[TowerTalk] GIN POLE PULLEY

[Jerry K]

100' boom truck & operator in my area = $125 per hour, including slings 
and a man-bucket provided if you want it. A few weeks ago my 80' Rohn 
45G, 23' mast, and 33' boom 10-el F12 antenna were recently all easily 
and gently laid on the ground in less than one hour with me on the tower 
(one climb) and two ground crew helpers to handle turnbuckles. I didn't 
even work up a sweat, and more importantly to me I felt as safe as in my 
momma's arms during the whole thing.

I did have to pay for the truck's door-to-door time, so it ran about 
$200 total. Compared to paying for top grade parts and rope to build and 
use a safe gin pole (oxymoron?) and the all-day hassle involved, the 
boom truck was fast and dirt cheap. It was $300 seven years ago when I 
put this tower up, because erecting the tower and placing the antenna 
was naturally a slower-paced evolution than taking it down. Still dirt 
cheap IMHO, since I'm pretty sure it would cost at least that to buy or 
homebrew a safe and solid gin pole. I suppose I could have borrowed one, 
but never considered doing that.

I realize there are times and places where a boom truck can't be used, 
but if possible I believe it should be the first consideration over 
other methods of erecting medium sized towers. I suppose another factor 
is I'm pushing 70 and don't consider myself bulletproof any more, like I 
did some years back!

73, Jerry W5KP



Rex Lint wrote:
> What is the common knowledge about using "dynamic" climing rope for gin
> poles? Can be done but not a good idea, or "NEVER!"
>
>       -Rex-
>  
> K1HI
>       Rex Lint
>       Merrimack, NH 
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Roger (K8RI)
> Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2008 11:37 PM
> To: AD5VJ Bob
> Cc: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] GENPOLE PULLEY
>
> AD5VJ Bob wrote:
>   
>> Anyone try one of these yet?
>>
>> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290269531547It 
>>   
>>     
> "To me" it appears a bit on the light side as far as the pulley goes.
>   
>> I just tried making a home made gen pole today and it wont even raise my
>>     
> 35 lb three element tribander off of the ground so I am
>   
>> thinking of buying one of these and starting over.
>>
>> What size are gen-pole pulleys anyway? Mine was 1/2".
>>  Looked like it would work great, but flopped.
>>   
>>     
>