[TowerTalk] Digging a tower foundation hole

[ersmar@comcast.net]

Kelly:


     Two alternatives:

1.  Shovel.
2.  Moving van (another property.)

     Item 1 might be possible depending on your local soil conditions.  But let me say this:  I tried to dig a 10 cuyd foundation hole in my hard-packed clay and gave up after getting to less than two feet of depth.  I decided (or rather, Mother Nature decided for me) to hire the equipment and an operator to do the excavation.  It took him two hours to finish the hole (plus haul away the spoils).  It had taken me three days (in the hot summer sun) to get a far as I had by hand, plus I had to discard the spoils around my back yard.  I just didn't have enough flower beds for all that dirt.

     There just isn't a satisfactory alternative to having a way for a machine to get access to a project site.  I've been involved with construction projects where roads were built and trees cut down so we could get heavy equipment in for digging and pouring of concrete.  In my backyard tower's case, I had to remove the corral fence and cut some tree branches to get the backhoe and cement truck back there.  

     In the property you're looking at, can you take down a fence or cut some trees to get equipment back there?  If not, you're going to have trouble removing the dirt AND hoisting your antennas up to the mast (no room for a crane or for ginpole ropes, maybe.)  Hence my Item 2....

73 de
Gene Smar  AD3F



> There is a very good chance that (after 4 years of waiting and fighting with
> city planners) I am finally going to be allowed to install a tower: in
> another city of course. I will most likely go with a USTower HDX-555 (or
> similar). The house I am looking at may not have enough room to get a
> backhoe or bobcat into the back yard. Any suggestions as to how to get a
> hole dug?
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