Setting trusses with a crane

[@RRENH]

I realize that crane operation takes a special kind of person. I wouldn't want a guy who is day dreaming away at hour 4 while I'm balance on a skinny top plate. Hoped the crew thanked you at the end for keeping them safe. Great video!

[@markmortensen4341]

That was a little different from the usual big heavy stuff. Good thing the wind didn't get any stronger. Thanks again.

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Mark Mortensen, it can be dead calm, and as soon as a truss leaves the ground, the wind will blow. You can almost bet on it. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@63256325N]

In my hammer swinging days the gable would've been sheeted before it was swung if a craned was being used. On a single story we would've handed them up one at a time, no crane, or the whole bundle would've be craned at once then walked into place, keeping the crane there for as short a time as possible. You said it, start swinging trusses and the wind comes up, kind of the same holds true for pouring slabs, as soon as you start the rain showers show up. Thanks for the video.

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Duncan Mackenzie, I've seen people do it both ways with the gable ends. I'm guessing they didn't sheet these because they are so close to the ground. I've also set bundles and they've walked them in. Seems every contractor is different. I've seen the pouring concrete/rain scenario too. Not a cloud in the sky, get one yard off the truck and here comes the rain. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@Brian_P]

In most cases cranes have a minimum hour charge.. usually 2 to 4 hr minimum depending on the size of crane. So unless your site is a long way from the crane company.. you could be done with in the minimum time charge. So setting up the whole bundle would just make a lot of work when you could swing them in with the crane in a couple hrs.

[@ToTheTopCrane]

@@Brian_P, four hour minimum on that one. With drive time, we were right at the four hour mark. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@gtdodgeviper]

Duncan MacKenzie Duncan MacKenzie Here in Washington State we fly up bundles at a time. For a house that size we would just split the job in two bundles of 14 and we are done in 20 minutes from the time we get there to the time that we are leaving.

[@dalltex]

Glad he wasn't hurt. Seems like the most injuries occur when it doesn't seem to dangerous and we let our guard down. Nice vid!

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Dall Tex, I'm glad too! I'm also glad that it wasn't me that made him slip. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@michaelowen1750]

You lucky dog- 90% of the time I ended up having to look in the sun setting trusses...I preferred to pick the farthest from the pile first, and set back to the pile.. each one a little closer...flip the whole pile over if its not in the right order... Nice video. Everybody does it different!

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Michael Owen, it seems like whenever a crane is set up, we are staring into the sun. I lucked out on this one for sure. I typically don't care which end we start on. I leave that up to the crew setting them. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@daveritchie7611]

Jimmy, I enjoy your videos very much. I am currently a crane and rigging safety guy and spent 17 years in the seat, 3 of which were taxi service. The worst jobs I did in taxi were setting trusses. The crews were hippies with hatchets, cutoffs and a can of Budweiser in one hand, no one could signal the crane, and they always unloaded the trusses where the crane needed to be. I miss running cranes, but do not miss setting trusses. I wish that all crane operators were as professional as you are.

[@Drakedrakonis02]

you aint missing much now its just all mexicans or latinos doing it now sometimes they go fast sometimes they are PAINFULLY slow

[@Shadow42276]

Your camera was nice and steady while driving down the highway. I'm glad the guy walking on the ceiling joists didn't fall to the ground and require the services of the EMS folks out there. Keep up the good work and keep the great videos coming.

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Jason Heltsley, I'm glad he caught himself too. The walls he was standing on weren't very tall, but it would still not be fun. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@waynetharp]

My Dad raised us all as a Foreman of saw building at a truss plant. Needless to say...I have set a couple in my day! Thanks for video!

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Wayne Tharp, you've probably set 10 to my one if you worked in a truss plant. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@waynetharp]

I worked at truss/wall plant a few years after school but moved on to be a General Contractor. I specialize in building what others said couldn't be done. Alot of custom framing...but always hired out crane work locally. Had chances to buy a few, but I could never get numbers to work in my favor on paper, without hiring someone to run it full time when we didnt need one.

[@psidvicious]

Wayne - Interesting that you worked in a truss factory. I wondered if you noticed that some trusses had to be spun around? When I did trusses years ago, the trusses were all stacked in order and all oriented in the same direction.

[@waynetharp]

@@psidvicious Nope...We stacked em however they were most likely to survive being loaded,hauled and slid off a roller trailer. The ones they were spinning had a overhang on just one end which isnt a biggie...

