LEGO Technic 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 compared to the real deal

13/07/202313/07/2023 Matt Yeo 2895 Views 1 Comment

Set to be one of the largest LEGO Technic models ever, here’s how 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 compares to the real deal.

The LEGO Group recently revealed full details of the long-rumoured 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000, with the massive set due for release on August 1. Coming in at a mighty 2,883 pieces, the LEGO Technic build is priced at an eye-popping £579.99 / $699.99 / €679.99, representing a serious investment for collectors with deep pockets.

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42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 recreates one of the world’s most powerful construction vehicles and packs in plenty of working features alongside Control+ functionality. Standing over 100cm tall, the set is also one of the largest and most expensive LEGO Technic releases to date, easily beating 42131 App-Controlled Cat D11 Bulldozer in terms of price.

For that piece count and cost, expectations for the upcoming 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 can probably be set accordingly, with the model aiming to be an extremely accurate recreation of the real-world vehicle. When compared to its namesake, the LEGO Technic set certainly seems as if it’ll tick all the right boxes.

According to Liebherr, the LR 13000 is the most powerful crawler crane in the world. Used in power plant construction, the machine has a maximum load capacity of 3,000 tons and a hoist height of 235m. The crane features concrete ballast slabs to balance out the vehicle when lifting huge loads and a 1,000 kW engine pumps out enough power to get the job done.

In comparison, 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 matches many of the functions of the full-size version (albeit at a much smaller scale), with tank steering, a rotating turntable winch and load-sensing features. Two smart hubs and a whopping six large motors powered by 12 batteries allow for plenty of lift potential, while 24 brick-built weight elements provide the crane with over 0.9kg of counterbalance. It’s not yet been revealed exactly how much weight the LEGO Technic build can safely hoist, but we’d expect it to surprise a lot of builders.

Oh, and if you’ve ever wondered what a ‘luffing jib’ is, we’ve done your homework for you. The description refers to versatile tower cranes that have the ability to lift a load up and over obstacles using extendable arms (or jibs), making them handy for smaller constructions sites or in areas where more than one crane is required. The unique design of the vehicle allows for a range of movements not found in other cranes, putting Liebherr’s mechanical monster in a league of its own.

42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 will launch on LEGO.com and in LEGO Stores on August 1, priced at £579.99 / $699.99 / €679.99.

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Author Profile

Matt Yeo

From video game journalism to kids’ publishing, I’ve been there, seen it, done it and worn the T-shirt. I was also the editor of the first-ever official LEGO magazine way back when, LEGO Adventures. I have a passion for movies, comic books, tech and video games, with a wallet that’s struggling to keep up with my LEGO set wish list.