What a Franna costs in Australia
The Franna is Australia's crane: the pick-and-carry format dominates taxi-crane work, holds value ferociously, and prices by age with unusual predictability. Here is the ladder.
The Franna ladder
| Machine | Price (ex GST) | Financed, per week |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran AT12/AT15 (1980s to 2000s) | $69,000 to $100,000 | $340 to $495 |
| AT20, 2000s | $130,000 to $245,000 | $645 to $1215 |
| MAC25, late 2000s | around $319,000 | ~$1580 |
| MAC25, mid-2010s | around $425,000 | ~$2110 |
| New MAC25 | dealer quote; used values imply well past $500,000 |
The market average across pick-and-carry listings sits around $196,000, and the value retention is the story: a ten-year-old MAC25 still trades above $300,000 because hire rates are strong and supply is tight. Slew and city cranes are a different market, thinly listed and mostly dealer-quote in Australia.
What moves a crane's price
Capacity class first, then the ten-year inspection and crane-safe certification status, hours, boom condition, and whether the machine is mine-spec. Certification is the used-market lever: a machine through its major inspection with paperwork sells for real money more than one due.
The operator maths
A $300,000 MAC25 financed over five years runs about $1490 a week against taxi-crane hire rates that carry it inside a few hire days a week, which is exactly why used Frannas rarely stay listed long.
Financing a crane
Cranes write on chattel mortgage, new and used, with certification status feeding the term. Property-backed borrowers generally price around 6% to 9% p.a. and non-property-backed deals around 9% to 13%, with approvals commonly back in 24 to 48 hours. Run the crane through the repayment calculator, or start at crane finance.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Franna crane cost?
Veteran AT12/AT15s run $69,000 to $100,000, AT20s $130,000 to $245,000, and MAC25s from around $319,000 to $425,000 used, with new machines dealer-quote. The market average sits around $196,000.
Why do Frannas hold their value so well?
Taxi-crane hire rates are strong, supply is tight, and the pick-and-carry format dominates Australian yard and construction lifting, so demand for used machines never thins.
What certification matters when buying a used crane?
The ten-year major inspection and crane-safe certification status. A machine through its major with paperwork commands a genuine premium.
Can I finance a used Franna?
Yes, on chattel mortgage terms, including private sales, with the certification status considered in the structure.
From listing to lifting
Tell us the crane and its cert status and we will come back with the weekly number, usually within a day.
This article is general information only and not financial, credit, or tax advice. Ventas Asset Lending is a finance broker, not a lender. Approvals are subject to lender assessment. Consider your own circumstances and speak to a qualified professional, including your accountant for any tax questions.