A Hiab truck usually means any rigid truck with a loader crane mounted on it, used to lift materials on and off. Strictly, though, Hiab is one crane brand, so check who actually built the crane.
That matters if you’re hunting for a hiab crane for sale in Kenya. Plenty of used crane trucks for sale in Kenya carry other makes. Keep three things apart: the truck (a rigid), the equipment (a loader crane) and the maker.
Hiab vs Fassi: what is the difference?
They’re two separate companies. Fassi builds its cranes in Italy. Hiab is another brand altogether, though its name has stuck so well that people say Hiab the way some say Hoover for any vacuum cleaner.
Some of our crane rigids carry Fassi cranes. If you came looking for a Hiab, judge a Fassi-equipped truck on:
- Its load chart at your working distances
- How it’s mounted
- Condition and service records
- Parts and support in Kenya
- Fit with your loads and sites
And Fassi isn’t one thing. A small model and a big one differ like a pickup and a lorry.
What should you check before buying a used crane truck?
Seven questions. Most need patience rather than an engineering degree.
1. Is the crane boom in good condition?
Start by walking the boom from end to end, extensions included. Anything bent, cracked or freshly welded is worth asking about. With the crane stowed, feel the pins for play. Then watch it go through its range. A clunk on the way out often means wear. You can’t see inside the steel, though, so get a technician to look at anything odd.
2. Are the hydraulics working properly?
With everything off, look at the hoses, rams and seals. Wet patches deserve a question. Once someone authorised runs it, stand back. Jerky? Whining? Shuddering? None of that is good. Ask when the oil was last changed. One firm rule: keep away from any leak under pressure, and never touch it.
3. Do the outriggers provide stable support?
Outriggers are the legs that slide out and press down on the ground, so the truck doesn’t tip when the crane takes a load.
Bent legs, cracked beams and sticky locks are better found now than on site. Have them run out and back, watching for oil weeping. Ask whether pads come with the truck. Before any lift, the truck must be set up and stabilised following the manufacturer’s operating instructions.
4. Is the truck chassis suitable for the crane?
Crane, mounting frame, chassis and axles have to work as one. Get underneath and follow the rails back from the crane mounts. A crack, a kink or a rushed-looking modification needs explaining, as does any repair that might hide an old overload.
Then work out the payload left after the crane and body, using the truck’s ratings and the crane’s load chart together.
5. Are the crane controls and safety features working?
Try the levers, or the remote if fitted. Find the emergency stops and confirm they work. Labels, instructions and the load chart should be readable. Test any overload protection during an authorised run, and only count a feature as fitted when the listing confirms it.
6. Is the rigid truck mechanically sound?
Start it from cold and listen. Then take a proper drive, not just round the yard. Does the clutch bite cleanly? How do the brakes feel? Afterwards, look for fresh drips underneath. Before money changes hands, have a qualified, independent vehicle and crane technician go over it.
7. Does the crane match the job?
Before shortlisting anything, write down:
- Your heaviest load, and how far it sits from the crane
- Height and reach needed
- Where you’ll load and unload
- Room for outriggers, plus ground and access
- How often the crane will work
Here’s what trips people up. Push the boom out and capacity drops, sometimes a lot. Ignore the headline figure and use the load chart for that exact crane.
Which jobs are crane-mounted rigid trucks suitable for?
| Application | Potential use | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Building-material deliveries | Loading or unloading suitable construction materials | Required reach, load weight and access at delivery sites |
| Builders’ merchants | Handling materials at customer premises | Frequent-use suitability, control condition and stabilisation |
| Construction sites | Moving equipment and materials around a site | Ground conditions, outrigger deployment and lifting requirements |
| Equipment-hire businesses | Supplying a truck and crane for different jobs | Versatility, inspection records, maintenance and operator requirements |
| Industrial or warehouse deliveries | Handling suitable machinery or palletised loads | Load geometry, attachment compatibility and safe lifting capacity |
Not every truck mounted crane for sale in Kenya suits all of these. Pick one for yours.
