Pre-operational Checks, Set-up and Stabilising the Vehicle Loading Crane
Pre-start inspection
Walk around the vehicle and crane before starting. Check tyres, suspension, and parking brake; look for hydraulic leaks, cracked hoses, chafed ropes or worn sheaves, and damaged hooks with a functioning safety latch. Test the hook block, limit switches, and the load moment indicator or rated capacity limiter if fitted. Confirm the outrigger pads, beams, and locks are undamaged and move freely. Check fluid levels, and that the load chart and decals are legible.
Set-up and stabilising
Position the vehicle on firm, level ground as close to the load as practical while keeping the working radius short. Apply the parking brake, chock the wheels, and engage the transmission in the correct gear. Deploy outriggers fully - partial extension changes the load chart, often dramatically. Use pads sized to spread the load; a common rule is that the pad area should spread pressure to below the ground's bearing capacity. Keep the vehicle level; check with the spirit level or inclinometer.
Verification
After set-up, re-check level, outrigger penetration, and clearances. Test the controls through a full cycle with no load before lifting. Confirm the rigger is in position and the exclusion zone is clear.
Traps in questions
Questions often describe soft ground or a slope and ask what to do - the answer is to reposition, not to "lift carefully". Another trap is using only three outriggers or leaving one retracted; the chart assumes full deployment. A third is trusting the bubble level on sloping ground without checking pad settlement under load.
Worked example
A crane truck with 600 mm square pads sits on firm clay rated at 100 kPa. Each outrigger carries about 60 kN. Required pad area = 60 kN / 100 kPa = 0.6 m². A 600 mm pad gives 0.36 m², so it is too small; use a 800 mm pad (0.64 m²) or a load-spreading mat.