Forum Discussion

Skinny_Man's avatar
Skinny_Man
Explorer II
May 25, 2015

TV Antenna

I made the mistake I knew was going to happen sooner or later, left the antenna up and pretty much destroyed the tubes. It is a Winegard but I can't find the model # of the antenna. Does anyone know where it is or if the tubes are the same on all Winegard's? I have got to come up with a way to make sure I remember to take it down in the future.
  • I always do a final walk around making sure all doors are closed and latched, water, electric unhooked, antenna down, chocks pulled, chairs inside, etc. After a while it gets to be second nature.
  • Most people have "smart" phones nowdays. I use a list maker free app called Simple Notepad on my Android (Samsung) phone. There are list maker apps also available for iPhones. This is by far the simplest way to make sure you don't forget anything before you drive off. You can add items, sort, delete, check and uncheck. Here is a sample of what mine looks like.

  • I have a note on the dash control screen that says: "ANTENNA IS UP" and has saves me many times...I can't see the screen until I remove the note...
  • I have taken it apart now and all I need is the tubes. If the ones I have found onlne are correct they are about $15. Very simple fix and pretty cheap. That is not generally the case with my screw ups.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    I have a list of reminders hanging around the pilot seat haha...

    It happens all the time.... I was coming thru SMOKY MTN park one trip and came around one of the over hang curves and found what looked like the Fridge cover. I stopped and picked it up out of the middle of the road. Went alittle farther and found a crushed up crank-up antenna like your. Picked that also.

    Then about a mile later I see this RV sitting in a pull out area so I stopped and asked if he was missing anything. He said YUP... I gave him those two items haha... He said he forgot to lower the antenna when he left ELKMONT.

    Saw another guy one time dragging his shore power cable - guess he left without unhooking that.. Got him stopped and the connector was all eaten up from being dragged.

    I bought a complete WINEGARD Crank up assy like you need from a local RV sales guy that had lots of accessories and parts for sale. You may not need a whole assy once you take what you have apart for inspection. Cost was around $100 I think it was. They are also available on AMAZON.

    You can get a complete parts breakdown with item numbers on google search.
    My trailer had a whole bunch of paperwork in a folder next to the water heater for all of the appliances that came with my trailer including the crankup antenna.

    Roy Ken
  • Wife and the kids left early this morning so I was breaking camp alone. I read something about hanging truck keys on the antenna crank. I really like that idea.
  • Just before we leave a site my wife checks the brake and turn signals and we do a walk-around the site. During that final check the antenna being up catches one of our eyes and we take it down. In 13 seasons we have never left it up.
    However, I have tried to drive away with the wheels still chocked!
  • You can either tie a string around your finger or make a "check off" list as many of us do.