Honestly, sometimes I wonder if this is overblown. A good chart and modern gear have built-in safety margins for a reason. That Tacoma thing sounds bad, but how often does a crust over mud actually happen on a prepared site? Most places I've been, the ground is either clearly good or clearly trash. If you're sinking 6 inches, you probably ignored way bigger red flags than just the chart. It feels like an old-timer thing to act like every lift is a mystery.

Yeah, it's a constant headache. I finally bought a separate crimper for each type and color coded the handles with tape. It costs a bit more up front, but it completely stops that mix up on the truck. The right tool for the job just saves so much call back time.