SummaryTelescopic truck crane is an underāactuated mechanical system with three actuators controlling five outputs. Its complex structure, shape variation, uncertain parameters, elastic cables, and viscoelastic cylinders are great challenges in control design. This article proposes two adaptive robust controllers for such cranes. A control core assures robustness based on backāstepping and Lyapunov stability. The adaptation is achieved by employing modelāreference adaptive and selfātuning control approaches. Thus, the benefits of these adaptive techniques are introduced into the control systems. The application to a practical crane shows the effectiveness of the proposed controllers. The crane has robustness and adaptation despite the elasticity and friction of the loadācarrying cable, the viscoelasticity of the cylinders, the variation of crane parameters, and the presence of winds. Comprehensive comparison indicates the state of the art and the shortcomings of the control systems.