Picked a 40-ton RT over a 60-ton AT for a tight pour in Reno, and my gut was halfway right

Spencer Dixon · 2026-09-29T14:10:05.268592+00:00

Two weeks ago we had a concrete pour at a casino expansion in Reno and I had to pick between a 40-ton rough terrain and a 60-ton all terrain. Both were available and the rental spread was only $1,800 apart, but the RT could get into the dirt right next to the forms while the AT would have needed mats and a bigger pad. I went with the RT because the chart at 35 feet radius looked fine, but the load was 11,400 lbs and the ground had rained the night before, so I spent half the morning watching the outriggers sink about an inch. It worked out, but the cycle times were slow and the pump operator kept looking at his watch. Next time I see soft ground and a tight radius on the same job, I'm calling for the AT and eating the setup cost. Anyone here ever wished they'd paid the extra few hundred bucks for the bigger machine instead of trying to make the small one fit?

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Picked a 40-ton RT over a 60-ton AT for a tight pour in Reno, and my gut was halfway right | Crane Operators - SMM Buzz