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PSA: Found out crane load charts assume a different wind speed than I thought
I was looking through the manual for a Grove RT540E we rented last month and noticed the load chart had a note about wind speed. Always figured it was based on like 30 mph gusts or something standard. Turns out the chart is rated for 20 mph sustained with gusts up to 25 mph. That surprised me because I've had jobs where we ran loads in what felt like more wind than that and nobody said anything. Found the real numbers in the operator's manual on page 42, not something they teach you in the certification class. Now I'm checking the weather forecast every morning before I start a pick. Has anyone else ever had a close call because of wind that made you rethink the charts?
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matthewdixon7d ago
And yeah Henry, that's exactly how it hit me too, once you see that 20 mph number written out you start paying way more attention to the wind and less to just guessing. I mean, it's crazy that something that basic isn't drilled into your head more during training, feels like they just assume you'll read the manual eventually. Honestly, a lot of guys probably go years before catching that detail and never think twice about it.
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