Types of Capacity Support Attachments
A-Frames
A-frames extend off the back of a boom to increase the lift capacity of a crane. This attachment gets its name from the distinctive, vertical A-shape it creates off the back of a crane’s boom. These are used to support a lattice boom or a derrick.
Guyed boom
Guyed booms are sets of tensioned cables and arms that attach to the boom to increase a crane’s lifting capacity. These attachments are often called by different names depending on the manufacturer, such as Liebherr’s Y-Guy or Grove’s MegaWingLift™.
Benefits of Y-Frames:
- Can vastly improve lift capacity depending on the attachment, crane, and specifics of the lift.
- Provides extraordinary power on long reaches.
- Certain modes can fold into a stowed position for better maneuverability.
Ballast Wagons
Ballast wagons are wheeled carts used to carry weight for derrick configurations. These attachments are positioned behind the crawler crane and have different names depending on the manufacturer, such as Manitowoc's MAX-ER.
Benefits of ballast wagons:
- Can significantly improve lift capacity.
- Allows the crane to turn around and move without detaching the ballast wagon.
