Ground pressure is greatest on crawlers when the boom is in which position?

• A. Over corner
• B. Over center
• C. Over head
• D. Over rear

Answer: (A)

Ground pressure on crawlers is tied to how the crane’s weight and the lifted load shift across the two tracks. When the boom points over the corner, the vertical load’s line of action moves toward the outer edge of the track footprint. This concentrates more of the crane’s weight on the track near that corner, making the pressure on that area the highest. If the boom is over center, over head, or over rear, the load’s moment is more aligned with the midline or distributed between tracks, so the peak pressure on any single point is reduced. So, placing the load over the corner creates the greatest ground pressure on the crawler.