Grove’s new truck crane made the rounds throughout the Midwest, stopping at many dealers from Dec. 4-15. The schedule of events included: Contractors Machinery, Detroit, MI, Dec. 6; Gleason Cranes Inc., Chicago, IL, Dec. 8; Fabick Tractor, St. Louis, MO, Dec. 11; and J.W. Burress, Baltimore, MD, Dec. 15.

Grove’s new 40-ton (36 t) truck crane is equipped with 95 ft. (29 m) of boom, 46 ft. (14 m) of offsettable jib, a 300-hp (224 kW) Caterpillar diesel engine, and has a maximum tip height of 147 ft. (45 m). It features a height of 11 ft. 3 in. (3.4 m); width of 8 ft. 4 in. (2.5 m); length of 36 ft. 11 in. (11.3 m); and a wheelbase of 212 in. (538 cm).

John Fabick Tractor Company, Fenton, MO, experienced an impressive attendance during its Grove-sponsored TMS500E Demo Days on Dec. 10-11.

The TMS500E is roadable in Fabick’s territory of Missouri and Illinois, the company said.

According to Fabick, customers were impressed with the road ability that the air-ride suspension provided at 65 mph (105 kmh). In addition, because of the longer boom length, customers liked the idea that they can use the crane at their job sites without attaching the jib.

Other comments about the TMS500E included smoothness and placement of control, especially in the operator’s cab; roominess of the cab; better visibility in the cab, particularly to the right of the driver’s cab; and good ground clearance for job sites.

Doyle Bryant, Grove’s director of product development and marketing, said, “We designed the TMS500E with the idea of keeping it simple and easy to operate. At the sme time, we wanted a great highway ride and all indications are, we succeeded. It’s our newest and best three-axle truck crane on the marke