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Vent: Everyone acts like load charts never lie, but I had a close call last month
Last month on a job in Denver, I followed the load chart exactly for a 45-ton pick with 60 feet of boom. The chart said I was fine at 80% capacity, but the crane started tipping forward on soft ground nobody flagged. I trust the charts, but site conditions beat them every time. Has anyone else had a chart say one thing and the ground say another?
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robert_rodriguez663mo ago
Did you check the ground bearing pressure before you set up, or was it one of those jobs where you just trust the outrigger pads are enough? I've seen charts miss the mark hard when the soil's been softened up by rain or recent grading. That soft ground will make a liar out of any load chart if nobody takes a plate load test first.
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hollyramirez3mo ago
OH COME ON, Robert! You're acting like every crane operator needs a geology degree before they can set up. I've been doing this 20 years and I've NEVER had a pad sink on me just because the ground was a little soft. Charts exist for a REASON, and if you're cribbing properly with the right size pads, you don't need to waste half the day on some fancy test. Half the time these "soft spots" people freak about are just wet topsoil that firms up by lunchtime anyway. @robert_rodriguez66 you gotta stop overthinking this stuff or you'll never finish a job before the sun goes down.
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