[TowerTalk] Building a Tower Trailer

[JC Smith]

You might check some boat and/or RV equipment places.  I know I've seen
lightweight, car-top devices for pulling a small boat up on a pickup or SUV.
Some sort of simple "sled" could be constructed out of wood or sheet metal
to allow the tower to slide up onto the rack.  Then you could use the
trailer hitch mount (I think F12 has those) on the back of the SUV.  You
might rig up a small dolly to help you move it around after you get it off
the SUV (or just bring a hand truck).  I'd still recommend guys as a backup,
at least some good Dacron rope.  You could even leave them coiled up at the
side of the tower, ready for a quick tie down if the wind comes up.

73 - JC, K0HPS


-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com]On Behalf Of Kelly Johnson
Sent: Monday, June 26, 2006 4:03 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Building a Tower Trailer

Outriggers would be preferable, but guys would be acceptable if necessary.

Here's another thought.  Would it make things easier or harder to
assume that the tower will be transported by an SUV or truck whereby
the bed of the truck or the roof of the SUV could be used to hold the
tower for transportation.  Remember, the whole goal here is to make it
possible for me to transport and erect the tower by myself.  The
drawing board is empty so anything is possible.  For example, Force 12
makes some "rigid guys" for this tower which could be used as
outriggers for the tower.  I don't know how well they would work in
moderate/high winds, but they may work well enough to hold it vertical
while putting in guy wires.  What if, for instance, the tower sat on
the roof of the SUV and I simply had something that could help me get
it on/off the roof and vertical.  That's really all I need.


On 6/26/06, Jim Lux <jimlux at earthlink.net> wrote:
> At 03:04 PM 6/26/2006, Kelly Johnson wrote:
> >The bare minimum required here is a trailer that can hold a 145 pound
> >"tubular" tower and is small and light enough to be pushed into my
> >backyard.  Anything over 9 feet wide would not work at all.  Something
> >closer to 5 or 6 feet wide or less would be more workable.  Something
> >small enough to fit through a 40 inch wide gate would be IDEAL.
> >Sure, it would be nice to hold antennas, generators, etc. on the
> >trailer but I could live without all of that.
>
> Excellent design constraint. 40 inches wide.
> That pretty much means you're going to be carrying the antenna and the
> support structure, and not much else.
>
> I think your big design decision is going to be how to support the thing
> once it's up (outriggers or guys)..
>
> Folding outriggers are nice, but, they've got to be pretty long if they're
> the only thing holding you up in the wind, AND, you've got to accomodate
> the inevitable ground unevenness.   Short outriggers might be the hot
> ticket just to hold you vertical until you get the guys anchored?
>
> Jim
>
>
>
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