Chose between a luffing jib and a standard boom on a tight job site in Denver yesterday

Went with the luffing jib even though it took extra setup time, because I needed to clear a building next door. Hoisted a 12-ton HVAC unit over the roof without so much as a scrape. Has anyone else had to make that call and regret it or get lucky?

2 comments

2 Comments

thompson.nathan27d ago

People forget that wind loads hit way different with a luffing jib since the angle changes constantly. A standard boom might catch a gust wrong and swing that load into something expensive. Also worth noting Denver's altitude means your crane's chart is already fudged, so that extra setup time buys you confidence the math is right. Nobody talks about the ground pressure either. Luffing jib spreads the load different than a standard boom, might save you from sinking a mat into soft dirt by the building.

jessica_ross3826d ago

That detail about ground pressure is something a lot of guys skip over. Luffing jibs really do change the footprint because the load is always shifting around, keeps the crane more balanced compared to a standard boom that's just hanging there. Denver altitude is a big deal too, I've seen guys just look at the chart without adjusting for the thin air and end up way off on their numbers. Plus with that constant angle change in wind you're not fighting the same sudden swings, makes the whole rig feel more predictable even if setup takes a little longer.