[TowerTalk] Crank up Tower

[Julio Peralta]

Steve the tower you described reminds me of the Aluma Tower which is
made here in Florida. It very closely resembles lawn furniture. The
Heights crank up towers, which are also made in Florida, are a much
stronger constructed tower. They kind of look like an aluminum version
of a US Tower. I have had experience with both and would not recommend
the Aluma Tower but a Heights Tower should be good for any load for
which they are rated.

Julio, W4HY

-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of K7LXC at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2008 1:02 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com; k0son at frontiernet.net
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Crank up Tower

 
In a message dated 2/23/2008 9:02:49 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
towertalk-request at contesting.com writes:

>  I'm new to the list & need some information on Heights  Crank up
towers 
without the tilt over feature. OK here's the background. I use  to have
a 50 ft 
Universal at my old house. I liked the tower, but 50 ft is now  above my

comfort level for working on towers, I'd like to get a crankup and
think the 
Heights would be good one. So, I would like to get in contact with
anyone who 
currently owns, or has owned a Heights crank up. I've read their  web
site & now 
want to talk to owners & get the real  story.


        A customer of mine bought a  100-foot version. He had never had
a 
tower before and bought it because he could  get it in his backyard
without too 
much trouble and then he'd have a 100' tower.  After everything was
done, he 
wanted a professional opinion about his  installation. He made one fatal
error 
in locating the guy anchors which we  corrected.         
 
        EVERYTHING about this tower  was undersized and under-engineered
IMO. 
The 3 base bolts were 1/2" or so. The  winch and haul lines were
inadequate - 
the winch got real hot as we were  cranking it up. I can't remember if
the 
cables were rope or steel - they  might've been rope. 
 
        This was a guyed tower  which meant you had to be VERY careful
as 
it's being cranked up and then the guy  tensions were all on the haul
cables. 
 
        He called the other day as  he was preparing to lower it and the

safety latch that locked some of the  sections wouldn't release so it
wouldn't 
descend. I suggested a couple of things  that I would have done if I'd
been there 
and he went out to lower it. He called  back a little later and said
that he 
indeed got the safety latch to release but  as he was lowering it, the
winch 
got away from him and the whole thing  collapsed. The yagi booms bent
and the 
whole tower wound up jammed in the lower  section. 
 
        I was saddened to hear  about his calamity because he made some
bad 
decisions that led to this  unfortunate occurrence. (OTOH I was glad I
wasn't 
the guy that did it.) I would  never have recommended that he buy this
tower - 
100' of 45G would have been a  much better decision and it'd still be in
the 
air for the next 25 years or more. 
 
        If you've got your heart  set on a crank-up, get a US Tower
model. 
They're steel, well built and US Tower  has been known to go out of
their way 
for customer service. 
 
Cheers,
Steve     K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for hams
Cell: 206-890-4188
_www.championradio.com/installs.html_ 
(http://www.championradio.com/installs.html)  



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