[TowerTalk] Tower Replacement - what would you do?

[Grant Saviers]

On 6/18/2013 8:13 AM, Mickey Baker wrote:
> As many of you know, my LM-354HD broke a cable and crashed recently from a
> fully extended position. The reason for the crash is that the previous
> owner had provided the wrong replacement cable for the tower. I was luck in
> that my beam was not on the tower at the time, but the tower is a mess.
>
> I've been looking for a replacement that would fit on the current base -
> RCB-70 in a robust base as specified for the LM-470 and the LM-354HD. No
> towers in good shape have popped up.
>
> A while back, I reached out to Tashjian and learned that freight from their
> factory to my place is about $3,000 - more than half the cost of the
> replacement tower itself.
>
> My questions for the group:
>
> 1. Has anyone engineered a way to use the Tri-Ex/Tashjian base for another
> tower? Aluma tower is relatively close by and, if I could make the current
> base work, I would save shipping and have a lighter "temporary
> installation" tower that is light enough to easily move.
=== The Tashjian "bury part of the base in concrete" design makes it 
harder, but a competent ME & fab shop should be able to design/build a 
frame that bolts to the existing flanges and connects to a new frame 
suitable for the new tower you want, particularly if you aren't 
constrained in the tilt direction.  I have an LM354 w/o a base and am 
building a "bolt on" base frame in a new concrete foundation ala UST 
designs so I have flexibility.  I don't need calcs since the steel 
sizing will be from my HDX589.   Another choice - burn off the LM354HD 
flanges and drill for anchor bolts grouted/epoxied into the concrete for 
a new tower base that is bolted onto the new bolts.
> 2. Has anyone worked out a way to save shipping costs from Tashjian? For
> example, if two or more people from the same geographical region (or on the
> path to Tashjian's facility?) ordered towers, they could hire or take their
> own truck and trailer.
=== Even though Tash should have a low contract rate (unless freight is 
a profit maker) check with Freightquote.com.  They specialize in LTL 
(Less Than Truckload) freight and also put jobs out for bid.  I used 
them a few times for machinery and heavy equipment and had good results 
at a great price.  It depends on the freight flow and availability of 
dead head trucks and driver owned rigs, so each bid is for a specific 
"ready to go" load.   Towers are shipped on flatbeds so a forklift can 
load/unload them from the side, easy to rent if you go that way.  Get 
some appropriate slings also, a steel tower on steel forks is super 
prone to sliding.   Remember you are responsible for unloading and 
drivers don't like hanging around (unless there is a tip).  I know UST 
is careful with carrier selection as it is easy to damage/bend a 
crankup.  I've never dealt with Tashjian.

A Penske 26' rental truck (10k lb legal payload) will handle 3 of the 
biggest UST & Tash ham crankups if you can figure out how to load/unload 
them.  Check their rates, and if it is a slow time they will 
negotiate.   However CA>FL is not good, too many CA escapees like me.  
To move my shop CA>WA, I rented 7 Penske 26 footers plus a rigger and 
53' flatbed. The Penske moves were spread out over a few months to 
sequence installation and the price varied from $650 to $900 for San 
Jose to Seattle one way, 900 miles; 4 days included and a Class C 
license is ok.  Plus fuel, motels, and one way air fare and soon they 
cost as much as commercial.   I have a friend with a Class A license, 
but I couldn't find an interstate rental for a tractor/trailer.

Grant KZ1W
>
> I'd appreciate the group's thoughts on the above.