[TowerTalk] US Tower MARB550 Alternate Winch Questions

[Tom Scott]

I've got a US Tower MARB550 tower (tubular mast 55' crank-up, tilt-over)
and a couple questions. 
 
I'd like to add a winch to crank it up (and down when iced), but the US
Tower winch seems awfully pricey (~$1700 for the winch, $1100 for a
remote control package, and another $500+ for limit switches, for a
total of ~$3300 !!!). 
 
I can't help but think that a comercial winch or simply a gear motor
added to the existing hand-crank winch could be implemented entirely
satisfactorily for a lot less money (maybe a few hundred at most).
Anyone know of a particularly good source for same? Or has anyone done
this on a 550 or similar?
 
Thanks!
 
- Tom Scott
27005 SW Neill Rd
Newberg, Oregon 97132
503-330-6867 - Cell
503-538-5839 - Home
503-554-9468 - Fax
KD7DMH