[TowerTalk] Digging a tower foundation hole

[k0dan]

Agreed on all points. And in addition, when/if you do get access for heavy
equipment, you should consider the pros and cons of of having backhoe +
bobcat + concrete truck dig/move/pour, as well as your labor to fabricate
forms, remove them, backfill, etc., etc., versus perhaps having a well
drilling rig come in and drill a 3' or 4' diameter hole (refer to tower
specs for required base volume).

We opted for the well drilling rig, and believe it saved us a lot of cost
and labor, and only had to build a modest form above ground level to hang
the tower base and re-rebar. Your mileage may vary.

GL es 73

Dan
K0DAN
----- Original Message -----
From: <ersmar at comcast.net>
To: "Kelly Johnson" <n6kj.kelly at gmail.com>; <towertalk at contesting.com>
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 4:11 PM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Digging a tower foundation hole


> 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?
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> > 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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> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> _______________________________________________
>
> 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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>