equipment setup procedures.
Level Up the Right Way
Floats attached to the end of the stabilizer or outrigger are outfitted with either a fixed foot, a ball-and-socket or hinged joints. Each float type has differing limitations that impact the levelness of the supporting materials or the footing. The lack of a simple, adaptable leveling tool often forces crews to use wedges or other improvised materials that aren’ t consistent or reliable.
Careful planning and prep work are required when setting equipment up on a sloped surface. Some solutions for overcoming this challenge are to dig out an area to create a level surface or use structurally sound wedges or other cribbing products that offset the angle of the hillside.
Designed to meet that challenge, for example, LevelRight from DICA has the ability to adjust in two planes, up to 5 degrees each, for a total of 10 degrees in a single plane. This multi-directional flexibility, combined with a built-in bubble level and compatibility with other supporting materials, means crews can establish a level base quickly, safely and without wedges with predefined angles in a single plane or excessive site prep.
When leveling capabilities of stabilizers and outrigger jacks cannot compensate for uneven ground, cribbing can be used to fill the gap or raise the height of the ground. Cribbing is a supporting material and needs to be treated with the same level of scrutiny as an outrigger pad or a crane mat. It must be strong enough to withstand the imposed loads and pressures and be stiff enough to spread the load.
Key Cribbing Considerations
Proper training in the use of cribbing is crucial, as improper use can create additional hazards rather than mitigating them. The key considerations are:
• The strength, stiffness and overall performance capabilities of the cribbing material
12 • 515-955-1600 • October 2025