A mobile crane is a self-propelled mobile vehicle with a telescopic boom with cable or hydraulic drive.

The largest mobile cranes in the world can lift more than 1,000 tonnes, but most can lift between 50 and 250 tonnes. A mobile crane has an outrigger or stabilizer, which is a leg that extends to the side of the crane, allowing a greater "working radius" or distance from the crane to lift the load.

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Almost all rods, the smallest moving cranes, have a separate cabin where the crane driver can operate the crane. These are usually killed (rotated) with a tap. Some taps have remote controls.

Mobile cranes are different from truck mounted cranes (mobile cranes do not carry loads that are not associated with crane operation). This is also different from a crawler crane which is a chain crane, and a tower crane which is a crane on a high vertical tower.

With tow trucks, companies tend to own or lease them over the long term because they are an integral part of the company's business, such as supplying building materials.

With mobile cranes, they are usually set up for a specific task, e.g. to lift big yachts from trailers or turbines on wind farm masts, and they have qualified operators. Specific skills are required to operate cranes.