Flagholder

[sandlapper]

Thanks LLL for the picture. Flags on the front of an Airstream are the only way to make an awesome trailer look any better.

I have noticed that the Lowes brand (Blue Hawk) of pole is now smooth skinned. It still has the blue handle on the end which must be knocked off, leaving the raw end to rub the bottom of the holder. I thought it was still aluminum though.

IMHO, the best painters/flag pole out there is the one made in Missouri by MrLongArm. It is aluminum, smooth skinned, collapses to 6', extends to 12', and has a nice nylon plug in the bottom to protect the holder. They are sold thru Menards, Tru Value Hdwe, many independent hdwe stores, and I have seen their products at HD and Lowes. Less than $15. Part # 9272. Any store that sells MrLongArm products should be able to order them for you if they don't stock them. And remember, Missouri is in the USA.

As a side note, all flag poles, even the big ones flying the gigantic flags, are rated to be able to withstand certain size flags in certain mph winds. The bigger, the heavier the flag, the bigger the pole must be.

Heres the proof...

recently, parked with our good friends beside us in an open area, a bad storm rolled in. Tv said 60mph wind, hail, rain, the works. 15 minutes of hell. My buddy, who has one of my 5 pole holders, and uses the MrLongArm poles, had all 5 poles bend over beyond use. Mine stayed perfectly fine through out the entire ordeal.

The difference.....I fly the thin, cheap, nylon flags....he flys the nice, expensive,..but heavy..flags.

The $15 dollar poles can't handle a $30 flag.

And besides, those thin, cheap flags fly better in the slightest breeze. They would never hold up to everyday use but are perfect for the weekend show your stuff.

Fly your flags proudly.

John

[Brent10]

What is the best (and safest) flagpole mount for the Airstream? Would love to display our flags without damage to the coach...thanks

[Al - K4GLU]

[QUOTE=sandlapper;1486751]Thanks LLL for the picture. Flags on the front of an Airstream are the only way to make an awesome trailer look any better.

I have noticed that the Lowes brand (Blue Hawk) of pole is now smooth skinned. It still has the blue handle on the end which must be knocked off, leaving the raw end to rub the bottom of the holder. I thought it was still aluminum though.

New Lowe's poles are definitely grey painted steel - I checked mine with a magnet. One good thing is that the blue handle is not glued on. Had no problem removing the one from mine by twisting.

[sandlapper]

Thanks Al for the update on the Lowes poles. I'm wondering how well the paint will hold up before the rust starts on the poles when subjected to the elements.

John

[sandlapper]

Originally Posted by Brent10

What is the best (and safest) flagpole mount for the Airstream? Would love to display our flags without damage to the coach...thanks

Brent, I don't know of a commercially made holder that will do the job. Most folks either cobble one up from PVC, conduit, or some other means,
OR, purchase one from someone here on the Forums.

There are some good pictures of a very nice holder at the beginning of this thread that I can personally vouch for. Others on here will do the same.

Send me a PM if you need any more info.

John

[Brent10]

Thanks a bunch...much appreciated!

[Dan@LED4RV]

Originally Posted by triterra

I like the flag holder! What's that light on the jack? Where can I get both?

For the light you asked about,
Click here to see it in LED


For an LED spot light kit that points up and lights up your flags at night with a Rally style LOW POWER DRAW, Click here.

[mefly2]

Another way ... under $25 of PVC and fittings lashed to my tongue with soft rope ... no damage and very heavy duty. Our EB, national / state flags and Canadian penant, but not our photo... credit for that goes to Russel Decker on Region 10 WBCCI FB page.

The sections disassemble and store inside of each other: Three caps, one 4-way and assorted lengths of PVC. The orange / black painting is left over from using part of the assembly as a wind indicator for paragliding. Due to possible leverage in heavy wind, I have a large spike driven into the ground directly below the tongue attachment point to stabilize the very bottom of the assembly.

[Al - K4GLU]

Originally Posted by mefly2

Another way ... under $25 of PVC and fittings lashed to my tongue with soft rope ... no damage and very heavy duty. Our EB and flags, but not our photo... credit for that to Russel Decker on Region 10 WBCCI FB page.

And PVC adds a lot of class to a Airstream.

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by Al - K4GLU

And PVC adds a lot of class to a Airstream.

