K-Rail Picker for Sale

What is a K-rail picker?

A K-rail picker is a below-the-hook barrier clamp: it closes on the top of a precast concrete barrier section so a machine can unload, set or move the wall. Kenco lists typical, single and F-shape walls for its barrier lifts and says they need no auxiliary hydraulic hookup (see the KL9000 and KL12000 pages). With nothing hydraulic to plumb to the machine, choosing a lift comes down to the wall itself: its top width, its weight and its length, which is how the table below is laid out.

Wall lengths for the 16,000 and 30,000 lb units come from the table on our Kenco barrier lifts page, and the KL40000's from its product page; Kenco does not list one for the two low-profile lifts.

How do I pick the right size?

Match the top width of your barrier to the grip range first, then make sure the heaviest section is within the rated capacity; the wall-length figures on the Kenco barrier lifts page show which unit is meant for which section length. A 20-foot section, for example, sits at the top of the KL12000's 16 to 20 ft range, and longer sections move to the 16,000 lb or 30,000 lb units. The two 16,000 lb units are not interchangeable: the standard unit grips 4 to 12 inches and the wide-grip unit 8 to 18 inches.

What else goes with a barrier lift?

Kenco sells alignment legs for the KL9000, KL12000, KL16000 and KL30000 (for example the KL9000 alignment legs), and RigMAX lifting sling kits for attaching a Kenco lift to your machine. The two kits are rated differently: the KRM16800's anchor shackles are rated at 16,800 lb and the KRM31700's at 31,700 lb, both vertical. Those are the shackles' ratings, not a rating for the whole rig: before you lift, confirm the complete rigging is rated for the lift plus your heaviest wall section.

Buying from Iron Forge Industrial

We are an authorized Kenco dealer, and we accept purchase orders. We ship nationwide, and freight is quoted at checkout. Quick shipping is usually available on priced Kenco barrier lifts; call for the exact lead time on your model. Call (888) 240-7247 with your wall's height, top width and section length, or reach us through our contact page.

Parts of this page were drafted with AI assistance; every factual claim was sourced, checked, and edited by our team before publication.

Frequently asked questions

Is a K-rail picker the same thing as a jersey barrier clamp?

For buying purposes, yes: buyers search "k rail picker", "jersey barrier clamp" and "concrete barrier lifter" for the same job.

How do I size a lift for a long wall section?

Start from the wall length. The KL12000 lists 16 to 20 ft, a 6 to 12 in grip and a 12,000 lb capacity, so it is the unit to check first for a 20-foot section: the top of the wall must fall within that grip and the heaviest piece within 12,000 lb. Longer sections move to the 16,000 lb or 30,000 lb units.

Does a Kenco barrier lift need hydraulics?

No auxiliary hydraulic hookup is needed: Kenco describes an actuator that locks when the lift is set on the wall top and opens the tongs when the wall is set back down (see the KL9000 page).