This special Volvo FM12 belongs to VST (Vamdrup Special Transport) from Vamdrup (DK).

It is a completely air suspended Volvo FM12-420 10x4 tractor with a Volvo Powertronic (automatic gearbox) which has a removeable crane mounted on the back.

That crane is a Effer 2100 4S STR, this has a maximum load capacity of 172 ton/mtr. The boom can extends 4x hydraulically and also has one manual extendable part. Maximum boom length is 12,5 mtr.
Lifting capacities:
4,3 mtr = 34,75 ton
5,12 mtr = 32,6 ton
6,52 mtr = 25,87 ton
7,92 mtr = 21,42 ton
9,34 mtr = 18,28 ton
10,86 mtr = 15,85 ton

The crane is of the STR type, this means it has the cilinders mounted beside the main boom. This decreases the height. Because of that the crane cannot fold together anymore, that is why it is being layed over the cab.
This crane has had several modifications in comparison to a normal 2100. The first modification is the foot/turret of the crane. It has been taken of a marine crane and is much lower than a standard 2100 foot. This way the total height of the crane could be greatly reduced (this foot is the second reason the crane cannot fold anymore).

The next, not standard feature, is the fact that the entire crane can be taken of. The entire construction (meaning, everything that is dark red) can be taken of together with the crane so that the axle loads of the truck are good enough for neighbour countries. As seen here (with 4 tons of ballast) the truck weighs 48 ton. This is not a problem in Danmark, but in other countries it isn’t allowed. When has been taken of, the truck can transport him itself by a drawbar trailer. The truck then can also be used as a 5-axled tractor for a lowloader. The complete unit can be taken of in aprox. 20 minutes.

Here we see the crane in it’s lowest position. Like this, the truck can go through doors with a height of only 2,95 mtr. Remarkable thing here is the head of the manual extension. It is raised so that the hook is mounted as heigh as possible. This way no space will be lost when it lifting in cramped areas (cramped by meaning of low roofs in buildings).

The crane has 6 outriggers. 4 of these are mounted to both sides. The other 2 are mounted at the rear. These can rotate at the top, this way they can be placed near and further away from the back of the truck (full hydraulic). The ground pressure caused by the outriggers is monitored constantly.

Another modification to the crane is this ballastsystem. During the road transport, the ballast is placed behind the trucks cab. Normally there are only 4 tons there, the maximum ballast of the system is 9 tons. A hydraulically extendable pick up mechanism picks the ballast up from this position and mounts it to the crane. By using this ballast the crane gets more stable without having to have a very large outrigger distance. This way heavy goods can be lifted closer to the truck.

Behind the cab we find the dieseltank and the hydraulic tank. Also mounted here are the raised exhaust and a storage cage for a heavy hook. At the drivers side there is a frame which holds six outrigger plates. This frame is moved hydraulically.

A small winch has been mounted into the crane. This isn’t meant to lift heavy goods, but it helps the driver to build up the crane. That heavy hook for instance can be lifted with it.