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Had to pick between a 50-ton and a 80-ton for a tight downtown job
Chose the 50-ton thinking I could finesse it with a longer jib, but ended up taking three extra hours to swing the steel around a corner. Has anyone else gambled on the smaller rig and regretted it?
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lane.eric1mo ago
Man, that reminds me of the same mistake people make when they buy a truck with a smaller engine thinking they'll just add a tune and save gas. You end up flooring it everywhere and burning more fuel than if you'd just got the bigger motor from the start. Same thing with tools, you grab the compact impact wrench thinking it'll fit tighter spots, but then it doesn't have the torque to break loose a rusted bolt and you're stuck with a breaker bar for twenty minutes. We always try to convince ourselves we can make the smaller thing work with a little extra trickery, but the reality is those margins are tight for a reason.
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thompson.nathan1mo ago
Ngl, you probably would've been fine with the 80-ton if you factored in the corner swing before you bid it. The extra jib length on a 50-ton doesn't always make up for losing that margin on the counterweight and stick radius. Live and learn, but that three hour hit is a solid reminder to always check the pick radius before you commit to the smaller machine.
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emery191mo ago
@thompson.nathan nailed it on the corner swing factor. I've been there myself, booked a 50 ton thinking the extra jib would save me, then got to site and realized the swing radius killed any advantage. Ended up spending two hours figuring out a different layout just to make the pick work. Always better to map out the full arc of the load path before you even open the bid sheet, even if it costs you an extra five minutes in the office.
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