Deluxe 12 Gourd Rack breaking?

[Gene Crosby]

I have the Deluxe 12 Gourd Rack with the 2 ft. extension making it 16 ft tall. I want to add the 12 gourd add-on, 24 gourds total, but was told I needed to only add 6 gourds, 18 gourds total, because the 24 gourds have been causing the pole to break in windy conditions. I have the 2" square pole. Anyone know of the 24 unit system having this problem. Thanks

[John Miller]

Gene

Others may know more, but I've not heard of the delux racks failing. However, there were several failures of even larger racks, even 3 inch square, last season. You can search Steve Kroenke's posts about when his site was hit by strong winds, and I've heard of others -- again, not the delux, but other large ones that are popular now.

So now the thinking seems to be advising more caution about the weight and height. Probably all depends on what mother nature may do -- no rack would withstand a tornado. But some landlords are choosing to go no more than 18 gourds, and no higher than 14 feet; other options including making the ground stake taller, or just keeping racks lowered.

Other factors..weight of the gourds. Excluders are the heaviest. Naturals would be lighter.

Hope this helps. Others may add to it.
John M

[Steve Kroenke]

Gene,

Last season, my martin colony was hit real hard by violent winds and many systems were blown down and poles severely bent. My smaller Deluxe racks with only 12 gourds survived though some of the 2 inch square aluminum poles were bent at the bottom near the ground stakes. One of my Deluxe racks with 18 gourds was blown down. My large gourd racks racks, including two Deluxe type rack with 24 gourds each were heavily damaged and blown to the ground. These Deluxe racks were on 2 and 1/2 inch square aluminum poles and 16 feet in the air. The poles of these Deluxe racks were completely bent near the top of the ground stake.

In my opinion, 24 gourds on a 16 foot aluminum pole that is 2 inch square could be a problem with strong winds. Once you factor in the weight of the gourds, nests, and martins then all that creates considerable stress on the system during violent winds. The stress will be on the pole lower down near the ground stake top.

I would recommend no more than 18 gourds at 14 feet on a 2 inch square aluminum pole. Of course I had a BAD experience with winds so I am coming from that perspective and other folks may have different opinions. I must admit I have become paranoid about bad weather!

I am keep all my housing systems no more than 14 feet tall to reduce stress on the pole near the ground stake area.

Steve

[~Ray~Gingerich]

If you could find a sq tube to slide over your pole at the bottom with very little play, say 4 ft long wouldn't that prevent the pole from bending over on the ground stake? I would think it would have the same effect as shortening the pole.