Telescopic spreader bars are specially engineered for fast setup and easy transport, ready to adapt as your rigging needs change.
What if one below-the-hook device could handle several different lifts on the same jobsite?
Among the most durable and flexible below-the-hook options is a telescopic spreader bar, also known as a telescopic spreader beam or adjustable spreader bar. With adjustable spans, modular designs, and convertible configurations, one lifting beam can take on a wide range of lifting challenges.
LGH offers a range of telescopic spreader bar rentals from trusted manufacturers like Caldwell, Tandemloc, and Aluexbeams. In this blog post, we’ll zoom in on more recent additions to the rental fleet: the Aluex 30-ton X Beam and the Aluex STR9+, a dual-extension beam with 9-ton capacity.
We’ll walk through the top eight things you need to know before bringing one of these adjustable spreader bars to your jobsite. Along with the benefits, it’s vital to understand jobsite constraints and proper usage to avoid damage or injury.
But first: what exactly are telescopic spreader bars?
A telescopic spreader bar is a load suspension lifting device that can extend and contract like a telescope. This flexibility helps support various lifting configurations.
The STR9+ telescopic spreader beam lifting a load at Froedtert Hospital in Wisconsin.
These adjustable spreader bars are designed with an understanding of real-world lifting challenges, with the goal of:
Telescopic spreader bars are capable of handling HVAC units, shipping containers, marine lifting, and much more. The beam length can be modified for multiple crane picks on one jobsite.
Just as a telescope is a necessary tool for scoping out distant objects more clearly, telescopic spreader bars provide significant advantages to heavy lifting crane operations.
To account for a variety of lifting challenges, the Aluex STR9+ Beam and 30-Ton X Beam offer distinct key features.
(For more information on below-the-hook lifting equipment, check out the Beginner’s Guide to Below-the-Hook Equipment for Cranes.)
The Aluex STR9+ is a high-grade aluminum spreader bar built to handle loads at a fraction of the weight of traditional rigs. At just 159 lbs., the STR9+ is the lightest 9-ton beam in its class — and the first aluminum spreader bar to feature dual extensions.
The Aluex STR9+ is a lightweight aluminum beam with dual extensions and a 9-ton capacity.
Key advantages:
The STR9+ offers adaptability while also minimizing handling and freight costs. It proves an ideal solution for construction, marine, and infrastructure lifts, where space and speed matter just as much as strength.
Built for complex, space-constrained, or asymmetrical lifts, the Aluex 30-Ton X Beam is a 4-way telescopic spreader bar. It offers more rigging options with a telescoping range of 17.7 ft. to 29.5 ft. and multiple lifting points.
The Aluex 30-ton X Beam is a 4-way telescopic spreader bar built for complex, asymmetrical lifts.
Key advantages:
These lifting beams were created to optimize lifting operations with ease and efficiency. Both the X Beam and STR9+ enable crews across industries to lift with greater confidence and reduced complexity. Ready to rent a telescopic spreader bar yet?
The Aluex 30-ton X Beam telescopic spreader bar being used to complete a lift.
Before you rent or purchase telescopic spreader bars, there are important considerations to keep in mind. Like with any rigging project, every angle and condition must be thought out to ensure a successful crane pick.
You need to understand what you are lifting. What are the dimensions, weight, and fragility of the load? This is crucial for determining the load configuration and which beam to rent.
Telescopic spreader bars are intended for horizontal use only. As per the operator’s manual, they are not to be used for tilting, turning, or rotating loads. The max angle is 6 degrees.
Telescopic spreader bars come in both steel and aluminum. The lightweight option of aluminum is strong enough for heavy lifts and is easier to handle. Steel is bulkier but remains a dependable, durable option when extra weight isn’t a drawback.
The telescopic design allows a single beam to adjust across multiple lengths, reducing the need for extra equipment on space-constrained sites.
The collapsible design makes transportation and storage simple and easy. When not in use, telescopic spreader bars take up a small amount of space. They don’t require extra transportation to haul rigging components.
A plasma rope lifting sling bridle assembly is included with each beam. The Dyneema rope bridles ensure dependable, ready-to-use rigging.
From design and engineering through manufacturing, certification, and regular inspection, quality telescopic spreader bars are built to meet the highest safety standards.
Whether you purchase directly from the manufacturer or rent from a supplier like LGH, you should expect responsive customer support. Renting equipment is helpful when it’s a short-term project.
Telescopic spreader bars are collapsible and easy to transport.
A telescopic spreader bar is used to safely lift loads with a crane. They can extend or contract to accommodate the load being lifted. Because the length is adjustable, a single beam can handle multiple lifting configurations on the same jobsite, from HVAC units and shipping containers to marine and infrastructure lifts, without needing separate equipment for each load.
The main difference is weight versus bulk: aluminum spreader bars are significantly lighter and easier to transport and handle, while steel bars are bulkier but offer a heavier-duty, dependable build. For example, the aluminum Aluex STR9+ weighs just 159 lbs. at 9-ton capacity, compared to the steel 30-Ton X Beam at 1,245 lbs. Aluminum is often preferred for tight spaces and low-headroom jobs, while steel is a solid choice when extra weight isn’t a limiting factor.
The maximum angle for a telescopic spreader bar lift is 6 degrees. These beams are designed for horizontal use only and, per manufacturer operator manuals, should never be used to tilt, turn, or rotate a load.
Weight varies by capacity and material, and typically ranges from around 150 lbs. for lighter aluminum models to over 1,200 lbs. for heavy-duty steel beams. The 9-ton Aluex STR9+ weighs 159 lbs., while the 30-ton X Beam weighs 1,245 lbs.
Renting enables you to avoid the upfront cost and storage requirements while still having access to high-quality, certified equipment. Purchasing equipment makes more sense if you will need a spreader bar regularly across multiple ongoing projects. Rental equipment providers like LGH offer a wide range of equipment backed by excellent customer support.
For any further questions you may have, please contact us today. Our equipment rental experts would be happy to help you!
The Aluex 30-ton X Beam crane pick configuration with a modular spreader beam.
Whether you’re managing tight jobsite constraints or need a beam that can adjust on the fly, telescopic spreader bars could be the solution you’re searching for. With a compact, collapsible design, these below-the-hook devices make the whole rigging job safer and more efficient.
Call 800-878-7305 or visit www.RentLGH.com/contact to get a quote for the Aluex X Beam or STR9+ today!
LGH is North America’s largest single organization devoted exclusively to the provision of lifting and moving equipment for rent. LGH holds the most comprehensive inventory for hoisting, rigging, jacking, pulling, material handling, and safety equipment. With over 90,000 pieces of equipment, discover your next project solution at RentLGH.com.
