SnowRunner How to Use Crane: Controls, Tips & Best Cranes

A crane can rescue a flipped truck, recover a cargo spill on a mountain road, or let you load cargo without paying for automatic loading. Lifting too far over the side can also tip your truck. This SnowRunner how to use crane guide covers the controls on PC, PlayStation and Xbox, how to hook and drop loads safely, how log cranes differ, and which crane to fit for each job.

Fitting a Crane and Getting Ready to Lift

Cranes are add-ons, so start in the garage. Open Customize and look under Frame Add-ons for the cranes your truck accepts. When the crane is installed, drive out and start the engine, because most cranes draw power from it.

Open the function panel with D-pad Up on a controller or V on PC. This menu holds every crane option. Check the controls menu or the bindings at the bottom of the crane screen when you forget a button.

Anchors are optional, but use them for anything heavy. Select Activate Anchors in the function menu and the stabilizer legs extend from the crane. When the job is done, either retract the anchors or pick Reset Crane, which stows everything for you. Some players drive short distances with the legs out for extra stability. The legs can catch on the ground and on obstacles, so keep that to slow, open terrain.

Official page: SnowRunner (focus-entmt.com)

Crane Controls on PC, PlayStation and Xbox

With the function menu open, press Square (PlayStation), X (Xbox) or C (PC) to take control of the crane. The camera changes to show you are in crane mode.

Action	PlayStation	Xbox	PC
Enter crane mode (from function menu)	Square	X	C
Rotate the arm	Left stick	Left stick	A / D
Extend / retract the boom	Left stick up/down	Left stick up/down	W / S
Raise / lower the boom	R1 / L1	RB / LB	R / F
Reel the hook in	Square	X	E
Reel the hook out	Triangle	Y	Q
Attach / detach hook	Cross	A	Mouse click
Exit crane mode	Circle	B	B

The right stick or mouse moves the camera. Click the stick or mouse to switch view types when the load is hard to see. Zoom with back and forward on the stick or the mouse wheel. Practice raising and lowering the boom before attaching a heavy load. Expect some trial and error in your first few lifts.

Hooking, Moving and Dropping a Load

1. Unpack the cargo first. A packed load has no attach point. Unpack it from the function menu before you try to lift it.
2. Find the pickup point. Any truck, trailer or cargo the crane can lift shows the same circular icon you see when winching manually.
3. Move the hook onto it. The crane does not snap to targets the way the automatic winch does. Steer the hook as close to the pickup point as you can until it highlights.
4. Attach. Press the attach button. A sound and a visual cue confirm that the hook is connected.
5. Move the load. Use the arm, boom and cable controls to place it.
6. Set it down and detach. Lower the load with the same controls and press the attach button again to release it.
7. Pack it. If you loaded cargo onto a bed or trailer, select Pack Cargo so it locks into its slots.

Cargo is not fragile, so you can drop it from a height without losing anything. Trucks do take damage when dropped, however.

When the Crane Won't Lift

• Shorten the reach. A fully extended arm adds leverage against you. Pull the boom in closer and try again. That alone often lets the crane lift heavier items.
• Reposition the truck. If lifting over the side tilts your truck, winch or drive it around so the load is behind or in front of it.
• Use the cable, not the boom. On big cranes, avoid full extension. Keep the boom low and raise or lower the load with the hook line to keep the center of gravity down.
• Fit a bigger crane. Every crane has a maximum load. Some loads are simply too heavy for it.

Which Crane to Fit

Crane	Class	Notes
LC 3.8	Loading crane	Smallest tier. Works with cargo beds, and with trailers on multipurpose trucks
IM50	Loading crane	Same small tier as the LC 3.8
PC-320	Heavy crane	Same lifting power as the Avto-23
Avto-23	Heavy crane	Heavier than the PC-320. American trucks usually carry more weight to offset it
LK-2NY	Largest crane	Added in Season 10: Fix & Connect. Nearly 14 tons, roughly double the Avto-23 and triple the PC-320

Loading cranes handle single-slot cargo. Trucks such as the Azov 73210, ZiKZ 612H "Mastodon" and Kenworth 963 can pair them with a bed and a trailer. Patch 43 added a 90-degree rotation for the LC 3.8 on the Mercedes-Benz Actros. Patch 42 added the Actros extended frame, allowing it to accept a large crane. The SLEI-64 loading crane can also be combined with a sideboard or flatbed.

