Weight and climbing.

[BigClive]

I'm not sure if I've asked this before, but are there many genuinely heavy built linemen climbing on a regular basis? I still like the idea of pursuing linework as a job at some point but wonder if my weight which is typically 17.5 stone (245 pounds) would be an issue. I must add that it's not weight as in fat. I'm pretty much in proportion with broad shoulders and have legs designed for work. When I get time off I spend it walking miles.

I do see hefty built chaps in the odd linework picture, so I know that size doesn't automatically rule climbing out. Does the extra weight increase the risk of cutting out or does it balance by making the spikes bite deeper.

[Pootnaigle]

Ive seen some purdy big ole boys humpin stumps.Most of em were purdy agile too.BestI remember most of em complained about their feet hurtin a lil more than the lite weights.Just make sure you get good boots with steel archsupports.On a nice straight pole you shouldnt have much of a problem but when you draw a LEANER them legs will get a workout cause some inherent law of linework says the work is always on the low side of the pole. Bad backs are also a common problem so if yours aint in tip top shape rethink it.
If I remember right, The utility in Houston fired a 300 plus pound lineman because he weighed over 3 hundred pounds and none of it was fat either.They said it was a safety concern and that his combined weight with his tools and rubber goods would exceed the weight limitations of the bucket truck.

[Hemingray Insulators]

don't think i'll ever have that problem lol. i must have a fast metabolism or something. i can eat constantly all day lol, and cant gain a pound. i'm only about 150..............most i've ever been is 156 lol.

[mainline]

Clive, the guy I work with is 6'3" 285 and he climbs just fine. Hoffmans make a very nice durable climbing boot. I own Wescos they are a nice boot, but they don't have the support of the hoffmans. Remember you don't have to climb fast you just have to get there.

[BigClive]

Thanks guys, this is all good to know.

[graybeard]

I'm about 260 and 6'2'' and getting alittle thick in the middle but can still get the work done. Hoffmans are the best boots I've found for climbing a smaller guy could get away with a lesser boot. Only problem I've had is on ceder poles, if you spend alot of time in one spot your hooks can be alittle hard to get out.

[loodvig]

I used to climb with a couple of heavy guys both over 250lbs. One you never knew he was coming up behind you the other you almost had to tie yourself off to something!

[22900013A]

Im the other end of the scale at 5` 9" and only 11 stone. Some of the best climbers I work with seem to be tall slim chaps, dunno why but they seem to make it look a doddle. I fing with my height I can't reach much somtimes.

[theweber]

I am 5' 10" and 290# and i can hang with best of them. As for boots i use red wings and not the lineman's boot but the 10" red 2414 . If i listened to the few that said i could not climb because of my weight i would still be a helper not the senior lineman on my crew.

[BigClive]

Im the other end of the scale at 5` 9" and only 11 stone. Some of the best climbers I work with seem to be tall slim chaps, dunno why but they seem to make it look a doddle. I fing with my height I can't reach much somtimes.

Height is useful. I've got amazing reach, but unfortunately that means I get to do most of the work. Suits me though. Time flies by when you're engrossed in your work.

You've suddenly made me realise I might be physically SUITED to the job. :)

[Mike-E]

Height is useful. I've got amazing reach, but unfortunately that means I get to do most of the work. Suits me though. Time flies by when you're engrossed in your work.

You've suddenly made me realise I might be physically SUITED to the job. :)

I hear you on that Clive. I am working with a guy that is about 10 inches shorter than me so I get to do most of the work. Doing more climbing now too so I've dropped from about 250 lbs. to 220 lbs. (6' 3") less beer drinking too.

[Hemingray Insulators]

DAMN Mike-E where ya been? thought ya fell off the earth. you a J man yet? where ya been workin lately? month or so ago i used to see Hydaker trucks almost every morning at the gas station in comstock on my way to the union hall.

[Mike-E]

Kalkaska. Where the snow is deep and the whiskey is cheap. We did a 69 kv construction job for wolverine co-op and now I'm on a hotsticking crew. No, not a JL yet. I've got 5,700 hours logged, so about 1,300 hours to go. maybe by sept. or oct.

[22900013A]

Height is useful. I've got amazing reach, but unfortunately that means I get to do most of the work. Suits me though. Time flies by when you're engrossed in your work.

You've suddenly made me realise I might be physically SUITED to the job. :)

Glad to be useful. I find in most intances its not as issue, although I find i am often stodd up a bit more upright in some. Yesterday was putting up ABC and installing fuse bases, didn't have any trouble. But say on a wide channel im right at full reach to work on an outer conductor, wheras some guys still have some reach left.