Al-
We have NEVER felt the need to denigrate based upon class ... regardless of RV, age, or arrogance! Class is in the eye of the beholder and out of the mouth of the observer. I am proud of my construction and design.
Functionally, this has gotten the job done and done well for the last five years. Also served well as an antenna mount for G to Air. I could comment all day on TVs, RVs, and their condition with regard to class - but I shall refrain.

[palmtreegirl]

I might look into that spot light - thanks for the link!

BTW - I like the look of the PVC - it makes the trailer look like the flagship! Plus it's probably quieter! I usually have to take the flags down at night because if there is a breeze, the grommets holding the flags on the pin/pole make ticking noises that are amplified by the long metal poles and the poles make little scraping noises where they contact the holder itself. I've been trying to find something to apply to silence it. It can be very annoying if you're used to quiet for sleeping.

Nevertheless, I LOVE my 5 flag holder and have several flag options to reflect our mood! Sandlapper makes a very quality product that 'suits' the Airstream perfectly!

[Argosy 7728]

I'm interested in how everyone has attached their flag to the painter poles.

[sandlapper]

.......a simple way to attach the flag to a painters pole. I pull the bottom clip, collapse the pole to 6', roll the flag around the pole. Stores easily in the bed of the truck.

Drill the top hole through the pole near the top, attach the clip to the flag, then the flag to the pole. Put the bottom clip on the flag, pull it down and mark/drill the bottom hole. Just be sure to orient the 2 holes the same direction.

Not real glamerous but sure is easy and effective.

John

[Al - K4GLU]

Well the new Lowe's steel poles will break/bend just like the old aluminum ones. Just lost mine - gusts probably around 40 mph in a t-storm. It had a good quality 3x5 USA and one of the Air Forum flags so it did have a load - and a wet load at that since it was pouring rain. Guess I'm gonna break down and get a cheap USA - probably a 2 1/2 x 4 nylon.

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Argosy 7728

I'm interested in how everyone has attached their flag to the painter poles.

I dip some steel rings into rubberizing 'DIP-IT' (to reduce the clanging noise in wind blown flags) and hook the flags with spring clips. The rings eliminates the flags from wrapping around the poles.

Neil

[sandlapper]

Originally Posted by Al - K4GLU

Well the new Lowe's steel poles will break/bend just like the old aluminum ones. Just lost mine - gusts probably around 40 mph in a t-storm. It had a good quality 3x5 USA and one of the Air Forum flags so it did have a load - and a wet load at that since it was pouring rain. Guess I'm gonna break down and get a cheap USA - probably a 2 1/2 x 4 nylon.

At least they are relatively inexpensive, around $15. They should be able to hold up to 40ish mph winds if the flags are the thin nylon type, 3x5. In sustained, more than a few minute wind/storms, maybe best to take them down, or in a pinch, just roll them around the pole.

If it's not one thing, it's ten others. Something all the time.

John

[sandlapper]

Nice work Neil.

[GCinSC2]

Originally Posted by Argosy 7728

I'm interested in how everyone has attached their flag to the painter poles.

Rod,

Sandlapper triple rig on mine and John showed me his hitch pins, it works but I tried a different twist, small eyebolts.

Don't have a pic or size, can get it if you'd like. Its pretty easy to open an eyebolt by twisting it open, not making the hole larger just twisting enough to get the flag grommet thru it, and then close it up. Hole in pole, insert eyebolt, nut on threaded section and to act as a stop and protect the flag from the threads, about a 1/4" long piece of vinyl tubing over the end of the threads. Keeps the nut from wiggling off. The eyebolts stay on the flags. A pretty easy way to open the eyebolts, place horizontally in bench vice protecting the threads, open side of eye facing up. Use an adjustable wrench and twist the eye to open, grommet, twist back. Also IIRC, I found stainless steel eyebolts.

[Argosy 7728]

Thanks everyone for the replies. GCinSC2 no need for pics, you explained very well, thanks. Now looking at freshair's pics I want to do pole toppers.

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by Argosy 7728

Thanks everyone for the replies. GCinSC2 no need for pics, you explained very well, thanks. Now looking at freshair's pics I want to do pole toppers.

The 'toppers' are sport balls from sporting goods.

Neil