Rohn Tower question

[DewAddict]

Hi All,

I picked up a gently used 50' Rohn 25G tower and I understand it can be used as a free standing tower with the right base. Since I don't have room to guy it, does anyone know what base/and or additional parts I would need to buy so I could put it up as a freestanding tower?
I am only going to put up 40', three 10' sections plus the nine foot top section. This is the steel tower with the good zig-zag reinforcement in it.

Thanks.

 

[k8tmk]

I have had a 50 foot Rohn 25G tower up for many years with no problem.

I have a triband beam (amateur) beam and 2-meter vertical antenna on top, and two discone antennas, a 2-meter antenna, and a satellite TV dish side-mounted on it.

My tower has a 3-foot section on the bottom which is buried in a cubic yard of concrete. There are no guy wires.

Randy

 

[DewAddict]

I see you are also in Michigan so thats gives me good real-world experience with this tower. I was told by a reseller I called that I should buy the SB-5 base to make it free standing and they want $520 for it plus freight.

I was thinking of just cutting down my fifth section and sinking it into the ground as a base. Can you tell me how large your hole is that was filled with concrete. I was thinking 4'x4'x5 or so to be on the safe side?

Thanks.

 

[hoser147]

Hey Dew check this out http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83000 Hoser

 

[kfcrosby]

Dew

I had the same tower. Buried the bottom 10' section in the ground with a 3'x3'x18" section of concrete at the top, no guy wires. Survived hurricane force winds in SE Louisiana.

Kevin

 

[gcgrotz]

Be careful, Rohn 25 is not rated to be self supporting. The good news is it will likely just bend a little and not fall over on to something or someone.

 

[trooperdude]

Be careful, Rohn 25 is not rated to be self supporting. The good news is it will likely just bend a little and not fall over on to something or someone.

And your homeowner's insurance won't cover it, or any damage that it does either, if it's not installed to code.

 

[obijohn]

Be careful, Rohn 25 is not rated to be self supporting. The good news is it will likely just bend a little and not fall over on to something or someone.

I REALLY don't recommend putting any significant sized antenna's on 50' of '25G.

I am an experienced tower climber, and I get the heebie-geebies at 40 feet of '25G.

Do yourself a favor, and use at least 1 set of guy wires. In my experience, the biggest stress to the tower will be when YOU are on it.

It's not worth dying over! Safety First!

I don't have a web site to point you to, But Unarco-Rohn has engineering specs that need to be adhered to. Especially if you ever expect to get an insurance company to cover a loss involving the tower.

 

[DewAddict]

Wow...thanks for all the replies.

I won't be climbing it at all. I was only planning to install 40' total but after reading all of these posts I may just go with a Universal Towers 40' aluminum tower that is only 68lbs total weight without antennas and does not require any guys or re-bar in the base construction.

I live in Michigan so being able to pick up the tower will save me substantial freight costs. Its $750.00 for a complete 40' setup including base and hardware. Then I will be to spec and code of the manufacture.

Thanks again for all the insight.

 

[Dubbin]

If you do pick up the new tower do you have any plans on selling the used one?

 

[DewAddict]

Be careful, Rohn 25 is not rated to be self supporting. The good news is it will likely just bend a little and not fall over on to something or someone.

Ok I found this on the Tessco website about the 25G tower. It appears that you can self support IF you use the proper bases. Just FYI, as I have done a ton of reading and calling to determine this.

Quoted from Tessco Website:

"25G Concrete Base Sections
Concrete Base Sections for Rohn's 25G towers are used in self-supporting and bracketed applications for securing the tower base. Sections are buried in concrete foundations that vary depending on soil conditions. Bases are NOT to be used in guyed applications."

So I think I'll put up 30' and call it good with the 3'4" hinged steel base that you bury in the cement.

Thanks for all the replies and interest in selling...but I im gonna put it up.

 

[WX4SNO]

Ok I found this on the Tessco website about the 25G tower. It appears that you can self support IF you use the proper bases. Just FYI, as I have done a ton of reading and calling to determine this.

Quoted from Tessco Website:

"25G Concrete Base Sections
Concrete Base Sections for Rohn's 25G towers are used in self-supporting and bracketed applications for securing the tower base. Sections are buried in concrete foundations that vary depending on soil conditions. Bases are NOT to be used in guyed applications."

So I think I'll put up 30' and call it good with the 3'4" hinged steel base that you bury in the cement.

Thanks for all the replies and interest in selling...but I im gonna put it up.

DewAddict,

Were you successful in installing your Rohn 25G tower in the 3' 4" base? I have a Rohn 30' 25G and wondering if I need to buy the 5' base for concrete or go with the 3' 4" one. How is your's doing? I too am not going to be using guy wires, just a free-standing tower.

WX4SNO