MT Solar 12 top of pole mount. A great idea (and time saver)

I've recently completed erecting the first of two of MT (Montana) Solar's  top of pole mounts, and I'd like to say what a great design it is. This is my first solar set up, and I wanted something I could do myself (hopefully), and also not worry about the quality of the product. I bought 2 of these through the Alt E Store (NWASW doesn't offer them) for $2,660 each plus shipping from Maine to Missouri (about @6k, total. They included Iron Ridge rails and UFO bolts. They came in pallets about 8' x 2' x 2', weigh about 400# each and are made of heavy duty materials. I was able to put one up alone in one day, although I did use my tractor's front loader to pick up the two biggest beams to get the first bolt in. The concept of this system is a steel 'collar' that is bolted on the pipe in 2 pieces, then is hooked on to a chain fall by a lifting lug that sets into an insert on the top of the pipe. If you don't have a chain fall or can't borrow/rent one, they have 3 different falls you can buy from them. They also sell the lifting lugs, but I had some steel laying around (retired ironworker) and welded an eye onto a piece of 2x2 square tube, and it's working great for about 1/3 of the price of theirs.  You basically build it at a waist high level, add the modules, wire it up, then raise it up the pole, then secure it with the hardware that's included. The pole and lifting lug run through the space left by leaving one module out, then when it's anchored at the top of the pole, you pull the chain fall and lifting lug off, leave the insert for the lug in the pipe, and cap the hole for the lifting lug/square tube with the included cap.

One of the features that sold me on these was the screw type adjusting handle on the back of the array that lets you set the inclination angle at any time. I'll be able to go out each month and turn the handle a few times to get the correct degree slope for maximum light that month. It's easy to turn, is at about waist level, and stays on permanently. And it's made in America!

They also have information on their site for pipe installation, down to soil types and either square or round foundations. I used a 36" wide sonotube 6' deep in the ground. I also added a rebar mat and slab at the bottom and tied it to the rebar cage in the sonotube cylinder, since I hit rock at 4.5' and 5', with the remainder of the 6' sonotube above ground, to give it a better footing.

I can't say enough about how happy I am with these racks. I guess being an Ironworker for 30 years helped, but if you're in fairly good physical condition and not broken down too much (I'm 63), it can actually be fun. It has been for me, anyway. Better than renting a crane and operator. And as far as working off a ladder, the only time that is necessary is to set the last panel where the chain fall, lug an pole are used to raise it. My wife thought it was too much to spend for array racks- until she saw what could be done in one day by an old man.