Books, study guides, and gear for crane riggers — written and picked by a working rigger on the Texas Gulf Coast.
Doug Weitzel
Certified Advanced Rigger
Texas Gulf Coast
About Doug
I'm Doug Weitzel, a Certified Advanced crane rigger working the plants on the Texas Gulf Coast. I wrote Breaking Into the Trade because nobody handed me a roadmap when I started — I had to figure out the certification, the test, and the job the hard way.
These guides are the shortcut I wish I'd had: straight talk from a working rigger, no fluff.
Free Tool
Enter the load weight, the number of sling legs, and the sling angle — get the tension on each leg, which is the minimum rated capacity each sling leg needs. Angle is measured from horizontal.
As the angle drops, tension climbs fast — at 30° each leg carries double its share of the load. Keep angles at 45° or higher whenever the rigging allows it.
Two-leg bridle shown for illustration. Angle is measured from horizontal, not vertical.
Tension on each sling leg
5,774 lb
Each sling leg needs a rated capacity of at least this much for the hitch you're using.
10,000 lb ÷ (2 legs × sin 60°) = 5,774 lb per leg
Safety note: This is a planning estimate that assumes the load is shared equally between legs with the center of gravity centered. Always check the sling manufacturer's rated capacity chart for your sling and hitch type, and never exceed rated capacity.
Featured Resources
Two digital guides, ready to download today. One shows you the road in — the other gets you ready for test day.
How to get certified, get hired, and build a career in crane rigging — certification, the test, the first year on the job, real pay, and moving up.
Practice for the computer test before test day. Every answer explains the why, not just the letter — so you walk in prepared.
Shop by Department
Books and study guides are live now. The gear departments are on the way — they're marked Coming Soon until there's a supplier behind them.
Shop Now
The book and the practice pack — the roadmap to get certified, get hired, and pass the test. Digital PDF downloads, available now.
Shop Books & Guides →
Coming Soon
The hand tools a rigger reaches for every day — wrenches, spud wrenches, and the everyday kit that lives in the tool bag.
Coming Soon — gear on the way
Coming Soon
FR shirts, pants, and coveralls for plant work — the clothing the job requires, picked for the Texas Gulf Coast heat.
Coming Soon — gear on the way
Coming Soon
Web slings, round slings, wire rope, and shackles — the hardware that connects the hook to the load.
Coming Soon — gear on the wayRigging Nation on Payhip
Both guides are live in the Payhip store right now — download them today and start working the plan.
Visit payhip.com/RiggingNation →