects across Texas and Louisiana

Service Body Pairings for Utility Crane Trucks

The right service body depends on your trade and storage needs:

  • RKI Service Bodies — Popular with electrical and telecom contractors; excellent compartment layout, aluminum or steel construction options
  • STI Service Bodies — Preferred for heavier utility and oilfield applications; heavy-gauge steel, crane-pad reinforced
  • CM Service Bodies — Good value option for contractors who want a solid service body without the heavy-duty premium

Get a Tiger Utility Crane Build at Star Truck Equipment

We install Tiger Cranes on service bodies here in Wharton, TX. Bring us your chassis, or let us source one — we’ll build your complete utility crane truck and have it ready to work. We serve utility contractors and electrical crews from Houston to San Antonio, Corpus Christi to Lake Charles, LA.

Call (979) 532-1486 or visit 2507 County Rd 231, Wharton, TX 77488.

Also see: Tiger Crane Bodies | RKI Service Bodies | All Crane Bodies | All Service Bodies