What documents should you request before buying?
- Vehicle identification and registration documents
- Service and repair history
- Crane maker, model, serial number, manual and load chart
- Crane inspection records, plus any safety certification
- Truck and crane ratings
- Whatever export and import paperwork the sale needs
Kenya requires a pre-export inspection before shipping, and the Kenya Revenue Authority sets duty. Your clearing agent can confirm current rules.
How can Kenyan buyers compare available crane trucks?
Forget the brand for a minute and hold each truck up against your job. Start with the crane: who made it, what it lifts at your radius, its reach and outriggers. Then the truck underneath, its age, chassis and spare payload. Paperwork and servicing costs come last.
Looking for a Hiab crane for sale in Kenya? Two Fassi options
On our listings right now there’s a 2005 Volvo FM 9-340.
It’s a 6×4 on an 8-speed manual, carrying a Fassi F170 with two extensions.
If you move machinery as well as materials, the 2001 Scania 114-340 could be worth a look.
It has a sleeper cab, a beavertail body and a Fassi F210 remote crane, also with two extensions and an 8-speed manual.
Neither listing shows capacity or price. Ask, and we’ll find the load chart and confirm availability.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Loader crane | A crane mounted on a vehicle to lift and move suitable loads. |
| Rigid truck | A truck in which the cab and load-carrying body are mounted on the same chassis. |
| Hiab | A specific loader-crane brand whose name is also commonly used generically in some markets. |
| Fassi | A separate, Italian manufacturer of loader cranes, fitted to some of RPC Trading’s crane rigids. |
| Outriggers | Deployable supports used to help stabilise a crane truck during lifting operations. |
| Load chart | Manufacturer documentation showing permitted lifting capacity for specified crane configurations and working radii. |
Frequently asked questions
What is a Hiab truck?
Usually, a rigid truck with a loader crane for lifting goods on and off. But Hiab is also a crane maker, so a “Hiab truck” may well carry a crane from somebody else. Read the plate on the crane.
Is a Fassi crane the same as a Hiab crane?
No, two different companies make them, each with many models. What you really want to compare is the particular crane: its load chart, the shape it’s in, its history and whether parts are easy to get locally.
Can I buy a Fassi crane truck instead of a Hiab truck in Kenya?
You can. Will it lift your heaviest load at the reach you need? Is it mounted properly on a healthy chassis? Can someone near you in Kenya service it? If the answer’s yes each time, it’s worth considering.
What should I inspect before buying a used crane truck?
Go round the crane first: boom, hydraulics, outriggers, controls and how it’s fixed to the chassis. Then treat the truck like any used truck, starting with engine, gearbox, brakes and tyres. Then have an independent technician check it.
How do I check the lifting capacity of a truck-mounted crane?
Read the plate on the crane for its maker, model and serial number. With those, you can get the right load chart from the manufacturer. Look up what it’s allowed to lift at your working radius, which will be less than the headline figure. Don’t forget the truck’s own weight ratings.
Where can I find used crane-mounted rigid trucks for Kenya?
We list our used rigid trucks online, and some carry Fassi loader cranes. Stock comes and goes, so message us with what you need to lift, how far, for what work and where in Kenya. We’ll say what we’ve got and send photos and videos.
Inspect It as One Working Unit
Look at crane and truck together. A sound boom won’t help if the hydraulics leak, the outriggers are bent or the paperwork’s missing.
RPC Trading is a family-run UK business supplying used rigid trucks, including crane-mounted rigids, to buyers in Kenya, with export preparation and help arranging shipping.
If you’re after a crane truck for sale in Kenya, have a look at our available rigid trucks.
Send us the load, its reach, the job and your location, and we’ll tell you what fits. There’s more on buying used trucks for Kenya on our Kenya page.
