In a message dated 8/27/2008 1:39:09 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
towertalk-request@contesting.com writes:
> Some many months ago I either asked on this reflector or read on it about
the particular piece of equipment some of you have used to dig a 3-1/2X
3-1/2X 7-1/2 deep hole for an LM-370 tower.
This is a stupid design. It's great for an engineer sitting in a
air-conditioned office that never has to install one! First, it's potentially
dangerous because you're going to have to get in the hole at some point and
finish
digging it out by hand! Second, you can barely get a shovel in there to dig,
let alone use a pick axe. A stupid design. Trylon Titan's have another kind
of stupid design.
Go back to your PE (Karl probably) and tell him you want one wider -
even 5 or 6' would make it a lot easier - you could even dig it by hand or
just
about ANY little excavator at that point. It'll take a little bit more
concrete but it'll be infinitely easier and safer to install.
> I am at the point I can actually get it going but am having trouble
getting the right excavating company with the right equipment. So, I really
hate
to beat a dead horse on this subject, but outside of "day laborers" which I
may end up using anyway, what is the best way to dig this hole so the
remaining soil around it is undisturbed? Who has a picture of the actual
machine they
used? I have seen it before but don't remember where.
Do it yourself! Go to your local rental yard and see what they've got. A
Ditch Witch or Kubota or any of the others will work FB. They're not that
expensive. And running one is pretty easy and FUN!
I used to hire guys to dig my holes but couldn't get one once so did
it myself. Relative piece of cake actually. After 30 minutes or so, you'll
really be cruising.
Someone mentioned a backhoe with a telescoping hoe. It's called an
Extend-a-hoe and will let you dig holes 7 feet deep or so.
They have small ones with treads that go in and out so you can get
it thru small gates - less than 40" as I recall. These days I mostly rent
full-sized backhoes and they get the job done. You do need the Extend-a-hoe
though. And sometimes 4wd is a must. Fortunately that's the way most of them
come.
Cheers & GL,
Steve K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for hams
Cell: 206-890-4188
**************It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel
deal here.
(http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047)
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