Had to choose between a 50 ton and an 80 ton for a tight lift in downtown Seattle

Honestly, the site boss wanted the 80 ton for speed, but looking at the alley behind the Rainier Tower, I pushed for the 50 ton with a longer boom. Tbh, it took an extra hour to set up the mats and counterweights, but we cleared the HVAC unit with maybe 6 inches to spare. Anyone else had to talk a client into a smaller crane for a tight fit?

2 comments

2 Comments

allen.ivan1d ago

Man, I feel that. I once talked a guy out of a 90 ton for a roof unit swap because the only access was over a glass atrium. Ngl, my whole pitch was basically "you like that skylight? I'd like to keep it in one piece." We used a 60 ton with a luffing jib and crawled it in there. Felt like a hero until I realized I was the one sweating over the controls with maybe two inches of swing room. Still, way better than explaining a shower of glass to the building owner.

masonm7023h ago

Yeah, that's the real win right there. You didn't just pick a cheaper crane, you picked the one that wouldn't turn the job into a lawsuit. Those two inches of clearance are what separate a good operator from a guy who needs a new career. Smart move selling it as keeping the skylight pretty instead of just the cost.