Video · AC Replacement
Rooftop AC Installation Starts on the Trailer: Rigging the Lift
Every rooftop AC installation starts on the ground, with the rigging. This clip stays on that slow part: straps hanging from the crane and gloved hands securing the new unit on its trailer.
Job footageSwiftPro
- Topic
- AC Replacement
- Length
- 0:47
- Posted
- September 2, 2026
- Shot by
- The SwiftPro crew, Northern Virginia
What you’re seeing in this video
Rigging straps dangle from the crane against a clear blue sky. Down at the trailer, gloved hands work the straps around the new rooftop unit, snugging and checking each one before anything takes weight.
The wrapped SwiftPro vans sit parked beside the brick building, well out of the swing path. No faces in this one, only hands and hardware.
A rooftop unit is a package unit: compressor, both coils, the blower and often a gas heat section in one cabinet. It travels and lifts as a single heavy box, which is why the straps get this much attention.
Why it matters in your house
- Most rooftop units have lifting points built into the base rails. Rigging to those with spreader bars, so the straps don't squeeze the cabinet, keeps panels and coils from bending.
- Tag lines on the corners let someone on the ground steer the unit so it doesn't spin, which is also why lifts get postponed on gusty days.
- Once it's up, the unit has to land square on its curb so the gasket seals. A crooked set leaks conditioned air out and rain into the building.
How is a rooftop AC unit rigged for a crane lift?
Straps or cables attach at the lifting points on the unit's base rails, usually with spreader bars above so nothing pinches the cabinet. Tag lines go on the corners for steering. The rigging gets checked before the crane takes any weight, and the unit goes up slowly with someone on the roof ready to guide it onto the curb.
Want it done at your place? See AC Replacement at SwiftPro or call (703) 997-9757.
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0:13How Long Do AC Units Last? A 30-Year-Old Unit Still Running
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