28
The day a job in Portland changed how I rig my loads
I was on a site in Portland last spring, setting HVAC units on a new rooftop. I had my usual rigging setup, 4 point bridle with spreader bars, nothing wild. But a older operator named Rick who was working the crane next to me walked over and said I was wasting time with all that extra gear. He showed me his method using just chokers and a single point pickup, said the spreader bars were overkill for that weight. I was skeptical at first because I always thought more points meant more stability. But after watching him do three picks in the time I did one, I started trying his way on smaller loads. Now I mix it up depending on the job but I still wonder if I'm being safe enough on the lighter stuff. What do you guys think, is a 4 point bridle always better or does it just slow you down on routine lifts?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
wendyw7114h ago
More points meant more stability" - yeah, but that's not always the whole story. I've been doing this long enough to see guys get so stuck on the four-point bridle they forget the load itself might not need it. Rick sounds like he knew what he was doing, and if the weight is light and the balance is good, a single point with chokers can be totally fine. The real risk with ditching the spreader bars is if the load shifts weird or the slings slip, but on a routine rooftop HVAC pickup it's usually not a big deal. I'd say trust your gut after you watch a few picks, not just the guy who's been doing it since before you started.
2
wadeowens6h ago
Good for you for saying it.
3