[TowerTalk] Boom Lift

[Phil Snyder]

Last fall I installed a Force 12 XR5 on a friends tower. It is a 
crank-up but without room to tilt it over with the antennas installed. 
He rented a tow behind electric boom with about a 45 foot capacity and 
500 lb rating. We assembled the antenna in 3 pcs, each section of the 
boom. I went up with the center section on the lift and bolted it to the 
mast. I then lifted the tail end of the antenna up right to it's 
matching boom end and slipped it in. I then did the same with the front 
of the antenna. It worked out great.

This fall he wanted to add a 6 meter beam and change out the coax for 
both. I simply went back up in the lift, removed one end of the HF beam  
and lowered it to the ground to gain access to the mast above the HF 
beam and up went the 6 meter beam. Actually worked out pretty slick and 
having the flat surface to stand on sure beat standing on the tower rungs.

Phil

N9LAH

On 11/12/2011 3:38 PM, Howard Hoyt wrote:
> My $0.02 worth:
>
> If your job is at or less than 50 feet up, and you can afford to rent a
> boom lift, then it is by far the safest, easiest and fastest way to
> assemble, disassemble and work on a tower, period.  The lifts are rated
> at thousands of pounds lift at height, so you can do really neat tricks
> like unbolting the top tower section, lashing the platform to it, then
> using the hydraulics to pull the section up and free from the one
> below.  Since it is already attached to the lift, you merely pivot away
> and bring it to the ground...rinse, lather, repeat.  You can take a
> tower down from the 50 foot level in a matter of an hour using this
> method.  You can take a whole bunch of tools with zero extra effort to
> height as well.  Also, you have a secure place to put hardware that
> isn't swinging in the wind.
>
> Taking a 100 pound beam off a tower is trivial with a boom lift.
> Position the edge of the basket directly under the boom, strap it onto
> the basket with a ratchet strap, unbolt it from the mast, raise, pivot,
> bring her down to the ground.  Installing it fully assembled and tuned
> is as easy as reversing that procedure.
>
> After using a boom lift once, I see the value in it, both is safety (the
> machine takes the load, not you) and speed (time is money).  Of course,
> the technique doesn't apply to taller towers and smaller budgets.  Also,
> the mention was made about ensuring that the machine is on solid
> ground.  I second that with emphasis, also, watch out for guys while
> whizzing around in the bucket!!
>
> Howie
>