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BigT's avatar
BigT
Explorer
Sep 06, 2014

Tailgater dish stand

I have a tailgater that I really like, but I wish I could come up with a mounting stand that I like. I ordered a tripod stand made for the winegaurd dish, but I returned it because I would not fold up for easy storage. I have seen the ladder mounts, but I want the portability to move the dish away from any trees. That is also the reason I didn't go for the roof mount. We stay in some pretty heavily wooded areas so that option just doesn't appeal to me. I do a little woodworking and I built a dish mount out of wood that I really like on top of the pinbox, but there again we must be parked in the right direction and there needs to be no tree interference. I could just continue to place it on the ground, but I keep thinking there is better way to get it really stable and 12-18 inches off the ground. Anybody have any suggestions?
  • kennethwooster wrote:
    I agree with a couple of other posters. The Winnegard stand works perfect. The 3 legs fit right into the slots on Winnegard stand. Ive never had a wind turn it over.


    Thanks Ken. I may have to take another look at the winegaurd stand. If it doesn't work I can always look at yours next year in Colorado.
  • FWI I have a winegaurd tripod with a regular direct dish on it. Storage is not a problem. I hang it in the top of my front storage with 2 rubber straps.
  • I got one of the ladder brackets that are made for it and most of the time it works well. The only issue is trees. Even then I have gotten it to work a few times. Just depends on the angle I guess. The bracket is very secure as it locks around the feet and has a hole for a pad lock for good measure. The real downside other than the trees is the price. For what you get it is way over priced but I could not find any other option.
  • I have a Direct TV dish that is mounted on the shorter Winegard tripod with a small circular bubble level glued into the top to the mast. Once in position and level, I make it stable by using an 8 lb. mushroom boat anchor that I hook onto the bottom of the center leg support. For ease of storage I also cut the arm that holds the LNBs about 3" from the base of the dish and installed a stainless steel piano hinge so that the arm and LNBs fold back into the dish. When ready for use, it unfolds back to normal and I secure it with a pin. Works great. I can post photo's if anyone is interested.
  • I made a plate for the bottom of mine and it clamps to the top of the ladder up on the top of the 5th wheel. It's up out of the way and darn near impossible to steal it.
  • http://casitaadventures.smugmug.com/CasitaConfiguration/Ladder-Mount-For-Dish/

    This is the very best system I've had and I think I've tried them all. It is both a ladder mount and a ground tripod. Very high quality materials.
  • My Tailgater blew over twice in high winds. Once in NM and again in WY. I mounted mine to a 2 x 12 board to provide ballast. It's now rock solid inthe highest winds and the board is a permanent mount. Just pick it up and place it wherever works best.
  • About a year ago I decided that I needed something to help me with my antenna so I built me a triangle base with three adjustment screws on each point of the triangle I had a welder weld me a pole with a base large enough to attach to the center of the triangle , I had a tech tell me that the most important thing in trying to get reception was that the antenna post had to be at 90deg's, this triangle base has helped me do that and now I can get my tv reception up and running in about 5 min. If I knew how to post a picture on the site I would but every time I try to do it, it doesent seem to work. If you would send me your e-mail I will send you a picture. Good luck, My e-mail is
    Jduham6@bellsouth.net.