Tried a shorter boom on a tight job site in Denver last month

I had a 50 ton crane with a 120 foot boom booked but got stuck with a 90 footer instead due to a mix up. The smaller boom actually made it easier to swing loads between two buildings without hitting anything. Anyone else ever downsize gear and find it worked better than planned?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenix_singh258d ago

Yeah that line about the smaller boom making it easier to swing loads between two buildings" hits home. Buddy of mine runs a rigging crew up in Seattle. Last year they had a 100 ton booked for a tight downtown retrofit but the truck broke down. Ended up with a 60 ton with 80 feet of stick. He said it was like night and day. Could slide the loads right through a narrow gap between the old brick building and a new glass tower. No knocking into anything. The 100 ton woulda been way too much boom for that space.

stellat468d ago

You know, I used to be all about the biggest crane possible but yeah, that makes total sense.

tessaperry8d ago

Haha, yeah that "night and day" part got me too. Nothing like a broken down truck to accidentally teach you a better way to do things. I bet your buddy was cussing out the repair shop at first, then realized it was the best thing that could have happened. It's funny how often a smaller rig does the job better in those cramped spots, but everyone always wants the biggest thing they can get. Reminds me of my uncle and his obsession with oversized tools in his garage. Solid point @phoenix_singh25, sometimes the backup plan ends up being the real pro move.