Re: [RE-wrenches] tower lifting winches

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:08:16 -0800

We used to use (and still do occasionally) the truck towing method to raise/ lower our tiltups.
Ground conditions can prove difficult though....ice, mud, rough surfaces, etc. can cause problems.

So we switch to a 9,000 lb rated Tulsa winch.....that's a worm gear drive that provides built in braking.
We have 300' of 5/16 stainless steel cable on ours.....also mounted on a platform that slides into the
truck hitch receiver. We also replaced the 2.9 hp motor in it with a 5 hp motor...big difference.
FYI...that motor while pulling a 2000 lb load needs 210 amps @ 12 vdc.....fat wire needed!

So now the only thing we use the truck towing hooks for are to tie off the truck so it doesn't slide
while using the winch. While I strongly recommend the use of a worm gear type winch (because of
it's braking ability) I have to admit that they're getting harder to find. Planetary gear winches are
more readily available.

Make sure that your winch rating is considerably higher than the load you're pulling. Winch load ratings
are as slippery to decipher as wind turbine ratings ;-)
Roy Butler
NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer®
NYSERDA eligible PV & wind installer 
Four Winds Renewable Energy, LLC
8902 Route 46
Arkport, NY 14807
607-324-9747

www.four-winds-energy.com
www.nationalsolarsupply.com

Although no trees were killed in the sending of this message, 
a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.


Dana wrote:

We just use the truck in reverse [ we pre-clear the area behind the truck] and hook to the front tow hooks, so you can watch the tower rise and stop as required and same for lowering the tower you are watching the whole time. We also use radios so we are all in touch.

 

Thanks -

 

Dana Orzel

 

Great Solar Works, Inc

www.solarwork.com

E - [EMAIL PROTECTED]

V - 970.626.5253

F - 970.626.4140

C - 970.209.4076

 

From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of R. Walters
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 12:28 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] tower lifting winches

 

We use a 9000 lb Super Winch mounted to our truck front bumper via a receiver hitch. I thought about smaller winches, but we used this to raise a 100 ft Bergey XL.1 and we were not wishing for a smaller winch. 

My biggest complaint about the Superwinch is it keeps going for about a ft after you disengage the switch. Could definitely lose a finger.

I used a Ramsey 8000 Lb winch as well. It stopped when you let off the switch.

The Warn is probably the best made. A wireless remote would be great for tower hoisting too.

Also, we mount everything on 2" receivers, so that we can pull the winch off the truck, use it on other trucks, our trailer, front or back, etc.

We've even used it to (with a boom arm) to lift batteries.

I wouldn't put up towers without one. Also handy if you get stuck on those remote sites....

 

Ray Walters

 

On Nov 25, 2008, at 9:14 AM, Nicholas Ponzio wrote:



Wind Wrenches,

 

I'm shopping for an electric winch for raising tilt-up towers (small turbines and anemometers). What do you use? Would you buy something different if you had to do it again?

 

 

Thanks,

-Nik

 

 

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R. Walters

Solarray.com

NABCEP # 04170442       

 



 


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