If you’re working in construction, heavy manufacturing, or industrial maintenance, you know a mobile crane is only as good as the rigging work that goes with it. As a mobile crane supplier with over 18 years on the ground, I’ve seen it all: jobs that wrap up on time, ones that drag on, and a few that hit dangerous snags all because someone skipped or cut corners on rigging. Rigging isn’t just tying a load to a hook—it’s the precise, rule-based process that keeps workers safe, protects your equipment, and makes sure your lift goes exactly where you need it. Today, I’m breaking down the most common, reliable rigging methods we teach every client before they take one of our cranes out on a job. Mobile Crane
First, let’s get one thing straight: rigging starts before you even touch the crane. You’ve got to do a load calculation first, right? If you’re lifting a 10,000-pound steel beam, that’s different from a 10,000-pound piece of precast concrete that shifts in weight as you move it. At our company, we never let a client book a crane without asking for load specifics, including weight, center of gravity, dimensions, and how it’s going to be transported to the site. That’s non-negotiable, because every rigging method we use depends on that math. Skip that step, and you’re setting yourself up for a load to swing, a sling to snap, or worse.
Now, let’s dive into the actual rigging methods, starting with the most basic and widely used: Single-Point Slung Rigging. This is exactly what it sounds like—using one main sling to attach a load to a single hook point, usually at the load’s center of gravity. I see this all the time for small, uniform loads: steel pipes, flat sheet metal, or prefabricated wall panels. The big win here is simplicity—one sling, one hook, less time spent setting up. But it has limits. You can’t use single-point rigging for heavy, bulky, or uneven loads because if you don’t attach the sling perfectly to the center, the load will tilt, shift, and create an unbalanced lift. Last year, we had a contractor call us in a panic because they tried single-point rigging for a 12,000-pound AC unit that had a protruding fan on one end. The load tipped mid-lift, scraped a building wall, and cost them $12,000 in repairs plus a delayed project. That’s why we always tell new clients: single-point is for small, balanced loads only.
Next up, Double-Point Slung Rigging, the workhorse for most everyday lifts. This uses two sling points on the load, attached either to the same hook (a “basket” setup) or separate crane hook points. It’s great for loads that are too big or uneven for single-point rigging but not complex enough for multi-point. For example, lifting a section of bridge deck that’s 20 feet long and weights 15,000 pounds—attaching two slings at each end keeps it level as you move it. The key here is sling angle. If your slings are at a 90-degree angle to the load, their working load limit (WLL) is full strength, but if that angle drops to 45 degrees, the tension on each sling doubles. I’ve seen too many guys use slings rated for 10,000 pounds at a 30-degree angle, not realizing each sling is carrying 16,000 pounds total. That’s a disaster waiting to happen. We include a quick angle calculator cheat sheet with every crane we sell, and we make sure every operator knows to keep sling angles between 45 and 60 degrees for double-point rigging.
Then there’s Multi-Point Rigging, designed for oversized, super-heavy loads that can’t be balanced with two points. Think industrial machinery like turbine generators, large transformers, or full shipping containers. This method uses four or more slings, strategically placed at different points along the load’s center of gravity to distribute weight evenly. It’s more complex because you have to account for differential weight points, but the payoff is a stable, controlled lift. A few months back, we supplied a 50-ton mobile crane for a refinery job where they needed to lift a 42,000-pound gas compressor. We used a four-point multi-point rigging setup, with slings attached to reinforced lifting lugs on the compressor (critical—never sling a load around its body unless it’s explicitly designed for that). The lift went smooth, zero tilting, zero delays. The downside? It takes more time to set up, requires a rigging supervisor on site to map sling positions, and needs specialized slings or spreader bars sometimes. But for high-stakes industrial lifts, it’s non-negotiable.
