Equipter 5400 Mobile Crane vs. 7000 Towable Boom Handler: Which Lift Fits Your Job?

Most lifting equipment forces a trade-off: the big machines need a hauler and a setup crew, and the small ones stay tied to whatever vehicle carried them in. Equipter® takes a different path. Both of its lifts tow to the job behind your truck, then disconnect and operate on their own — you unhitch, and the machine moves and works around the site without the tow vehicle attached.

That shared design is the starting point. The 5400 is a mobile crane; the 7000 is a towable boom handler — two different tools for two different problems. Here's how they compare, and how to tell which one belongs on your truck.

Towable to the site, free to work once you're there

Both the Equipter 5400 and 7000 are built to do two jobs in one machine.

First, they're towable: hitch to your truck and haul the machine to the job behind the vehicle you already drive — no flatbed, no dedicated hauler, no waiting on a delivery. Then, once you're on site, you disconnect from the truck and the machine moves and operates independently, repositioning around the job under its own power so you can place loads exactly where they need to go.

That combination — tow it in, then work it off the truck — is what sets both machines apart from equipment that has to stay tethered or needs a separate hauler.

Equipter 5400 — the Mobile Crane

The Equipter 5400 (the Mobile Crane) is built for precise lifting and placement. It carries a max lift capacity of 4,431 lbs and a maximum reach of 23', on a 7,500 lb GVWR platform. For contractors setting HVAC units, placing materials, or handling repeat lifts where you need to put a load exactly on the mark, the 5400 is the controlled-placement workhorse.

Lean toward the 5400 when:

• You need maximum lift capacity for the load.
• The job calls for precise, controlled placement.
• Lifts are repetitive — setting units, staging materials, loading and unloading.

Equipter 7000 — the Towable Boom Handler

The Equipter 7000 (the Towable Boom Handler) isn't a crane — it's a boom-style material handler built for reach. It offers a 25'5" lift height, a 4,000 lb lift capacity, and an 11' boom extension, on a 14,000 lb GVWR. That reach makes it the choice for high material handling — getting bundles, units, and building components up to a second story, a roof edge, or out over an obstacle.

Lean toward the 7000 when:

• The job needs height and forward reach, not just a lift.
• You're placing material up high — roof edges, upper floors, over obstructions.
• Reach matters more than squeezing out the last few hundred pounds of capacity.

Side-by-side

Both tow to the site and operate off the truck once you arrive. The difference is what they're built to do:

Equipter 5400 (Mobile Crane): 4,431 lb max lift; 23' max reach; 7,500 lb GVWR. Best for maximum capacity and precise placement.

Equipter 7000 (Towable Boom Handler): 4,000 lb lift capacity; 25'5" lift height with 11' boom extension; 14,000 lb GVWR. Best for high and forward reach.

How to decide

Since both machines tow in and work off the truck, mobility isn't the deciding factor — capability is. Ask two questions. First: is the challenge weight, or height and reach? Heavier, precise placement points to the 5400 crane; getting material up high points to the 7000 boom handler. Second: how high and how far do loads need to go? If you're routinely lifting to a roof edge or upper floor, the 7000's reach earns its place.

Many contractors will perhaps end up with both over time — the 5400 crane for capacity and controlled placement, the 7000 boom handler for reach. If you're not sure which fits your mix of jobs, it's worth a quick conversation about your typical loads, sites, and reach requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Are the Equipter 5400 and 7000 towable?

Yes. Both the Equipter 5400 mobile crane and the 7000 towable boom handler are towable — you hitch them to a truck and haul them to the job. Once on site, you disconnect from the truck and the machine operates and repositions on its own, without the tow vehicle attached.

Can you operate them without the tow vehicle?

Yes. After towing the machine to the job, you unhitch it and operate it independently, moving it around the site to place loads. Neither has to stay connected to the truck to work.

What's the difference between the Equipter 5400 and 7000?

The 5400 is a mobile crane built for lift capacity and precise placement (4,431 lb max lift, 23' reach). The 7000 is a towable boom handler — not a crane — built for reach (25'5" lift height, 11' boom extension, 4,000 lb capacity). Both tow to the site and operate off the truck.

Which lifts more?

The Equipter 5400 lists a 4,431 lb max lift; the Equipter 7000 lists 4,000 lbs with greater reach. Choose based on whether you prioritize capacity and precision or height and reach.

Find the right lift for your jobs

Both machines exist to do one thing: tow to the job, drive after being disconnected from the truck, and put heavy material exactly where it needs to go — without the cost and footprint of a full-size crane. Compare the Equipter 5400 Mobile Crane for capacity and precise placement and the Equipter 7000 Towable Boom Handler for high and forward reach — or call us at 717-661-3591 to talk through which fits your loads and sites.