Tried a luffing jib on a tight site in downtown Austin last month... never going back to a standard boom for that kind of work

We had a 200 ton job wedged between two existing buildings on 5th Street. Standard boom would have needed a bigger radius and more setup space we just didn't have. Rented a luffer for the first time. Night and day difference. Could swing tighter, reach over obstacles, and the load control was way smoother. Only downside was the extra assembly time but honestly it was worth it. Has anyone else switched to a luffing jib for tight urban jobs and noticed a big difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_angela1mo ago

Got a buddy who runs a crane outfit in Houston and he swore by luffers after wedging a 150 ton between a parking garage and a hotel. Said the tight swing arc saved his butt on a job he'd have turned down with a standard boom.

the_sean1mo ago

The extra assembly time gets you every time, but @the_angela isn't wrong about the swing arc. Had a buddy in San Antonio squeeze a 130 ton between an old church and a CVS last fall. Standard boom would've meant taking out the CVS dumpster area completely. Luffer let him snake the load right past it.