Hi- I have a used Tri-ex W51 that I picked up in an auction. I need to
get a base section to set in concrete. I have heard that US Towers
makes a suitable base or Tash Towers also has one. Are there any
advantages or disadvantages of going to either manufacurer? Thanks in
advance. Steve K9SL

"steve" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi- I have a used Tri-ex W51 that I picked up in an auction. I need to
get a base section to set in concrete. I have heard that US Towers
makes a suitable base or Tash Towers also has one. Are there any
advantages or disadvantages of going to either manufacurer? Thanks in
advance. Steve K9SL

Steve -

My personnel preference would be to go with Tashjian.

Tashjian currently produces towers under the TriEx name and they acquired
the TriEx engineering drawings.

After a number of well publicized cellular tower accidents (e.g. collapse,
accidents) many municipalities and county government placed new laws for
building permits and insurance coverage.
This is one reasons that you see the service being offered by Karl K.
Tashjian for commercial usage of these towers.
http://www.tashtowers.com/engineering.html

You should request the engineering specifications from Tashjian on your W51
tower.
http://www.tashtowers.com/wt51.htm

Lastly, your tower becomes part of your overall property - which is one
reason that building and property inspectors are now largely involved.

gb

Thanks for your response. I live out in the country and own the
property all around the tower site with the closest neighbors
appoximately 1/2 mile away so I am not worried about the tower falling
on somebody but I am concerned about the overall robustness of the
mount. I looked at the different webites and it looked like us towers
had a larger footprint for the concrete pad than was speched out at
tashtowers. I just wonder if it is way overkill for my application
since the are building these bases for their own (ustowers) design. Any
thoughts?

"steve" wrote in message
ups.com...
Thanks for your response. I live out in the country and own the
property all around the tower site with the closest neighbors
appoximately 1/2 mile away so I am not worried about the tower falling
on somebody but I am concerned about the overall robustness of the
mount. I looked at the different webites and it looked like us towers
had a larger footprint for the concrete pad than was speched out at
tashtowers. I just wonder if it is way overkill for my application
since the are building these bases for their own (ustowers) design. Any
thoughts?


Each tower engineering design and recommendation is based upon a set of
assumptions about soils, drainage, tower stresses and wind loads.

The "size of the concrete footprint" is the engineer's design based upon
these assumptions ... I would not venture into guessing what these criteria
were --
I would ASK each vendor.
I think you will find that their assumptions are different and all you are
seeing is the physical changes required based upon those assumptions..

Also, I would ask US Tower, before purchase, about using their base on your
TriEx Tower .... you are "mixing" designs.

I would desire to get a "sign-off' by their engineer for such a
substitution.

I understand your rural, no neighbors situation - BUT it can fall on your
house.
Towers are of little resale value without the supporting engineering
paperwork.

gb

I do understand the problems some folks have with needing to satisfy
the political establishment.

However, when I refurbished my crank up free standing mast (about 55
feet) I took the position that as near as I can tell in my rural world
if it don't spill over onto some else's property, I can do want ever I
am willing to risk.

When I was specifying the concrete I discovered that whatever I
ordered, the concrete company was going to charge me for a minimum of
5 yards. 3-4 would have done the job...

The hole was not a problem, I have a back hoe. The steel was not a
problem either, just make sure there is 50% more than anyone thinks
you need, they sell it by the pound!

The supporting gantry was designed the same way. If a 6" cross section
will do, go with 12", when you are buying from salvage yards you only
have to find enough material to do it one time!

Build it so it cannot fall down!

On 28 Dec 2005 11:26:31 -0800, "steve" wrote:

Thanks for your response. I live out in the country and own the
property all around the tower site with the closest neighbors
appoximately 1/2 mile away so I am not worried about the tower falling
on somebody but I am concerned about the overall robustness of the
mount. I looked at the different webites and it looked like us towers
had a larger footprint for the concrete pad than was speched out at
tashtowers. I just wonder if it is way overkill for my application
since the are building these bases for their own (ustowers) design. Any
thoughts?
John Ferrell W8CCW

Any more suggestions? I amlooking for folks with real world experience
with this tower. Thanks
Steve K9SL

Dear Steve K9SL:
Assuming that you wish the installation to be performed with reasonable
(or larger) safety factors, you need the services of a professional engineer
licensed in your state who has experience with towers and tower foundations.
He or she will need engineering data from the manufacturer of the tower and
from the possible suppliers of the new bottom section. He or she will need
to know if there are exceptional facts about your site. They include wind
experience, soil type, and expected antenna loads.

"Real world experience with" your tower, I submit, is of little value to
the goal of having the tower installed with reasonable safety factors.
Almost anything for a tower "bottom" will "work" for a while.

In lieu of professional assistance, the advice of Mr. Ferrell is of
value.

It sounds as if you do not need to use anywhere near the safety factor I
used in a recent tower installation that is in a populated area that is not
too far from a several story building. The building can cause extra wind
pressure. The top many feet of soil was just fill. Severe damage and risk
to life could result from a failure. The resulting foundation removed all
of the soil down to a hard-pan, built up the base a little with manufactured
and well compacted soil, and then used enough reinforced concrete to
counter-balance the tower even if there had been no soil on the sides of the
foundation. I do not use such extreme measures with towers out in the
country and well away from houses or people. However, my experience is that
the wind loads under those circumstances are significantly above those
specified by building codes. The building codes seem not to assume open
spaces.

Good luck. Mac (and a P.E.) N8TT
--
J. Mc Laughlin; Michigan U.S.A.
Home:
"steve" wrote in message
oups.com...
Any more suggestions? I amlooking for folks with real world experience
with this tower. Thanks
Steve K9SL

I agree, do it right the first time and enjoy the tower !

on the other side, take a look at this installation !

http://deepsouthnet.net/tower.html

73 ron