[BigClive]

It doesn't seem to take much difference in height to make a huge difference to reach. I recall working with a couple of really short guys and their eyes just about popped out of their heads when I reached up and worked on something that they would have required a ladder to do.

That said, being shorter has it's advantages too. Every body build has it's particular uses.

[22900013A]

Hmm, well I fond i can fit in the vans a bit more easily than most, but the quad bike we use is slightly too big, but just about manageable. ;)

[Pootnaigle]

I tell them short guys they shudnt hafta work at all they just needa sue the city fer buildin the sidewalks too close to their ass.

[BigClive]

You don't want to see me in the drivers seat of a landy. I'm not sure what sort of animal they were built for. :confused:

As for the sidewalks being built too close to short guys asses, at least that doesn't have the same impact as lower-than-normal doorframes.

[johnbellamy]

You don't want to see me in the drivers seat of a landy. I'm not sure what sort of animal they were built for. :confused:

As for the sidewalks being built too close to short guys asses, at least that doesn't have the same impact as lower-than-normal doorframes.

.......................

[reppy007]

Ive seen some purdy big ole boys humpin stumps.Most of em were purdy agile too.BestI remember most of em complained about their feet hurtin a lil more than the lite weights.Just make sure you get good boots with steel archsupports.On a nice straight pole you shouldnt have much of a problem but when you draw a LEANER them legs will get a workout cause some inherent law of linework says the work is always on the low side of the pole. Bad backs are also a common problem so if yours aint in tip top shape rethink it.
If I remember right, The utility in Houston fired a 300 plus pound lineman because he weighed over 3 hundred pounds and none of it was fat either.They said it was a safety concern and that his combined weight with his tools and rubber goods would exceed the weight limitations of the bucket truck.

They did fire him,he was closer to 400lbs,just a big country boy that you didnt mess with,and your right ,it was the bucket truck issue,they say he was a very sharp lineman,stronger than an mean bull,he had a big family that were all lineman,uncles,cousins,father,it goes father than that,all of them were good hands.........all those guys they lost due to weight,if Im correct they would weigh you twice a year,and I mean everyone,even a skinniest guy on the dock.........there were a few that passed and later failed years later ,then there was one that I thought would never lose his weight.........but he did,and I saw him about a month ago and he hasnt gained any back,once he did tell me the trick he used was just plain ole walking..........I always felt bad about big Ed,they hired him cause of his size,,,,,,,,,later he was about the only one that fought the decision.......big time union involvement.........I just knew he would win,and his uncles were supervisors at other locations,so the pull seemed to be there........but sadly it didnt go his way............knowing him he is most likely a boss somewhere............his whole family were good people and good workers........if you didnt cross them .

[reppy007]

Big Ed's dad passed away last year,he was my supervisor back in 1985....he was one of the old time supervisors,he would kid with you ,crack a joke or two,and when off the clock have a good cold beer with his lineman............on the other hand when it came down to business,it was just that,if there was a accident,mistake,anything really against company policy,you have better have a good story for the man.............he had a really small office that had two glass walls,so he could look out and you could look in...........one day he called me by my last name,Im sure you guys do that too,some people you call them by there first name and some by there last name............well it seemed that he ran out of cigarettes and he knew i smoked,he asked for one ,and it so happened that I had a couple that were up-side down.or marked.........they are the ones that had those cigarette loads inside,so I gave him one of those........I was an apprentice so I wont lie and tell you that I wasnt worried about his reaction.....I snuck a few glances through the glass walls he had,just waiting for that moment.....it was too late now,he seemed to really enjoy the long drags of that cigarette,until it exploded,and it exploded good,he gets up and walks towards me and smiles, I think we laughed a little and I gave him another one,he looks at me like is this another one or a good one.....I wasnt brave enough to give him the other one that was up-side down.

[Pootnaigle]

Ummmmmm thats purdy much the way I heard it to Reppy.I had heard that he was one of their better hands and well respected amongst his peers. My question is did they just fire him outright or did they give him an opportunity to lose some weight. I kinda figgered he woulda won in court too. Years ago ( dunno if it was true or just a axe to grind) I had heard that the union and the company had a sweetheart deal, The company wouldnt even take a bid from a non union contractor and the union didnt make any waves for the company.

[BigClive]

Weight is an issue in bucket trucks whether it be natural weight or fat. It's particularly a problem when there are two in a bucket and it's got a weight sensor in it!

