PSA: I tried a new way to check my crane's level on a soft site and it saved a ton of time

We were setting up on a muddy site in Tacoma last week, and the ground was shifting a bit. Instead of just using the bubble levels on the outriggers, I also put a small laser level on the cab floor to watch for any tiny movement. After about an hour, I saw the laser dot drift almost half an inch, which meant the ground was still settling under one pad. We caught it before it became a real problem. Has anyone else tried something like this on soft ground?

3 comments

3 Comments

jakewhite19d ago

Man, that sinking feeling is the worst. I was on a site near the river last spring and watched a pad settle almost two inches over a morning. It's so easy to think you're good after the initial setup, but that slow creep will get you. Your laser idea is smart, gives you that constant check without having to stare at the bubble every five minutes.

max_brown20d ago

Love that trick, used a laser on my truck bed once.

harper91420d ago

Yeah, the laser trick is solid for getting things level. Just make sure you check it from a couple angles, @max_brown, because the bed floor isn't always perfectly flat. I learned that the hard way after mounting a tool box and finding one corner was way off. A regular carpenter's level laid across different spots will double check the laser's work.