After purchasing a King Tailgater satellite antenna, I thought of a way to mount it to a tripod from a previous antenna. At a local home-supply center, I purchased a 24-inch section of 1½-inch PVC pipe, a 2-inch metal flange and a threaded PVC fitting to accept the flange. I cut the PVC pipe to 10 inches and cut four 5-inch-long slices in it so the pipe would fit over the tripod post using a hose clamp to hold it in place. I then traced the perimeter of the Tailgater on a piece of ¾-inch plywood and cut it out with a jigsaw. I mounted a 6×6-inch block to the underside of the plywood and screwed the flange to it.
Now when I arrive at a new campsite, it’s just a matter of spinning the Tailgater to the fitting on top of the tripod. I also drilled larger holes in the feet of the tripod so I can easily secure it to the ground with tent spikes.
Jim Burlingame | Lino Lakes, Minnesota