[@waynetharp]

@@psidvicious Even if doing a straight shot garage or polebarn. Both gable trusses went on top of stack because they were more likely to break. So 1 always needed slid off stack to start.

[@psidvicious]

Nice one Jimmy! First, your editing with the time lapse was super. Everything you needed to see was clear and perfectly sped up. Could write a book on things I would have done differently but I’m sure those guys are better than me with a lot of other things. Years ago, we used to use a pelican-hook on the crane for setting trusses, so the operator could set himself free. That’s no longer allowed by OSHA, but it sure sped things up. Oh, and the TP by the right foot was a nice touch! Wise man! Bring-your-own! 👍

[@ToTheTopCrane]

psidvicious, thanks for the compliment! Unfortunately, no more pelican hooks. That would make it lots faster. That's a roll of paper towels for cleaning the windows. But, in a pinch it could sure be a roll of t/p. Lol! Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@psidvicious]

Haha! Gotcha! How many times have you just had to go to the ‘Jiffy John’, you open the door, look at the paper and it’s clearly gotten wet?! And you say “Oh god, I hope that was just rain?”

[@craignicholson505]

Neat video Jimmy . And took that tumble too once or twice paying more attention to what am doing than where am walking glad he wasent hurt

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Craig Nicholson, thank you! Falling off of a wall would be no good. I too am glad he didn't get hurt. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@Quadflash]

Jimmy, that crew is fortunate that you are a very good operator. They were taking a lot of unnecessary chances

[@ToTheTopCrane]

David Sonnen, they are a good crew. They just had a literal misstep or two in there. Thank you for the kind words and for watching! 🙂👍

[@davidmcolton]

We set piles of trusses over here. I enjoy your videos. Thanks.

[@davidjfiedler]

This really brings back some memories. I haven’t built a house since 2002, but I could still do it, I think. I can’t help but wonder if the way we did things in Wisconsin is that different from other places, but we would always sheet the gables, build rakes on them, then set the gables first and run a string on the back to set all the others to. We also had to hand nail trusses, the inspectors wouldn’t allow gun nails at all.

[@psidvicious]

David - Yep, we always did that too in So. Fla.

[@eliteearthworksllc]

Cool video and nice work! Quickest way to set trusses. Thanks for sharing

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Elite Earthworks LLC, thank you! It is the quickest way to set trusses. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@richardlambeck7649]

Hi Jimmy good video as always...guy slipping was lucky, things could have been bad...on the news today a crane fell over in Orlando, Florida and split a house in two.

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Richard Lambeck, I saw that crane in Florida. That's a bad deal. Hopefully no one was hurt. The guy on the wall was lucky. The wall wasn't very tall. But, that still wouldn't have been any fun. Thanks for the compliment and for watching! 🙂👍

[@kennymysak2079]

No your camera was nice and steady . If you want a nice breeze just start setting trusses or walls. It never fails. Keep up the great videos

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Kenny Mysak, that's the way it works. Want rain, wash a vehicle. Want wind, start setting trusses. Lol. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@kennymysak2079]

@@ToTheTopCrane we got enough rain to last awhile 10 and half inches this weekend there calling for another 5 plus inches in the next day or so might need you to set some arks lol

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Kenny Mysak, I wouldn't mind setting some arks. Lol

[@MSLLOGGING]

Been there done that I kindave miss building houses nice job man

[@ToTheTopCrane]

MSL logging, thank you! Seems the house building has really taken off this past few years. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@MSLLOGGING]

@@ToTheTopCrane yes sir really enjoy your vids lay in there pal

[@SkidderKev]

WOW!! That was close call for that guy. Looked like his buddy on the other side swung it away from him.

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Skidder Kev, it was close. Fortunately, the walls aren't very tall. But, that still wouldn't have been fun. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@NateMorello111]

Nice video! Not many crane guy videos out there. I have done 145 trusses in 8 hours on a commercial building 3 stories high.

[@motercycles6]

this video was enjoyable and different always kind of nice to have a quick and easy job a times even though its a bit stressful

[@ToTheTopCrane]

James Bergeron, I like the easy jobs. They are very welcome after some of the difficult stuff we get into. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@russellpeffer7736]

They get in a big damn hurry. Thats how he took the "misstep". Anyone whos ever swung trusses knows its go, go, go. If the tag line tender isnt running, you're too slow. The way they see it anyway. Thanks for sharing!

