This video is 2 years old and the tower has been up since then. https://imgur.com/a/pD7jOoL

Answering some questions/comments that keep coming up:

1 Yes, we put the tower up with antennas after this.
2 Everything on the other side of the antenna is downhill/wooded. No room to run a truck.
3 If there's a next time we will try running the pull cable "through" the tree using a sling, so the tree only acts as fulcrumm. Then we don't have to worry about the stress on the tree itself, which was the biggest concern. We also have done some driveway work, so we might think a crane truck will be able to make the trip.
4 At no time were we "under" the suspended tower. That was rule #1. My friend with the board walked alongside the tower, sliding the 2x4 boards as we went.


Original description:

This is a US Towers aluminum tower, we are doing a test lift before attaching antennas and going official. The base is attached, it will be "hinged up". Official weight of the tower is 265lbs, but it works like a lever and multiplies the force needed. Can it be done by hand?

(SPOILER: Of course it can).

I made use of a "crane scale" which can measure up to 2000lbs. This was a game changer. I could track the pull force at every step of the way. Rather than an electric winch with unknown pull, I went with a 3/4 ton (1500lbs) rope puller. Everything else was rated at 1Ton (2000lbs) or higher.

Keep in mind the weight at the scale, is doubled at the tree's pulley. The rope puller only has to pull half the weight, but the tree has to handle all of it.

Tools Used:

Maasdam 3/4 Ton Rope Puller with 100' of 1/2" rope, https://amzn.to/3zZ0BaQ
Mophorn Hanging Scale 2000LBS, https://amzn.to/3DHGiB8
Mophorn Wire Rope Swaging Tool, https://amzn.to/38EsMjA
Crescent 28" Wire Rope and Cable Cutter, https://amzn.to/3DR99TC

Supplies Used:

Stainless Steel Cable 1/4 Inch, 200ft 5780lbs, https://amzn.to/3l0z2bf
Aluminum Loop Sleeves Cable Crimp, https://amzn.to/38HuG2N
Pulley/Snatchblock 2Ton, https://amzn.to/3tePFU6
D Ring Shackle, 2Ton capacity, https://amzn.to/3teXvx7
Steel Connecting Links 7100 lbs, https://amzn.to/3DZzj6W