[TowerTalk] Relatively large tower base install questions

Patrick Greenlee patrick_g at windstream.net
Wed Mar 6 18:06:39 EST 2013 

Pete, John, and Mickey... No crane required just a couple days steady work 
for two guys and easier work if I get a third person as far as dismantling 
goes.  I don't have a swimming pool per se but I do have 12 ponds most of 
them stocked with fish.  I have worked out the process for the take down and 
it is not such a big deal just methodical thoughtful work with attention to 
safety like keeping the climbing harness attached to something that isn't 
going down imminently.   Trailer handles 10,000 lbs and I estimate the 
weight under 3000.  Even if I were off by a factor of 2 there is no problem. 
It is 120 ft of 4 1/2 inch tubing, i.e. 6 each 20 footers and a bunch of 
channel iron X braces. One question that made me go hmmmm was if my welding 
trailer (has the air compressor for running the impact wrenches) can 
straddle the 6 pieces of tubing loaded on the trailer.  I think it will 
which saves me a 2+ hour round trip to fetch the welding trailer.  I will 
take it to the site on the HD car hauler/utility trailer to save a round 
trip.

Yes, it should be clear I am not easily deterred by general from the hip 
comments. I say again, this is not my first rodeo. I got the same sort of 
comments when I moved one of my all steel barns (37 X 73 X 18 feet) a 
quarter mile across a pasture to have it in a more convenient location. My 
Hy-Gain Hy-Tower is on top of it now with no radials but great performance. 
That too was the basis of all sorts of negative comments before it was 
finished. Must have radials, can't install it with DIY all steel base, and 
no concrete and on and on. Insurance? You betcha, plenty.  I have a a farm 
and ranch policy that covers the homeowners aspects and an umbrella 
liability policy etc.

I'm a quarter of a mile from my nearest neighbor. The tower will meet all 
code requirements structurally and electrically (auto raise and lower plus 
lights for night time use of the platform and the refrigerator plus the 
grill has rotisserie.

Delusional?  They haven't been able to commit me so far and with my meds in 
relatively good balance they never will.  Ib ll post progress pix.  Maybe we 
should start a pool and bet on what sort of delays will occur, accidents 
that will happen, injuries that will be sustained and all other dire 
prognostications.

I'd like to take this opportunity to say thanks for all the "off the 
reflector" supportive messages and reassure everyone sending that they may 
remain anonymous so far as I am concerned. The humor of some has been a 
terrific comic relief punctuating the receipt of some of these "on 
reflector" messages.

I will just stay the course and post progress pix along the way.  I recall 
the one comment, "The difficult you do easily, the impossible takes a little 
longer."

Best of 73 to you all,

Patrick AF5CK

-----Original Message----- 
From: Pete Smith N4ZR
Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2013 3:36 PM
To: towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Relatively large tower base install questions

Just make sure you liability and home insurance are both adequate to the
risks you will incur. "$285 and some sweat equity" is a delusional
underestimate, but there clearly is no deterring you.

73, Pete N4ZR
Check out the Reverse Beacon Network at
http://reversebeacon.net,
blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com.
For spots, please go to your favorite
ARC V6 or VE7CC DX cluster node.

On 3/6/2013 11:50 AM, Patrick Greenlee wrote:
> John, I guess "expensive" or "difficult" are relative.  What I have wanted 
> for a long time was an oil derrick but I was never in sync with the 
> boom-bust cycle of the oil production industry so that I could get one on 
> the cheap. I have a desire for an elevated observation platform and a 
> crank-up tower with provisions for easy antenna maint. It is possible to 
> separate the two items and attain them separately but I don't think that 
> is a superior solution.
>
> I concur that the 40 ft tall tower base is heavy duty but for its 
> capability I don't think $285 and some sweat equity is expensive. I'm just 
> guessing at burying 15 ft or so of the crank-up below the bases 40 ft 
> height.  If my mechanical engineer approves and we develop a plan that 
> mounts a free standing tower at or near the top of the 40 ft base then the 
> $285 buys even more functionality and reduces the cost of the crank-up 
> even more.  We haven't explored all of the possibilities yet.
>
> When I peruse the Texas Towers catalog prices and compare costs vs 
> heights/windloads I think the 40 foot tower base is a bargain so far as 
> offsetting the cost for height and wind load of the taller towers required 
> sans the platform in question. And of course there is the observation 
> platform function.  Just imagine relaxing on a chaise lounge under a 
> canvas sun cover sipping a cold beverage and smelling the steaks searing 
> on the BBQ.  Oh did I forget to mention the gas grill? and the little dorm 
> room size refrigerator? Also the extra 40 ft of elevation gets my line of 
> sight up above some brushy obstructions and puts me approximately level 
> with another part of my property where the targets are arrayed for our 
> 100, 200, 300, 500, 1000 yd target range. I think the 40 foot observation 
> deck will make a great place from which to control RC models as well.  I'm 
> sure when given time and not concentrating on the short term work at hand 
> I will think of additional uses for the tower/platform which will give it 
> even more versatility and value.
>
> Patrick AF5C
>
>
> -----Original Message----- From: john at kk9a.com
> Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2013 4:34 PM
> To: TOWERTALK at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Relatively large tower base install questions
>
> This sounds like a very expensive and heavy platform just to access an
> antenna on your crank up tower.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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