Tires off the ground

[reppy007]

Through-out the years Ive seen a couple of crews,maybe more that would have all four tires off the ground when their outriggers were extended,is this your company's policy or do you dislike doing it that way......pros and cons....please.

[skylifter]

It's best to check the operator's manual for the lift that you are using.
If you are ever operating a Bronto Skylift, then the tires are always clear of the ground, since the chassis is part of the counterweight for the lift.

[LAMartin.CVEC]

Some systems (Altec comes to mind) require the tires to be on the ground since they are apart of the suspension system. OSHA requires that all employees are trained on new or unfamiliar equipment.

Work Safely,

L.A. Martin
Journeyman Div III
CVEC

[Hebrew]

Wheels off the ground means you have no parking brakes applied.We were taught to take some of the weight off the suspension,level within the green area of the inclinometer,wheel chocks,steering turned towards the curb.Wheels off the ground was a no-no.

[rob8210]

Your wheels off the ground would make using wheel chocks useless. I was always taught to just take some weight off the springs , wheels on the ground. The ministry of labor will issue you a fine if you don't have at least 2 wheel chocks out, here in Ontario.

[Pootnaigle]

[I][/ve watched em set up mobile crains n they always have the wheels completely off the G
ROUNDwith the hydraulic outriggers pokin straight out on a mat n doing the lifting of the truck body

[reppy007]

Ive heard people say that the tires had to be off the ground,although the next day you could drive by and see them on the ground..........as far as chocks are concerned,Ive done it before....but Im willing to bet that 95 % of the trucks around here carry no chocks with them anymore.....but I might be Mistaken.

[skylifter]

Yeah, if the tires are in the air, wheel chocks are pretty useless, unless you have somebody around that will gig you for 'no wheel chocks'. Try explaining the uselessness of putting them out...

I have seen a demonstration of what will happen if a lift that requires all of the wheels to be in the air is used with any tires on the ground. It is pretty much impossible to know how much 'pressure' the ground is exerting on the suspension (through the tire), so if the stability of the machine is depending on the tires being clear, then the springs are pushing the unit up, which is not what you want when you're in the air.

Again, check the operator's manual for the proper setup. Even if somebody is telling you to leave the tires on the ground, spend a couple of minutes checking out to see if they are right.

[skylifter]

There were some 125' lifts on chassis that looked like concrete truck chassis, with a 1 person, center mounted cab. Those had to have the tires on the ground because the chassis flexed so much, the front tires would be on the ground anyway. The reason that the tires had to stay on the ground was supposed to be because otherwise, the frame would break! At least that's what people said...

[bren guzzi]

What if you've no wheels like me. ??????????????

[stulittle]

Bren, photo says it all.

Most truck mounts I've used or been involved with have been wheels off.

Not sure about the unimogs but then they tend to be a bit of an animal anyway

Stu

[old lineman]

To me it's obvious that stabilizers are the main focal point.
We had an aerial device that wouldn't have the stabilizers out far enough until the wheels were suspended. I believe that hard and fast rule of tires on the ground would take a back seat to having the stabilizers fully extended.
As for wheel chocks it's also obvious that trucks will not roll away when the stabilizers are firmly planted on the ground either wheels suspended or not. The truck may skid if the surface is sloped or slippery with mud or ice.
Wheel chocks should be placed regardless because trucks roll away between the time the driver leaves his seat and the stabilizers are deployed. The other time that the truck could roll away is once the stabilizers are lifted and the driver hasn't got back into the cab.
This happened and workers were pinched between two trucks.
I don't believe the chocks should be tight against the tires because they often get pinched and are a bear to retrieve.
Aerial Devices in Canada have to have a stability ratio of 2:1 where as in the USA the safety factor is only 1.5:1. Our trucks outriggers are color coded and the paint must show before the unit is considered stabilized. Should a tip over occur and the paint wasn't showing the investigators would declare the unit unstable while in use. There would be no discussion of the orientation of the wheels in relation to the road surface.
The Old Lineman

[skylifter]

That's pretty nifty.

[Resto-master]

Some argument there. Was just in a 93' altec bucket truck(with elevator) working on a steep hillside with the truck pointed up hill. I think it might be good to keep some weight on the wheels. but Have heard both sides of the argument. However that day I kept weight on the wheels cause the outriggers were placed on pads in soft dirt, not concrete.

Not sure whats the best thou?

[lewy]

Some argument there. Was just in a 93' altec bucket truck(with elevator) working on a steep hillside with the truck pointed up hill. I think it might be good to keep some weight on the wheels. but Have heard both sides of the argument. However that day I kept weight on the wheels cause the outriggers were placed on pads in soft dirt, not concrete.

Not sure whats the best thou?

How level was the truck front to back?

[Resto-master]

I guess 8' difference, the bubble was definatly in the red.

[lewy]

I guess 8' difference, the bubble was definatly in the red.

Real hard on the ring gear when working off of the side like that. Boom wants to swing down , better off having the truck level and tires off the ground.

[Resto-master]

Agreed level ground is always preferred but wasn't available this time.

Yes you do what you feel is best as a J. lineman. However, just saying Have heard both arguments.

[Lineman North Florida]

Setup on a lot of high line trucks and cranes can be critical, many of them will not function or have limited functions if not set up real close to level, you set the truck up like you have to, more pads, build up a dirt pile, tires off the ground, whatever, etc,etc.