Had to pick between a newer cab and an old reliable, went with the old one

We had a job last month in Portland where the rental company offered me a 2023 Liebherr with all the fancy cameras, or their 2016 Grove with 8,000 hours and a worn seat. I took the Grove because I know its quirks, and honestly it handled a tight alley pick behind a brewery way smoother than I expected. The newer rig had a joystick sensitivity that felt twitchy on the test drive, so I stuck with what I know. Anyone else pass up new tech just to stay comfortable with an older machine?

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wyattmitchell3d ago

Man, that used to be me but backwards. I was all about the newest screens and sensors until I spent a week in an older machine that just felt right. There is something about knowing exactly how a crane will respond before you even touch the levers. That twitchy joystick thing is real too, some of the new stuff feels like it is reading your mind but in a bad way. Now I get why veteran operators never want to switch, it is not about fear of change, it is about trusting your gut.