Summit Redefines Cranes with 829 Hydraulic Model and ASE Phase 5 Control System
At this year’s Utility Expo 2025, Summit Truck Bodies made waves by unveiling its ground-breaking 829 Hydraulic Crane alongside the next-generation Advanced Safety Electronics (ASE) Phase 5 Control System. Together, they represent a bold step forward in efficiency, precision, and operator experience, underscoring Summit’s drive to marry mechanical strength with smart control technology.
The company’s latest crane marks a milestone for the industry, seamlessly blending lightweight design, enhanced lifting power, and advanced operator safety. The debut confirmed what many in the utility and construction sectors have long anticipated: Summit is setting new benchmarks for jobsite performance and user-centric innovation.
Engineering Strength Without the Weight
The new Summit 829 Crane boasts a 29-foot horizontal reach, a robust 48,000-foot-pound rating, and a maximum lift capacity of 8,000 pounds, making it the highest-capacity crane within Summit’s 7 Series line-up. Yet, despite this impressive power, the crane is a masterclass in material efficiency. Built with high-strength steel, it weighs 30 percent less than its predecessors while delivering a 37.5 percent boost in overall strength.
Chris Walter, plant manager at Summit Truck Bodies, praised the achievement: “Our mission is to engineer the best service trucks and truck-mounted equipment that any operator can have, and we believe the new 829 and ASE Phase 5 meet our objectives and then some.”
A Collaboration-Driven Design Philosophy
What truly distinguishes Summit’s latest innovation is its development process. Rather than designing in isolation, Summit relies on real-world feedback from operators, service technicians, and fleet managers to shape its R&D direction. This hands-on, collaborative approach ensures every improvement directly benefits the people who use the equipment daily.
Walter elaborated: “These innovations continue to improve the overall experience for operators in the field. The process starts with feedback from customers, which flows through every department in our plant until it’s realised in design and performance.”
This philosophy aligns with Summit’s broader commitment to continuous improvement and field-tested reliability, traits that resonate with the company’s reputation for delivering dependable, custom-engineered equipment across the construction, utilities, and mining sectors.
Cutting-Edge Mechanics Meet Seamless Motion
Among the standout features of the 829 Crane is its fully proportional control valve. This allows operators to execute multiple movements simultaneously, significantly improving efficiency and responsiveness on-site. As product development engineer Christian Glascock explained: “It gives users the ability to command multiple functions at once and increase their positioning speeds by as much as three times.”
Summit’s re-engineered rotational assembly is another triumph. The redesign trims over 100 pounds from the previous iteration and introduces continuous rotation, an upgrade that enhances flexibility and operational flow. Glascock noted: “The new design reduces the overall height and weight of the truck while providing incredible flexibility. It seals the compartment from water, dust, and road chemicals, protecting valuable assets inside.”
Enhanced Safety and Simplified Maintenance
Safety and serviceability lie at the heart of Summit’s innovation strategy. The 829 Crane integrates a relocated winch and lowered height, enabling access to tighter spaces while improving lifting precision. Meanwhile, the newly designed anti-two-block system requires no adjustment, improving reliability while reducing maintenance complexity.
These thoughtful refinements aren’t just about making cranes easier to use, they’re about giving operators the confidence and control they need to perform safely and efficiently, even under demanding conditions.
Next-Generation ASE Phase 5 Control System
The complementary ASE Phase 5 Control System represents Summit’s next leap in intelligent control. The interface offers intuitive usability with advanced diagnostic tools and greater customisation. Operators can now log events, monitor maintenance intervals, and track equipment performance directly through the onboard interface.
Glascock highlighted the system’s versatility: “The new system supports greater user customisation capabilities, allowing for enhanced maintenance and event logging. It can save users up to 150 percent in replacement part costs.”
A dedicated maintenance menu simplifies fleet management by providing real-time access to diagnostic data. Additionally, the Phase 5 system incorporates an integrated alarm to deter theft and safeguard assets when vehicles are unattended.
One of the most practical updates is the wireless remote. Operators can now deploy or retract outriggers, stow the crane, and control key functions without returning to the vehicle. The result is faster setup, improved ergonomics, and a notable boost in jobsite safety.
A System Built Around the User
Summit’s latest innovations underscore its unwavering commitment to the operator. Dan DeAces, national sales manager at Summit Truck Equipment, summed it up perfectly: “Power truly does meet precision with our newest crane offering.”
He continued: “The system provides significant and measurable ROI for fleet managers, helping protect assets from damage and technicians from injury. We have a simple but profound motto at Summit: ‘Start safe. Work safe. Stay safe.’”
DeAces also emphasised the company’s unique factory-direct model, where customers collaborate directly with Summit’s engineers. This approach enables real-time feedback, faster issue resolution, and seamless access to factory parts and services. “Once that truck is in service, customers have a direct line to our factory parts and service professionals, who can troubleshoot in real time and ship parts directly from our warehouse.”
Building for Tomorrow’s Worksites
Both the 829 Hydraulic Crane and ASE Phase 5 System exemplify Summit’s forward-thinking engineering ethos. The products are not just about meeting current industry demands, they’re about anticipating future challenges and ensuring adaptability across diverse sectors.
From construction and utilities to mining and energy, Summit’s solutions are helping to redefine productivity standards, safety practices, and technological integration across complex operations.
The 829 and ASE Phase 5 are expected to be commercially available in early 2026, forming the foundation for broader product line enhancements that will extend across Summit’s entire hydraulic crane portfolio.
Raising Industry Standards
Summit Truck Equipment and Summit Truck Bodies, part of the Transwest Inc. family, have long been synonymous with reliability and innovation. Their custom-built service and lube trucks serve as industry benchmarks for durability and operator efficiency.
By uniting high-strength materials, intelligent controls, and customer-led design, Summit has positioned itself as a leader in next-generation utility equipment. It’s an approach that blends tradition with technology, ensuring that every product serves as both a tool and a testament to progress.
Strength Through Innovation
The launch of the 829 Crane and ASE Phase 5 isn’t merely about new hardware, it’s a declaration of Summit’s long-term vision for safer, smarter, and more connected worksites. By keeping operators at the core of its design philosophy, Summit continues to elevate industry standards while pushing the limits of engineering excellence.