[@ecp00]

Where do you mount your camera in the upper and lower? I do alot a rooftop units and trusses in a couple different cranes (Grove TMS500E, Manitex 40124SHL and a Manitex TC45142C) and can't seem to find the right spot to stick the camera to get a good shot without my hard hat or roof cage being in the way. Your stuff comes out pretty clean. I'd love some pointers. Nice smooth work by the way!

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Ethan Page, thank you for the compliment, and welcome to the channel. I use a gopro suction cup mount most of the time. I stick it to the top glass or front window. I also have a magnet mount that I use to put a camera on the block, ATB weight, or various other places. Hope that helps. If I can help in any way, please let me know. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@bradsmith7106]

Did you hear about the guy that tipped the crane on the house somewhere in the states today?? I had just seen a small blurb about it on the news but didn't catch where it was...

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Brad Smith, I got an email about it today. I assumed it was about the crane that tipped over a few months ago. I wasn't aware that another one happened today. Hope no one was hurt. 😳. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@jeffskewes9456]

NICE job jimmy.....jeez that cab looks smaller than a u33 kubuta

[@ToTheTopCrane]

jeff skewes, the cab on this one is almost twice the size if the little operators box on our older 50 ton. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@g4outdoors]

Cool video! Easy money.

[@ToTheTopCrane]

G4 Outdoors, thanks! Also, thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@barryhansen6854]

When they did my house the safety watchers called OSH, they came around and closed the site until scaffold was put up to cover the whole floor area so no one could fall the 2m to the floor, needless to say the builder wasn't happy.

[@ToTheTopCrane]

barry hansen, that would be expensive! I've never seen that done here on a residential construction job. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@barryhansen6854]

The builder ask if he could put it where they were walking, but no the inspector said the whole floor area, it's what happens with a nanny society have a great day, I'll send some photos when I find them.

[@brentjackson8383]

Never have or seen trusses brought up in singles before

[@troymeredith9528]

A lot of places and building companies here in Australia jimmy ,won't let you work near a crane with out a helmet ,and also have to have edge protection if working at heights .how ever it does happen from time to time.😁

[@briangardiner1015]

what was that lever next to the left stick? I assume the left pedal is the aacelerator pedal?

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Brian Gardiner, the pedal on the right is accelerator, left pedal is extend/retract. The far left stick on the left side is swing left/right. The right lever on the left side is 2nd or auxiliary winch up/down. The left lever on the right side is main winch cable up/down. The far right lever on the right side is boom up/down. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@Joshua79C]

Guessing from the looks of the jobsite, not much room to pre-assemble the roof in sections just a few feet above ground and then get the crane it to set them that way as I seen on some other videos. Ever do such jobs yourself before? 6.15 mark, that is why you use a control/tag lines folks. Also seen them set up pretty quickly using a telehandler as done often by RR Buildings (Check their work out on their channel) since its fewer trusses as it is a post frame method and spaced at little as 2 foot apart and much as 12 or 16 apart, compared to a house or a utility building using traditional frame building techniques where they are spaced at 2 foot apart at most.

[@mikemanfred7106]

Nice boom truck. I see you got a cab on this one👍🏻

[@ToTheTopCrane]

mike manfred, this one does indeed have a cab. I was definitely glad this afternoon. I got caught in the rain on another job. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@mikemanfred7106]

To The Top Crane yea I saw that one..... keep them coming

[@thederrick1966]

that has to be less stressful and easy for u

[@ToTheTopCrane]

thederrick1966, trusses can still be stressful. There's the fear of knocking someone off of a wall. This one wasn't too bad because the walls weren't tall and the trusses weren't very long. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@Victor_Victory]

To The Top Crane What was the most stressful job you had to do? Btw great video!

[@ToTheTopCrane]

@@Victor_Victory, the 310 foot tall cell tower was the most stressful. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@richwielechowski5191]

Ever use a steel hook to pick up trusses? Easier than a strap.

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Rich Wielechowski, the crew that was setting the trusses wanted to use a strap. An open hook would be faster. But, is frowned upon in some locations. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@kstricl]

Now that's working smarter...

[@ToTheTopCrane]

kstricl, the older I get, the smarter I work. Or, maybe I'm just getting lazy. Lol. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@steverose8436]

Did the customer get charged 20 ton rates ?

[@joshwelner1951]

👍👍👍

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Josh Welner, thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@sandy1653]

That guy in the yellow is lucky he managed to catch himself. Could have done himself quite the mischief otherwise. Whole lot quicker and easier with a crane than the guys who set trusses with a Lull. Pretty convinced that's how they did my house and why a couple of my joists are sistered up, being bashed around by some schmuck on a Lull.

