When to Order Heavier Cantilever Columns: Planning the 7 to 10 Day Lead
November 11, 2026
Order heavier cantilever columns when your loads would push stock columns, rated 12,980 lbs per side at 12 feet and 11,660 lbs per side at 16 feet, past their limit. NAWL lists heavier columns on a 7 to 10 day lead time, so decide early and order them alongside the stock components.
Most runs do not need heavier columns. The ones that do tend to store dense material, like steel bar, plate and heavy pipe.
How do you know stock is not enough?
Run the capacity check:
- Weigh your heaviest bundles
- Decide how many bundles each arm level will hold
- Add up the load on one side of a column
- Compare it with the stock column rating
- If the load is near or above it, plan for a heavier column
The check is simple but easy to skip. See reading cantilever capacity per side for a worked example that shows when the column, not the arms, governs.
What materials usually need heavier columns?
| Material | Why it is heavy |
|---|---|
| Steel bar and plate | Dense, stored in long bundles. See steel plate and flat bar storage |
| Heavy pipe and tube | Weight per foot adds up fast. See pipe and tube distributors |
| Rebar and structural shapes | High total weight per bundle |
| Wet or green lumber | Water adds weight in spring |
Steel bar and plate
- Why it is heavy
- Dense, stored in long bundles. See steel plate and flat bar storage
Heavy pipe and tube
- Why it is heavy
- Weight per foot adds up fast. See pipe and tube distributors
Rebar and structural shapes
- Why it is heavy
- High total weight per bundle
Wet or green lumber
- Why it is heavy
- Water adds weight in spring
Winter adds a factor for outdoor yards. Snow and ice can add load to arms that are already near their limit. Leave a margin. See snow and ice on outdoor cantilever arms.
What do you gain from a heavier column?
A heavier column raises the per-side limit, which lets you load more arm levels fully without the column governing. You still have to check each arm, since arm ratings are separate from column ratings. Heavier columns may also need footings or slabs that suit the added load. Confirm with your engineer. See outdoor cantilever concrete pads and frost depth.
How do you plan a 7 to 10 day lead time?
- Decide early. Run the load check before you place the order.
- Order everything together. Ask whether stock components can ship first while the heavier columns are made.
- Schedule site work. Pour pads and prepare slabs during the lead time, not after it.
- Allow for freight. The 7 to 10 days is lead time before shipment. Add transit.
- Book your crew once you have a ship date.
Cold weather can stretch cure times for concrete. See ordering cantilever in winter for a spring buildout.
What if I only need heavier columns for part of the run?
Mix them. Use heavier columns where the heaviest stock goes, and stock columns elsewhere. Keep spacing and base sizes consistent so arms and bases still match. Ask your supplier to confirm the layout. A bill of materials helps you keep the counts straight.
Does a heavier column change the base?
Possibly. Bases follow the deepest arm, and heavier columns may carry deeper arms. See matching a base to your deepest arm.
What if I am not sure of my weights?
Weigh a sample bundle. Guessing is the main way yards overload racks. If you cannot weigh, use mill certificates or supplier weights and add margin. For a quote, send your best weights and say which are estimates. See the cantilever RFQ checklist.
Does NAWL install?
No. NAWL supplies cantilever rack and components. Your crew or installer assembles and anchors the system.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 7 to 10 day lead time a guarantee? It is the stated lead time for heavier columns. Confirm it on your quote, since stock and demand change.
Can I use heavier columns with stock arms? Often yes. Confirm compatibility on your quote.
Should I upgrade just to be safe? Upgrade when your numbers call for it, not by guesswork.
Storing heavy bundles?
Send your bundle weights, lengths and column height, and we will check stock ratings and quote heavier columns if you need them.