When it comes to truck-mounted cranes for service trucks, two names dominate the Texas and Louisiana market: Tiger Cranes and Stellar Industries. Both build capable truck cranes — but they target different buyers with different needs. Here’s an honest comparison to help you choose the right crane for your work truck.
Tiger Crane vs Stellar: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Tiger Cranes | Stellar Industries |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | North America (work truck focused) | Garner, IA |
| Capacity Range | 3–10 ton-meter (work truck market) | 3–50+ ton-meter (wide range) |
| Primary Market | F-450–F-550, Ram 4500–5500 service trucks | F-450–F-750, medium/heavy duty trucks |
| Service Body Pairing | Pairs with STI and RKI crane bodies | Compatible with multiple body brands |
| Texas/LA Availability | Available at Star Truck Equipment, Wharton TX | Dealer network available in TX/LA |
| Best For | Oilfield service, pipeline, utility, construction on 1-ton+ pickups | Heavy construction, municipal, fleet, larger capacity needs |
| Price Range (crane only) | $8,000–$22,000+ | $10,000–$50,000+ |
| Complete Crane Build | $20,000–$55,000 installed (crane + STI/RKI body + chassis) | $25,000–$80,000+ installed |
Tiger Cranes: Purpose-Built for Work Truck Applications
Tiger Cranes are engineered specifically for the 1-ton to medium-duty work truck market — the F-450s, F-550s, Ram 4500s, and Ram 5500s that Texas oilfield, pipeline, utility, and construction companies run every day. The Tiger Crane lineup (3, 5, and 7–10 ton-meter models) is optimized for these chassis, pairing cleanly with STI crane bodies and RKI crane bodies.
Tiger Crane Strengths
- Right-sized for Texas work trucks — 3–10 ton-meter range perfectly matches F-450–F-550 and Ram 4500–5500 GVWRs and payload ratings
- Local availability — Available at Star Truck Equipment in Wharton, TX — you can buy, install, and service your crane truck without shipping from out of state
- Seamless STI and RKI body pairing — Tiger Cranes and STI/RKI crane bodies are designed to work together, simplifying the build process
- Proven in Texas oilfield — Tiger Cranes are running daily in the Eagle Ford, Gulf Coast, and Permian Basin
- Accessible price point — Competitive pricing vs larger crane manufacturers for the 3–10 ton-meter range
Tiger Crane Considerations
- Maximum capacity tops out around 10 ton-meter — not the right choice for heavy-lift construction requiring 20–50+ ton-meter cranes
- Best paired with chassis cabs (F-450+) — not designed for 3/4-ton pickup applications
Stellar Industries Truck Cranes: Wide Capacity Range
Stellar Industries (Garner, IA) builds a broad line of truck-mounted cranes ranging from light-duty service truck cranes through heavy-lift construction cranes. Stellar is well known in the heavy construction, municipal, and utility fleet markets, offering cranes that go well beyond the capacity of Tiger’s work-truck-focused lineup.
Stellar Strengths
- Wide capacity range — Stellar’s lineup extends from small service truck cranes through very large capacity cranes (50+ ton-meter), serving heavy construction and municipal applications
- National dealer and service network — Stellar has broad dealer coverage across the US
- Municipal and fleet track record — Strong relationships with utility companies, municipalities, and national fleet buyers
- Integrated body options — Stellar also builds service bodies, allowing combined purchases
Stellar Considerations
- Higher price point in the overlapping 3–10 ton-meter range vs Tiger Cranes
- Heavier crane heads can add significant weight on 1-ton chassis — must carefully check payload ratings
- More complex product line — some buyers find the spec process more involved
Tiger Crane vs Stellar: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Tiger Crane If You:
- Are building an oilfield or pipeline service truck on an F-450, F-550, Ram 4500, or Ram 5500
- Need 3–10 ton-meter capacity for typical service and maintenance lifts
- Want a locally available crane with South Texas dealer support (Wharton, TX area)
- Are pairing with an STI or RKI crane body for an integrated build
- Want the most cost-effective crane in the 5–10 ton-meter range
Consider Stellar If You:
- Need crane capacity above 10 ton-meter for heavy construction work
- Run a national or large regional fleet standardized on Stellar equipment
- Operate F-600, F-750, or heavy-duty Class 6–7 trucks and need larger crane options
Building a Complete Crane Truck
At Star Truck Equipment, we build complete crane trucks — chassis + crane body + Tiger Crane — all under one roof. Our standard configurations include:
- 3 ton-meter crane build — F-450/Ram 4500 + STI or RKI crane body + Tiger 3T crane (~$22,000–$30,000 body + crane)
- 5 ton-meter crane build — F-550/Ram 4500 + STI crane body + Tiger 5T crane (~$28,000–$38,000 body + crane)
- 7–10 ton-meter crane build — F-550/Ram 5500 chassis cab + STI heavy-duty crane body + Tiger 7–10T crane (~$38,000–$55,000 body + crane)
See our crane bodies for sale page for full configuration options, or call us to discuss your specific application.
Talk to Our Crane Truck Team
Building a crane truck is a significant investment. Our team at Star Truck Equipment has spec’d crane truck builds for oilfield operators, pipeline contractors, utility companies, and construction fleets across Texas and Louisiana.
📞 Call us at (979) 532-1486 — we’re in Wharton, TX and can walk you through chassis selection, crane sizing, body configuration, and total installed cost. We’ll help you build the right crane truck for your work.