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Sandy, I've seen alot of broken trusses because a loose nut behind the steering wheel of a telehandler. Cranes are much, much faster. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@waltermattson5566]

Too bad all jobs aren’t that easy. That one didn’t look too stressful except the guys missed step.

[@ToTheTopCrane]

walter mattson, the job I did yesterday was even easier. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera at the house. But, I had to go to an intermodal yard and hoist a hydraulic cylinder out of a container stacking machine. I hooked onto the cylinder at 10am and set the cylinder on the ground at 5pm. So, I made one pick all day. Lol. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@kenphillips479]

Have u ever ran a crane doing tree removals

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Ken Phillips, we do occasionally work with arborists. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@arkansas1336]

Do you have a minimum fee for these small jobs? ....13

[@ToTheTopCrane]

arkansas13, there is a 4 hour minimum on the boom trucks. However, by the time I had drive time in this one, we were at the minimum anyway. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@jimposey3963]

Was you playing that guitar and fiddle music? Lol

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Jim Posey, are you referring to being out in the sticks? Lol. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@dougsmith1166]

It was great when we had a crane most of the time we had hump them by had ( boss was to cheap)

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Doug Smith, manhandling trusses would be no fun and time consuming. The time saved would offset the cost of the crane. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@Neg_Ice]

nice!

[@ToTheTopCrane]

Neg Ice, thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@FishFind3000]

"with at crane"...... with a crane? i think that's a typo

[@ToTheTopCrane]

FishFind3000, if you are referring to the title, it was meant as a statement, not a question. 😉. Leaving the punctuation out of the title seems to help on the KZbin searches. Since most people don't use punctuation while searching. Thanks for watching! 🙂👍

[@ToTheTopCrane]

To The Top Crane, ohhhh waaaaiiiitttt a minute.....I typed "with at crane"? 😳

[@ToTheTopCrane]

FishFind3000, fixed it! Thank you for pointing it out to me! 😉👍

[@TheRick2130]

ever watch crazyframer in youtube? i wonder why he called himself crazy.

[@rjcontra]

Huh.....4 men on a crew and they use a crane. Maybe they all had bad backs or shoulders. :)

[@portnuefflyer]

Typical, the bozo's wanted you to start at the wrong end, instead of the opposite end, so every truss had to be lifted over all the others! The other way, after only hoisting to a bit above the plate line, while you were swinging you could have also been boom up/down so that that when to the next set point, you would alreadybe at the correct radius, and all you had to do was cable down. This is where your LMI comes in handy. Your rigging kinda sucks, it gets the load ball right down in their faces, no need. I use a 6' length of sling, with a 2' length of grade 80 chain (certified for overhead lifting) on the end of the strap. on the end of the chain is a 1 ton snap hook, the chain goes around the truss, and hooks into a oval ring on the end of the strap. That way the web strap is away from the truss gussets, which are sharp and will quickly ruin a strap,, plus the ball is never closer then 6' to the nail benders. Laying out a 2x4 and extending it out as a stabilizer went out of fashion when we started using cranes to set trusses, too time consuming and makes the crane ops job needlessly difficult, the metal truss stabilizers are the way to go. I'll do it once, but then tell them next time get stabilizers, or pre cut short lengths of 2x4, or get another crane op. At about 5:00, I'd picked the remaining stack up at once, I operate a 30 ton National with 110' of stick, and have set trusses on close to 200 houses this year, my 21 st year of a crane op) and set it on the ground on the far end, saving all that extra winching, and at the same time told the guys next time, don't have me start ass backwards! It looked like the tag line dummy had it on the downwind side, (right before Bubba almost fell on his ass, and if he would have YOU for sure would been involved in any lawsuit, even though it wasn't your fault) kinda hard to push on a rope, shoulda been on the upwind side once the wind came up. A little further along, and the dummy on the tag line STILL hasn't figured out which end he should be on. And he should have rigged your strap to the free side, so once he unhooked you, you weren't between the trusses but on the free side. Looked like minimal radius change, as easy and simple as a truss job could be. Your rig is overkill, but you know that! The two stage outriggers take up a lot of room on tight sites, why I stay with a 30 ton, any bigger and the outrigger spread gets excessive. Sure you can short jack them but your capacity goes way down.

[@dakotagrown8619]

I wouldn't feel comfortable swinging anything over guys with no ppe!