Heavy cranes (PC-320, Avto-23) are the tools for rescues and heavy loads. Always deploy the anchors and find flat ground before lifting. A small or medium crane will not lift a medium or large truck. A heavy crane can lift lighter medium trucks but not giants such as the Derry Special 15C-177 or Tatra T813.

The LK-2NY is a substantial hauling commitment at nearly 14 tons. Expect its weight to make hills and mud difficult. The Azov 73210, ZiKZ 612H and Kenworth 963 handle it best. Use it as a last resort for long trips over rough ground. Its legs fold away completely, so it won't snag on trees the way the Avto-23 and PC-320 can.

Trucks With Unique Cranes

• KRS 58 "Bandit": comes with a crane preinstalled.
• Tatra Phoenix and Tatra FORCE T815-7: use the TAT-12.
• International Loadstar 1700 and Navistar 5000-MV: get a loading crane variant with wider anchors.
• White Western Star 4964 (PC-320) and ZiKZ 605R (Avto-23): both have extended anchors.
• Caterpillar TH357: its fork front end does a crane's job.
• Kirovets K-700 (Season 8: Grand Harvest): its large grab does a crane's job.

Cranes can add considerable weight and increase tipping risk. Remove a crane when a route doesn't need it. For early-game crane work, the International Fleetstar F2070A is a solid choice.

Using a Log Crane

Log cranes use similar controls with one difference: there is no automatic hook.

• Open and close the claw with A (Xbox), Cross (PlayStation) or Space (PC) to grab logs.
• Rotate the claw with D-pad Left/Right or Q/E on PC.
• Load three separate logs, then select Pack Cargo in the function menu to turn them into a full load.

You can load logs automatically or by hand. Hand loading needs the correct trailer, frame add-on, or both, depending on log length. If Pack Cargo won't work, either the logs aren't lined up properly on the bunks or bed, or you have the wrong trailer or add-on. Shift the logs until the option becomes available.

Advanced Crane Tricks

Carry an extra load while driving. Hook a load, position it where you can drive with it (resting on the roof or the trailer behind works well), then press B or Circle to exit crane mode without detaching. The cargo stays attached while you drive. Keep the crane centered and as low as possible. Loading cranes manage one slot this way, and bigger cranes manage more. You can't use the winch while the crane is holding a load.

Skip loading fees in hard mode. In hard mode, automatic cargo loading costs money. Fit a crane early, such as the LC 3.8 on the GMC MH9500, and load cargo by hand to save money across a whole region.

Overload with care. Stacking unpacked cargo on a bed with a crane lets you carry more than the slots allow. Pack whatever fits and drive slowly, since loose cargo falls off when the truck leans.

Crane Achievements

Use a telescopic crane to work toward Goliath:

Achievement	How to unlock	Tip
Goliath	Use a telescopic crane to raise a special objective semi-trailer at least 5 meters above the ground	Head to Black River in Michigan and use the large mission fuel semi-trailer parked beside the gas station pumps

FAQ

Why can't I attach the crane hook to my cargo?

The cargo is probably still packed. Unpack it in the function menu so the attach point appears. Then steer the hook right onto the circular icon until it highlights.

Do I need to deploy anchors every time?

No. Anchors are optional, but they greatly reduce the chance of tipping, especially with the PC-320, Avto-23 or LK-2NY. Use them whenever the load is heavy or the ground is uneven.

How do I put the crane away?

Exit crane mode with B or Circle, open the function menu, and select Reset Crane. This folds the arm and retracts the anchors in one step.