If you're looking for a strong, dependable gourd rack and want the convenience of a winch and cable system from the start, the Troyer's Ultimate-Deluxe K-18 is an excellent choice. Designed for the serious Purple Martin landlord, the K-18 combines an 18-unit capacity with a heavy-duty 3-inch square aluminum pole, solid stainless-steel gourd arms, and a built-in brake winch system to make raising and lowering your gourd rack easier. The hub raises and lowers vertically without turning, making it easier to bring your gourds down for nest checks, maintenance, and seasonal care. And because the winch system is already part of the K-18 design, there is no need to purchase a separate conversion kit later.
Why Purple Martin Landlords Choose the K-18
The K-18 is built with the same attention to quality and craftsmanship you expect from a Troyer's gourd rack, but steps up to a larger pole and heavier-duty components. The 3-inch square, three-piece aluminum pole stands 16 feet above the ground when installed, providing a strong foundation for your gourd colony. Square aluminum poles also provide excellent strength compared with traditional round martin poles. The rack includes a heavy-duty aluminum ground stake, aluminum hub, stainless-steel hardware, and an aluminum ball top with two 72-inch perch rods.
A Winch System That Makes Nest Checks Easier
One of the biggest advantages of the K-18 is its built-in brake winch and stainless-steel cable system. The included 3/16-inch stainless-steel cable runs through the cable guide and attaches to the hub. The brake winch allows you to raise and lower the hub without having to manually handle a long rope. This makes the K-18 particularly appealing to landlords who want a more substantial lifting system for their gourd rack. The standard K-18 includes a D&L 350-pound brake winch. A worm gear winch upgrade is also available for landlords who prefer to operate the winch with a cordless drill.
Easy Access for Nest Checks
One of the most important features of a gourd rack isn't simply how many gourds it holds—it's how easily you can get those gourds down when it's time to check the nests. The K-18 is designed so the hub moves straight up and down without rotating. With the winch system, you can lower the entire gourd array to a comfortable working height for nest checks, nest changes, maintenance, and preparing your colony for the next season. That's a feature you'll appreciate every time you need to work with your gourds.
Room to Grow With Your Colony
The K-18 doesn't have to be the end of your expansion. The K-Series is designed to grow with your Purple Martin colony. The 18-unit K-Series rack can be expanded to accommodate 24 gourds with the appropriate expansion kit. That makes the K-18 a particularly good choice for landlords who are starting with 18 gourds but want the flexibility to increase their housing as their colony grows.
- K18Up24H: Expands your K-12 Up to a K-18 conversion kit. Conversion should be done before or after the martin season.
Choosing Between the Super-Deluxe 18, Deluxe 18 and the K-18
If you are deciding between our three 18-unit gourd racks, all three provide space for the same number of gourds, but there are important differences to consider. The Deluxe 18 features a 14 foot pole and a simple rope and pulley system for raising and lowering the rack. The K-18 steps up to a 16 foot pole and includes a winch system for easy raising and lowering, with the added advantage of being expandable to a K-24. The Super Deluxe 18 offers another 18-gourd option for Purple Martin enthusiast, with its 14-foot pole and stainless steel gourd-hanging arms. Comparing the pole height, lifting system, and future expansion options can help you choose the rack that best fits your colony.
What's Included
The K-18 includes:
- Three-piece 3-inch square, 16-foot aluminum pole
- Heavy-duty aluminum ground stake
- Two 72-inch solid aluminum top perch rods with stainless set screws to hold them into the ball top.
- Three-tiered aluminum hub with nylon glide buttons
- Eighteen 3/8-inch solid stainless-steel gourd arms
- Stainless-steel hitch pins
- 3/16-inch stainless-steel cable
- Cable guide and pulley
- D&L 350-pound brake winch
- Winch mounting brackets
- Stop pin
- Safety pin
- Aluminum ball top
- Stainless-steel hardware
Mounting
The heavy-duty ground stake should be installed in concrete with 24 inches below ground and 24 inches above ground. The pole then slides over the portion of the ground stake extending above the concrete.
Gourd Compatibility
Holds 18 gourds. The horizontal-style stainless steel gourd arms can accommodate Troyer Gourds and many other plastic or natural gourds. Gourds are not included with the rack unless you select one of the available gourd bundles.
Using Troyer Gourds?
That's easy. Troyer gourds come ready to hang with the proper horizontal hanging hole, so there's no need to modify them before installation. If your gourds do not already have the proper front-to-back hanging hole, simply drill a 3/8-inch in the neck of the gourd. Some gourds, like the SuperGourd offer drill guides.
Popular Gourd Choices Include:
Why Choose the K-18?
The K-18 is an excellent choice for the Purple Martin landlord who wants:
- A heavier-duty 3-inch square pole
- A 16-foot installed height
- Solid stainless-steel gourd arms
- A built-in winch and stainless-steel cable system
- Easy raising and lowering for nest checks
- A rack that can expand from 18 to 24 gourds
- Troyer's quality aluminum construction
- A gourd rack designed and manufactured in Pennsylvania
A Serious Rack for a Serious Purple Martin Colony
The K-18 gives you more than a place to hang eighteen gourds. It gives you a strong, expandable housing system designed with the needs of the Purple Martin landlord in mind. If you already know you want a winch-operated gourd rack, the K-18 is worth considering from the beginning. Instead of starting with a rope-and-pulley rack (Deluxe 18, Super-Deluxe 18) and converting it later, the K-18 comes designed around the winch system from the start. Built strong. Built to expand. Built to make managing your Purple Martin colony easier.
