A crane truck is a system: chassis, body, crane, and outriggers all have to be sized together. Pick the chassis first and you’ll usually pick wrong. Here’s how the common medium-duty options stack up for Texas oilfield, pipeline, and mechanic crane builds.
In stock now in Wharton, TX — real prices, installed in one business day.
Shop RKI from $8,500 | Shop Norstar from $9,550 | Shop CM from $3,950
See all current inventory or call (979) 532-1486.
Medium-Duty Chassis Compared for Crane Bodies
| Chassis | GVWR range | Common CA options | Practical crane range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-550 (cab & chassis) | up to ~19,500 lbs | 60″, 84″, 108″, 120″ | 4,000–7,500 lb cranes | Most common service-crane platform in Texas |
| Ford F-600 | up to ~22,000 lbs | 60″, 84″, 108″, 120″ | 6,000–10,000 lb cranes | Same footprint as F-550, more GVWR — best value jump |
| Ram 5500 | up to ~19,500 lbs | 60″, 84″, 108″, 120″ | 4,000–7,500 lb cranes | Cummins, tight turning radius |
| Silverado/Sierra 5500HD | up to ~19,500 lbs | 60″, 84″, 108″, 120″ | 4,000–7,500 lb cranes | Duramax, good visibility |
| Class 7 (F-750, International HV) | 26,000+ lbs | 84″–120″+ | 10,000 lb+ cranes | CDL territory — only when the crane demands it |
Sizing the Crane to the Truck, Not the Other Way Around
Work backwards: heaviest load × maximum reach = the moment rating you need. A 6,000 lb crane at 20 ft of boom is not a 6,000 lb lift at 20 ft — check the load chart. Then add crane weight (1,200–3,500 lbs), body weight (1,800–3,500 lbs), compressor/welder, tools, and fuel. Sum it and compare to chassis payload. This is where F-550 builds get overloaded and F-600 becomes the right answer.
Why 84″ and 108″ CA Dominate Crane Builds
- 84″ CA — 9 ft service body, mid-size crane, still maneuverable on lease roads.
- 108″ CA — 11 ft body, bigger crane, more compartment space for a mechanic truck.
- 120″ CA — 12 ft+ bodies, largest cranes, heaviest tool loads; watch rear overhang and bridge law weight distribution.
Body and Crane Brands We Build With
We build crane trucks on crane bodies from RKI (Houston, TX built — crane-ready subframes, steel and aluminum), Norstar, and CM, paired with Tiger truck-mounted cranes. Every crane build gets the reinforced subframe, outrigger placement, and hydraulic plumbing checked against the crane’s own mounting spec before we install.
What It Costs
Crane-ready service bodies start around $8,500 installed for in-stock steel units; complete crane builds with a mounted Tiger crane typically land in the $30,000–$60,000 range depending on crane size, compressor, and outrigger configuration.
Talk to Our Team in Wharton, TX
We spec, sell, and install truck beds and bodies for customers across Texas and Louisiana from our shop at 2507 County Rd 231 in Wharton, TX. Tell us your heaviest lift and the reach you need — we’ll spec the crane, body, and chassis together. Most in-stock installs are done in one business day.
📞 Call (979) 532-1486 with your year, make, model, wheelbase and cab-to-axle measurement and we’ll tell you exactly what fits and what it costs installed.