Dirt thumper crane - GIF

[Tooler2]

My guess is that they're justifiably afraid of the winch locking or the cable catching with the weight halfway or so down its drop. If that happened it would either break the cable or break the crane or tip it over.

You are probably correct. I wish they showed the weight being attached. The crane certainly rocks back when the weight is released. Do you think they can drive to the next drop point with the weight lifted from the ground?