You've been digging deep in the archives again Reppy. This threads about four years old. :rolleyes:

[reppy007]

Ummmmmm thats purdy much the way I heard it to Reppy.I had heard that he was one of their better hands and well respected amongst his peers. My question is did they just fire him outright or did they give him an opportunity to lose some weight. I kinda figgered he woulda won in court too. Years ago ( dunno if it was true or just a axe to grind) I had heard that the union and the company had a sweetheart deal, The company wouldnt even take a bid from a non union contractor and the union didnt make any waves for the company.

ALL i can say is that that whole family was good people,his dad passed away last year,his cousin also passed away last year ,I worked alot with the younger cousin,and with his brothers,all of them were good lineman,he wasnt fat,he was just a huge man,they did give him that opportunity,but Poot this guy wasnt fat,he was like a lumberjack,big boned and all,you cant change that much,it would be like asking Andre the Giant to loose 250 lbs..........it was a big story,I think the local news media even were involved,then kind of like an accident investigation .it all went calm.......zero info,nothing.......I really dont know what came out of it,there had to be some type of deal,personally I think they settled,cause it got too quiet........and the union,I cant say much for that bunch,so I wont.

[LostArt]

You've been digging deep in the archives again Reppy. This threads about four years old. :rolleyes:

He has been doing a search on you Clive. :D

Actually I don't know that, but reppy is always doing some kind of research. It's all good.

[reppy007]

Weight is an issue in bucket trucks whether it be natural weight or fat. It's particularly a problem when there are two in a bucket and it's got a weight sensor in it!

You've been digging deep in the archives again Reppy. This threads about four years old. :rolleyes:

just stumbled across it ,but the real deal isnt the age of the thread,its pretty much true,and it is a good one,I wonder who started it?

[BigClive]

It was me who started that thread, but it's good that some of the older threads get dug up and aired now and then. Some of them are still very relevant.

I'm glad there are so many big Americans, 'cos it's made it easier to get clothing that fits. It does raise the question of why Westerners are getting physically bigger, and not necessarily just fat. Is it down to the consumption of meat that has been farmed with steroids? Or is it possible that humans are evolving based on the family career history.

[reppy007]

It was me who started that thread, but it's good that some of the older threads get dug up and aired now and then. Some of them are still very relevant.

I'm glad there are so many big Americans, 'cos it's made it easier to get clothing that fits. It does raise the question of why Westerners are getting physically bigger, and not necessarily just fat. Is it down to the consumption of meat that has been farmed with steroids? Or is it possible that humans are evolving based on the family career history.

Clive thats the milliondollar question........let me sit on that for awhile,let me think about an answer.

[wantafastz28]

I remember seeing my old boss climb to show us that the hooks held weight no problem to some of us that were skeptical, he was 6'2" and like 385, and climbed up 30 feet like he was walking up stairs... after that i was convinced haha.

[reppy007]

Like I said,Big ED was around 400 lbs,and about 6ft 9,so you couldnt just push him around,they started doing things like in a four year period,it started with the company offering voluntary severance packages,most sharp lineman didnt take that,the guys that did apparently thought getting 35thousand or 40 thousand to leave was alot,so they left,then finally they hired new helpers,years went by and all we had were jys,so they climbed,grunted and all, they kept the helpers for maybe 8 months,these guys were sharp,they wernt lazy,really good hands,all of a sudden they let all of them go,then it was the weight issue,which you kind of know about,after that they screwed the older jys that had around 18 or 19 yrs with the company,Centerpoint Ex was one of those guys,if a jy had even one small instance or was on probation,for a backing accident ,they were gone,after that it continued

[BigClive]

Yeah, but quite frankly I'd have sacked CP Ex too. I've worked alongside a hard-core bible thumper and it's like having your brain put through a cheese grater. :rolleyes:

[reppy007]

Yeah, but quite frankly I'd have sacked CP Ex too. I've worked alongside a hard-core bible thumper and it's like having your brain put through a cheese grater. :rolleyes:

You would have to know him,he isnt always like that,he is the type of person that is like a light switch,you couldnt tell if he was off or on, I could go on,but he is a good lineman and has a good family............now I will tell you something funny,once at a bar I asked his wife,what she saw in him,well her answer kind of floored me,it was what he had in his pants she said,she didnt say it that nice,but you catch my drift........and she is a hottie.

[BigClive]

I wonder if it makes her scream "Ooh yes! Praise the LORD!!!" When he uses it. :D

[reppy007]

i wonder if it makes her scream "ooh yes! Praise the lord!!!" when he uses it. :d

now that isssssssss funny..............that what i now wished i would have said.