Cobra takes first four-tonner from Tracked Carriers

Tracked Carriers has launched its largest machine to date – and already taken the first orders.

The 4000 Pro is a compact all-electric crawler carrier with a 4t load capacity. Weighing less than 1t, standard features include a powered rotating deck which can extend to 2m x 3m to accommodate larger loads. It almost doubles the maximum carrying capacity of the Pro series, which previously ran to 2,200kg. And when used in tandem with Tracked Carriers’ Super Dolly, the 4000 Pro can carry up to 8t.

The first of the production machines will go to Cobra Lifting Services, a specialist spider crane hire company run by father and son Clint and Ryan Price. It joins Cobra’s existing fleet of Tracked Carriers including the 1200 and 2200 machines and a wide range of attachments including dollies. Based in Wickford in Essex, Cobra covers the whole of the UK but has a strong focus on London and south-east England. It offers lifting equipment for hire and a full contract lifting service.

“We have a strong relationship with Tracked Carriers and actually offered to field test the 4000 Pro for them when it was in development,” said Clint. “We were so impressed with it that when we handed it back, we placed the first order. It is a versatile machine, which is vital for the varied work we do. During the test phase we had it carrying bundles of steel beams and the amount you can fit on such a small and compact machine is impressive.”

Tracked Carriers remove the need for manual handling, reducing labour costs and increasing productivity. Their ability to transport long and bulky loads through tight spaces helps simplify installation projects and makes them ideal partners for mobile cranes.

“We use the Tracked Carriers on our own contract lifting jobs and find them invaluable,” said Ryan. “We have used them to transport everything from pizza ovens to hot tubs. We started with one machine, but they are so popular with our clients and so useful that it has quickly grown from there. This is partly down to the productivity benefits they bring, but also safety. A Tracked Carrier eliminates three men pushing a barrow and replaces it with one man remotely controlling a machine. You can’t get your fingers stuck in the steel from behind the controller and going up gradients is much safer. The lads really appreciate it as it makes their jobs much easier.”

Clint has been involved with cranes for over 30 years and has been an Appointed Person for over 15 years. Ryan, who is also an Appointed Person, is a crane supervisor, slinger/signaller and spider crane operator. Cobra is no stranger to leading the UK market with new equipment, as it was the first company in the country to own a Maeda MC285-3 spider crane.

“The 4000 Pro has already helped us to competitively quote for a job requiring the moving of a 3t man hoist that is 5m long,” said Clint. “With the deck extension it will fit just fine on the new machine. We need something to get the hoist down a narrow tunnel to the job site and this will be perfect.”