Julio Peralta wrote:
> Steve the tower you described reminds me of the Aluma Tower which is
> made here in Florida. It very closely resembles lawn furniture. The
> Heights crank up towers, which are also made in Florida, are a much
> stronger constructed tower. They kind of look like an aluminum version
> of a US Tower. I have had experience with both and would not recommend
> the Aluma Tower but a Heights Tower should be good for any load for
> which they are rated.
>
It's been some years back, so today's Heights Towers may not even be
constructed by the same company, but I helped remove a Yagi from a
living room after one of the Heights fold over towers dumped the 5 L 20
(IIRC I said it's been a while) through the roof when the hinge weld
broke. In all fairness this was during and ice storm, but it was the
only tower in the area that failed, it was obvious the weld failed, and
they wouldn't stand behind it.
OTOH they are a nice looking tower and should work well under normal
conditions. (I think)
Roger (K8RI)
> Julio, W4HY
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of K7LXC@aol.com
> Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2008 1:02 PM
> To: towertalk@contesting.com; k0son@frontiernet.net
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Crank up Tower
>
>
> In a message dated 2/23/2008 9:02:49 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
> towertalk-request@contesting.com writes:
>
>
>> I'm new to the list & need some information on Heights Crank up
>>
> towers
> without the tilt over feature. OK here's the background. I use to have
> a 50 ft
> Universal at my old house. I liked the tower, but 50 ft is now above my
>
> comfort level for working on towers, I'd like to get a crankup and
> think the
> Heights would be good one. So, I would like to get in contact with
> anyone who
> currently owns, or has owned a Heights crank up. I've read their web
> site & now
> want to talk to owners & get the real story.
>
>
> A customer of mine bought a 100-foot version. He had never had
> a
> tower before and bought it because he could get it in his backyard
> without too
> much trouble and then he'd have a 100' tower. After everything was
> done, he
> wanted a professional opinion about his installation. He made one fatal
> error
> in locating the guy anchors which we corrected.
>
> EVERYTHING about this tower was undersized and under-engineered
> IMO.
> The 3 base bolts were 1/2" or so. The winch and haul lines were
> inadequate -
> the winch got real hot as we were cranking it up. I can't remember if
> the
> cables were rope or steel - they might've been rope.
>
> This was a guyed tower which meant you had to be VERY careful
> as
> it's being cranked up and then the guy tensions were all on the haul
> cables.
>
> He called the other day as he was preparing to lower it and the
>
> safety latch that locked some of the sections wouldn't release so it
> wouldn't
> descend. I suggested a couple of things that I would have done if I'd
> been there
> and he went out to lower it. He called back a little later and said
> that he
> indeed got the safety latch to release but as he was lowering it, the
> winch
> got away from him and the whole thing collapsed. The yagi booms bent
> and the
> whole tower wound up jammed in the lower section.
>
> I was saddened to hear about his calamity because he made some
> bad
> decisions that led to this unfortunate occurrence. (OTOH I was glad I
> wasn't
> the guy that did it.) I would never have recommended that he buy this
> tower -
> 100' of 45G would have been a much better decision and it'd still be in
> the
> air for the next 25 years or more.
>
> If you've got your heart set on a crank-up, get a US Tower
> model.
> They're steel, well built and US Tower has been known to go out of
> their way
> for customer service.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve K7LXC
> TOWER TECH -
> Professional tower services for hams
> Cell: 206-890-4188
> _www.championradio.com/installs.html_
> (http://www.championradio.com/installs.html)
>
>
>
> **************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.
>
> (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campo
> s-duffy/
> 2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> TowerTalk mailing list
> TowerTalk@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
>
>
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|