8258-1: Crane Truck

With built-in Power Functions, this Crane Truck always gets the job done!

When you need to move the biggest and heaviest loads, it's time to call on the mighty crane truck! This massive, realistic vehicle includes a Power Functions control box that you can use to unfold, raise and lower its powerful, motorized crane arm, and to extend the outriggers to stabilize your cargo. Download instructions for rebuilding into a Duty Wrecker! An exciting and challenging building experience with this 2-in-1 real world model! Try the functionalities with the included Power Functions XL Motor, Power Functions Battery box, and Power Functions Control Switch! Power Functions powers the crane arm and extendable outriggers! Crane unfolds , raises and lowers and swivels 360'°! Cab opens to reveal interior details and V8 engine with moveable pistons! Rebuilds into Duty Wrecker! Crane measures 20.9 inches (53cm) x 22 inches (56cm)!

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Instructions and parts list

Instructions for this set can be downloaded from LEGO.com:

Filename File size Format Notes/Region
4561896.pdf 13327Kb Book 1
4561899.pdf 16692Kb Book 3
4561903.pdf 1823Kb Add Power Functions
4565562.pdf 14949Kb Book 4
4582173.pdf 15257Kb Book 2

Instructions for this set may also be available at Peeron.

A parts list for this set may be available at BrickLink and/or Peeron.

Reviews

 

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8258
Crane Truck

Fantastic!

Posted by darkmyble2008 in United Kingdom on 11 January 2010

In years gone by I've owned quite a few Technic Lego sets and was keen for my just turned 13 year old son to do the same. After buying him 8264, 8292 and 8294 and of course helping him I sat and wondered was there a set out there that would satisfy a veritable elder at 35 years old.

Indeed there was, this the massive 8251 Crane Truck. I sat at the kitchen table and in 6 hours (and a few coffees) built it completely. Technically it was very different to all the sets I'd ever built before, but having built some sets with my son I found the transition from old to new quite easy.

I wouldn't say this set is for the faint hearted.. you have to be really into Technic to appreciate the complexity of it's design and engineering prowess, but with a logical and methodical approach even my 8 year old son was capable of completing some sections.

I also found my imagination working overtime, wondering how I could motorise all of the working parts and set to work making the Truck drive and steer.. I noticed that in the cab above the engine there would be enough space for a motor and with a few slight adjustments, managed to attach one.. it now drives forward and backwards.. of course it will be better when I have received the remote and IR sensors to fully establish remote functionality.

One thing is for sure this set engages you, drives you, and once complete gives you a wonderful sense of achievement and to top it all off it's way bigger than any of the other sets we currently own.

All in all this set is amazing and a must for anyone who is an avid builder/collector.

PS This set inspired me so much, that today I have purchased the Lego Technic Mobile Crane 8421 and oh my gosh was it expensive! I look forward to receiving it and letting you guys know how I get on. Also placed an order for the remote control and 3 IR receivers to further the enjoyment.

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Crane Truck

Very big, very complex

Posted by mensink in Netherlands on 20 December 2009

After building the 8275 (motorized bulldozer) a year ago, I only built the smaller 8261 (rally truck) in the meantime, so I was really looking forward to building a complex model.

And yes, this model really is complex enough. Of course, building with the instructions is not really that hard. I find that I spend more time gathering the needed pieces than putting them together. The number of parts is enormous, so it pays off doing some sorting before you begin.

First, what I really like about this box:
- The vast number of pieces, and the variety of them. If you like to design your own models like I do, you'll have no regrets here. There are loads and loads of gears and other fancy but useful parts.
- There are some really nice engineering examples in this model, like smart ways to gear up/down, or the extending outriggers.
- Some great features are offered. The model steers, has extending outriggers, and a reasonably capable crane.
- The resulting model looks really impressive.