Another method that’s gained traction over the last decade is Basket Hitch Rigging. This is a variation of single or double-point rigging where the sling wraps around the load, creating a loop that’s attached to the crane hook. I use this all the time for long, cylindrical loads like steel pipes or concrete poles, because it eliminates the need for separate lifting lugs. You just pass the sling under the load, bring both ends up to the hook, and you’re good to go. The big pro here is speed—basket rigging takes half the time of attaching individual lugs for cylindrical loads. But you have to make sure the sling doesn’t slip, especially on smooth or tapered loads. For that reason, we always recommend using a choker hitch with the basket setup if the load is slippery, which wraps the sling’s end around itself to create a tighter hold. Last year, a small contractor tried a straight basket hitch on a stack of 20-foot PVC pipes and the sling slipped, sending a dozen pipes crashing into a site access road. Total mess, and totally avoidable.
Then there’s Spreader Bar Rigging, a specialized method for loads that are extra long or have multiple attachment points. A spreader bar is a rigid metal bar (either aluminum or steel) that connects to the crane hook, with attachment points at each end. Slings are then connected to the ends of the spreader bar and the load. This eliminates the problem of steep sling angles and keeps the load perfectly level, even for very long items like bridge girders or wind turbine blades. We started stocking portable spreader bars as an add-on when a local road construction company kept coming back to us for the same lift every month—lifting 30-foot steel bridge girders without a spreader bar required four workers to adjust slings mid-lift, which was slow and unsafe. With a spreader bar, the rig time was cut by 40%, and the lift was 100% level every time. The only catch here is that spreader bars add a little weight to the total lift, so you have to factor that into your load calculation. But for repetitive long-load lifts, it’s a game-changer.
Wait, let’s not forget about specialty rigging for irregular loads, because not everything fits into a neat box. If you’re lifting a piece of heavy equipment that doesn’t have lifting lugs, or a fragile load like a glass panel, you need custom rigging. That might mean using web slings instead of steel cable (more gentle on fragile surfaces), or using nylon straps with padding for delicate loads. We had a client recently lifting a 5,000-pound industrial oven that had no built-in lugs—we worked with their team to design a custom spreader sling with padded attachment points, so we could lift it without damaging the oven’s exterior. Specialty rigging also includes things like vacuum lifting systems for flat, smooth loads, or coil lifters for steel coils, but those are usually add-ons that we help clients source or integrate with their crane setup.
Now, I can’t talk about rigging without covering non-negotiable safety basics, because even the best method means nothing if you skip these. First, always inspect your rigging equipment before every lift—check slings for frays, knots, or corrosion, make sure shackles are pin-free, and confirm the WLL is clearly marked and not exceeded. We see too many guys using a frayed sling because “it’s still strong enough for this small lift”—that’s how accidents happen. Second, never rig a load with damaged equipment, period. Third, communicate clearly with your crane operator—everyone on the site should know the lift plan, hand signals are consistent, and no one stands under a suspended load. At our company, we require every operator we train to pass a written and practical test on rigging basics, because we’d rather a client take an extra 20 minutes to confirm a lift is safe than rush into a dangerous situation.
As a mobile crane supplier, our job isn’t just to sell you a crane—it’s to make sure you know how to use it safely and effectively. Rigging is the foundation of every successful mobile crane lift, and choosing the right method isn’t one-size-fits-all. A good rigging job saves you time, protects your team, and keeps your project on track. If you’re planning a lift, whether it’s a small residential job or a massive industrial project, take the time to do the math, pick the right rigging method, and work with a team that knows the ins and outs of mobile crane operations.
If you’re in the market for a mobile crane, or you need help refining your rigging plans for an upcoming job, we’re here to walk you through every step. Our team has years of on-site experience, so we can help you choose the right crane, the right rigging method, and make sure your lift goes off without a hitch. Reach out to our team for a consultation and pricing to get started on your next project.
Wheel Loaders References
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Crane and Derrick Rigging Standards. U.S. Department of Labor, 2022.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). B30.5: Mobile and Locomotive Cranes. ASME International, 2021.
National Commission on the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO). Rigging Handbook, 5th Edition. NCCCO, 2023.
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