Stacking blocks under the outriggers saved me on a muddy job last week

I was setting up for a steel beam lift near a creek in Kentucky and the ground was way softer than I thought. Every time I tried to extend the outriggers they just sank into the mud a few inches. My foreman told me to grab some 2 foot by 2 foot cribbing blocks from the truck bed and stack them two high under each pad. It leveled everything out perfect and I didnt have to call for a mat or redo the setup. The lift went smooth and we finished on time. Has anyone else used cribbing like that on soft ground or do you guys usually go with something else?

2 comments

2 Comments

christophermorgan2d ago

Man, you're telling me! Cribbing blocks are a lifesaver on soft ground. I've had to use them plenty of times on jobsites that looked solid but turned into a mess the second the outriggers came out. It's way better than fighting with mud all day or having to bring in a whole mat just for one lift. I always keep a few sets of those 2x2 blocks in my truck, and I've stacked them three high once when the ground was really soupy. It's cheap insurance compared to the headache of a tipping crane or a ruined setup. And honestly, it's faster than messing with plywood or steel plates that might still sink. Why would you not use something that simple, right?

finleythomas14h agoTop Commenter

Stopped me dead when you said three high, that's wild man.