Warning: I was setting my outriggers on a 75-tonner in Philly last month and a rigger pointed out my pads were sinking unevenly because I was ignoring the ground slope.

I mean, I always eyeballed the level on the crane itself, but he showed me how the front pad had sunk almost an inch more than the rear after an hour because the ground under it was softer, which totally changed how I check my setup now, so does anyone have a better method for spotting soft spots before you even extend the beams?

2 comments

2 Comments

bethjackson5d ago

That "eyeballing the level" thing is exactly the problem. I always walk the pad area first and stomp hard with my heel. You can feel a soft spot give way under your boot. I also look for color changes in the dirt or any patches of weeds, that usually means softer ground underneath. The crane's level might look good while you're setting up, but it won't tell you what's happening six inches down where the pad sinks.

ellis.nina5d ago

Spot on about the color changes, that's saved me before too. I watched a pad look perfect until the rain came and those dark patches turned to soup overnight. The level never budged but the whole corner dropped like three inches, it was wild.