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MULE Flatbed with 10T Folding Crane

Note: the crane isn't working very well since the 1.0 update.


The Mule is an AISO-compatible general purpose flatbed truck, with a foldable crane rated to over 10 tonnes. The crane has good range, allowing you to unload your payload flexibly -- even onto other vehicles. The Mule's diesel-electric drive is economical, and delivers plenty of torque, allowing you to move your payload at a top speed of 50kph.


The crane, loosely based on a Hiab crane, folds neatly behind the cab, yet is capable of incredible lifting power. At full extension it can comfortably lift a 10-tonne payload -- the kind of power usually reserved for much larger cranes. The crane folds out and then extends telescopically in 3 segments. The crane rotates on its base, and the actuator can also be rotated to turn the payload.

This really pushes the limit of what the physics engine will let you do. It uses 96 compact linear track bases to achieve the highest power density possible. The total number of physics bodies remains low (6 for the crane), and it is surprisingly reliable, although sometimes the main boom refuses to lift up fully.


The Mule is diesel electric, allowing the vehicle to power the crane or be used as a powerful auxiliary generator. The engines will start and stop automatically to keep the battery charged. It uses the optimum gearbox ratio for electricity generation and is highly economical -- consuming only 800 liters of fuel per day under full load.


The drivers seat controls the vehicles movement, lighting and forward winch. Just release the parking brake and use WASD. You don't need to touch the master key (its already on) and the engines will stop when the batteries are full anyway.

The crane operators seat controls the crane. The controls are labelled. Note that to lift a container you first have to attach the container adapter which is supplied for you.

• Hi-Pro 10-tonne compact, foldable crane
  
• AISO compatible with room to spare
  
• 8x8 diesel-electric drive
  
• 1700L fuel tank
  
• Twin medium engine
  
• Ultra efficient (800L/day)
  
• 50km/h top speed
  
• Xenon headlights
  
• Amber hazard lights with 5-channel, 2-phase pattern
  
• Floodlights
  
• Forward winch

Submitted to MrNJerseys community challenge, for which it demonstrated lifting an AISO container containing 30kL of diesel (approx. 7 tonnes) onto a ship.

All microcontrollers and features designed and built by myself.

The included container courtesy of MrNJersey and the community challenge.