That moment the load chart on a 50 tonner in Houston just didn't add up

Honestly, I was setting a 12,000 pound HVAC unit on a roof last Tuesday, everything felt fine. But my gut said the numbers were off, so I rechecked the chart against my radius and boom, I was at 85% capacity, not the 70% I thought. I stopped the lift right there, maybe 15 feet off the ground. Turns out my outrigger pads had settled an inch on the soft ground, changing my whole setup. Has anyone else had a chart lie to them because the ground shifted?

3 comments

3 Comments

danielhenderson1mo ago

Bigger mats help, but that bubble never lies... check it often.

rileyellis1mo ago

You mentioning the outrigger pads settling is key. That inch can change your center of gravity before you even feel it in the rig. It's why I double-check the bubble on the level after the first few lifts, not just during setup.

jennyp191mo ago

Yeah, that's a solid point. I mean, I've seen pads sink a good two inches on soft ground before. What I started doing is putting down a bigger piece of matting first, then the pad on top. It spreads the weight out more so the initial settle isn't as bad. Still gotta check the level like you said, but it buys you a bit more peace of mind.