"Gerry" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 5 Sep 2018 12:10:57 -0400, "Jim Wilkins"
wrote:

...
Or, by moving one leg at a time, you could "walk" a load across the
yard so long as you kept the load from swinging.

Only with loads light enough to move other faster ways. If the hoist
chain, which is on the axis of the load's center of gravity, swings
out beyond a line between the legs the tripod will tip, and lifting a
leg out of the hole it digs swings a hanging load. A 2 ton chain fall
without any load is nearly enough uncontrolled weight to tip the
tripod while walking it.

Generally I lower the load and loosen the chain, then walk the legs
almost to the tipping point. When I ratchet up the load it slides
forward into the center. If it's light enough I push it further with
one foot while lowering, but a half ton log or boulder won't kick very
far. Progress is less than 2' per lift, sometimes much less.

After tediously moving that boulder about 30 feet with a tripod I
rebuilt my 1 ton shop crane into a trailer with a hitch so I could
back the load into place with my tractor.