[TowerTalk] Erecting Rohn 55 and 65

[Steven Gehring]

Hi Bill,

As another ham mentioned, I have also pulled up a 100 ft of Rohn 65G at one
time, but in the middle of the Alaskan arctic winter of 1998.  This was done
at a new ARCO Alaska oil field called "Alpine" located just north of
Nuiqsut, Alaska (look that one up).  It was February, and the temp was -25
deg F with the wind blowing around 20 to 25 mph by the end of the day.  The
100 ft crane picked it between the 2/3 to 3/4 point and set it on the pier
pin quite easily - only a minimum of sag was noted.  By late afternoon, we
had the two sets of guys tensioned, and had one of the younger guys skinny
up the tower to undo the crane's straps.  This was a good thing, because the
crane operator was getting worried about his fully extended boom swaying the
way it was as the winds picked up at end of the day. 

Oh, the stories I can tell about working in the arctic for the oil companies
and the trans-Alaska pipeline on Alaska's North Slope.  It's always a
challenge for those of us in the telecommunications biz.

Steven Gehring
Bothell, WA  98012-7252
E-mail: kz9g at arrl.net

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Cqtestk4xs at aol.com
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2003 3:32 PM
To: TOWERTALK at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Erecting Rohn 55 and 65

I have had the good fortune to come across some really nice inexpesnsive
Rohn 
65 as well as some decent 55.  Rohn 65 of course is pretty 
industrial-strength sized tower to erect by the average ham and is beyond
the 
capacity of the ordinary gin pole.

I would like to erect as tall a tower made of 65 as I can up to 200 feet.  
However, I do not intend to put up the tower piece by piece.  What I I would

like to do is put it up in one total piece by crane.  One of the locals put 
up a 180 foot tower of Rohn 55 this way.  I was amazed that he was going to 
do this but he did it....all 180 feet.  Incredible!  No way am I going to 
replicate that feat with Rohn 55.  However, I am curious as to what the guys

who have worked with 65 think. 

What is the maximum height that one continuous length of Rohn 65 tower could

be 'walked up' and set by crane on top of the stub sticking out of the 
ground?  We're assuming of course, a crane would have no problem with the 
total weight of the tower.  The guys would be attached to the tower ahead of

time and taped to the sides during lifting and put in place before the tower

was climbed to release the hook.  The reason I don't want to do it in two 
pieces is that it would require a much taller crane....more bucks!  LXC and 
others, any ideas?

Bill K4XS
_______________________________________________

See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless
Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with any
questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.

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