Old timer at the Port of Seattle taught me something about boom angles

2 comments

2 Comments

That 30 degree angle rule for the boom when you're picking from a flatbed is something I learned the hard way after almost dropping a 40 foot beam. Old timers know that if you're too shallow you'll pull the load into the cab, too steep and you're asking for a tip over. I always tell guys starting out to watch the crane's load chart and keep that boom angle between 30 and 60 for most picks. The main thing is the load radius changes fast when you're swinging so you gotta keep an eye on that angle as you go.

dixon.anthony6d ago

Gotta love lessons learned from almost wrecking stuff. That's how you really remember it, right? Nothing like a near miss to lock that 30 degree rule in your brain forever.