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@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of K7LXC@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2008 1:02 PM
To: towertalk@contesting.com; k0son@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@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)
**************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.
(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campo
s-duffy/
2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)
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