[TowerTalk] Tram/Truck

[Mike Gilmer]

I found a suitable solution by using (OK, buying) a Warn PowerPak winch.  It
mounts on a standard 2" trailer hitch, and has a 3500# pull.  It only has a
60' cable, but a few pulleys and a long rope and it's sweet to getting stuff
to the top of a 150' tower.

Not sure they make it any more, but they have similar models. (See
www.warn.com )

I had previously tried to use my F250 to lift stuff, and the rough ground on
which I was driving made for a very "interesting" process, especially for
the guy on the tower.  We were successful, but even though I was not on the
tower, I vowed never to do that again except in an emergency (no, a pending
contest is NOT an emergency).

Mike N2MG

> > Steve ('LXC), I know you're very experienced, and you advise against
> > using a truck to pull the rope - how do you power the lift?

> For commercial jobs I used to use a powered capstan winch. For
> ropes it's fabulous and is easy to control the load by tightening
> or loosening the load line. They ain't cheap but very useful.