Some things I didn't like so much:
- You start off building the gearbox, but you have to wait until the end to see it do its magic. Because of the way you have to build it, and that it's entirely contained within the body later on, I didn't know what was going on there until I opened it up again (right after finishing it, yes), and even now it's not 100% clear to me what happens everywhere.
- Like the 8275, they had to give this model an 'engine'. I mean the grey thing with the yellow things popping in/out when driving the truck. Where it didn't add much to the 8275, with this model I consider it absolutely pointless. The thing is located right below the cabin and it's almost not visible when driving the truck. Unless of course you open up the cabin, but who drives a truck with an open cabin?
- The crane is OK but far from awesome. I'm not keen on the way the crane is operated, because it basically gets in the way of the controls, or my hands get in the way of the crane. Also, within a couple of minutes I managed to mess up one of the switches. Probably this was due to a fault of my own while constructing or something.

Altogether this is a great buy, and though the default model has its quirks, there are still a lot of great features in it. And the huge amount of parts are great for the creative builder.

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Crane Truck

Just as big, just as cool...

Posted by Lexhoya in Netherlands on 02 November 2009

I own a few sets now, but just as the 8285, this is a large one. Just bought it on Legoworld in NL (€110), love it, couldn't wait to get home :-)
The building of the gearbox takes almost 2 booklets (with parts of the frame). This means you have to wait quite a while before you can see some result on how the truck is going to look like. Nevertheless, the build took me 4,5 hrs (in total) which is no fooling around, no playing around, just picking up pieces and continue building, drinking some coffee and finalizing the build at 2AM.

The only downside to this set (as opposed to the Tow Truck) is that the B-model needs to be printed manually after you download the PDF's :( I know this is to save the environment (or something), but now I need to print it myself... Still need to build that one, but first I want to enjoy the presence of this set.
And one other thing is that the boom and lineair actuators can not handle large loads. The movement is cool, that's for sure, but any load will 'stop' the clutch-wheels. Maybe making then gear down a bit, keeps the strength in the set.

Next set will be the bulldozer (8275), if I have the money (and if my wife approves...). But for all people looking for a large set with some entertainement: this is a good one.

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8258
Crane Truck

The Most Complex Set EVER.

Posted by jamal_lts in Singapore on 31 October 2009

This has to be the most complex set ever in Technic history. With only one motor driving 4 functions, the gears, axles and clutch arrangement are a wonder to fix up and it all started with the first book. I guess u have to start with this with full concentration. If this was done in the later parts of the book, i would have been quite tired to follow everything correctly.

However, I would certainly like to see the outriggers stablize the truck without doing it manually at the end. It comes out automatically, but instead of having to manually bring it down, why not it unfolds itself for a steadfast footing on the ground.

Warning:

You have to put in batteries as instructed when building the set. The ending parts requires you to extend the outriggers, which cannot be done manually as the motor is already engaged.

But what you can do , if its already too late, is to pull out the mudflaps and tilit the truck cab so you have a clearing to fix in the front outriggers. The back ones are fairly easy with a slight angle to the fix.

The crane section is really superb. Just looking at the crane arms folding and unfolding is just an awed sight. Especially, when it comes to the leverage needed to fold it inwards. A great modification would be adding a motor to the crane section to make the reeling in and out much easier.

TIP: to turn it around manually, take out the smaller gear of the two which is located at the base nearer to the frame at the back of the truck. This small gear frees the big gear from the being engaged to the motor. Now you turn the crane when idle without using batteries when displaying it.

The rest of the truck are standard contstructions, but the worth of the effort is fixing the crane and the gearings in an excellent and new way.


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Crane Truck

Great Technic set with lots of functions

Posted by kostasm13 in Greece on 20 September 2009

With one word: Amazing!
Just one motor, but so many functions!
It was very challenging to build, especially the first part,
with all the axles and gears stuck in little space.
Unlike #8285 (Tow Truck), it is very solid, even in the rear part where there are lesser pieces.
That's thanks to the frame pieces (I don't know how they officially called) which created great stability.
It tried to make the doors open, but some parts were unstable, so I built the doors as they were original.
I bought #8870 Led Light Set and it's gonna be very beautiful.
This and #8421 (Mobile Crane) are the best Techinc sets I have ever built.

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