Removing crank up TV antenna

[slantflat]

Hi everyone.

Has anyone removed their crank up TV antenna? I'm thinking I'm not ever going to watch network TV while camping, and the antenna might as well be gone before it gets caught on something and ripped off or blown off in a storm.

How much of the antenna should I remove, ie leave the base? What should I use to plug the hole in the roof?

Thanks everyone.


Mike

[OldVwHunters]

I removed all of mine and sold on Craigslist, as I won't watch TV anywhere, until they make some new episodes of Doc Martin. Stuffed the hole where the shaft went through with insulation. Just have a temporary patch up top until I get a permanent cap made up. Thinking I'll put a smoke detector on the ceiling to cover the hole inside.

[dbj216]

I just removed the antenna bars and left the crank mechanism for now. It doesn't leak. Like you, I didn't like having that thing up there waiting to catch a low tree branch some day. And we were not using it at all.

Ten minutes with a hacksaw is all it took.

David

[SafariBez]

We use air television quite a lot. Sometimes it is much better than RV park cable. What is the upside to removing this device?

[n2916s]

At home, I get over 40 channels of digital tv (excellent quality) - and often use it on the road when I just don't feel like getting out the satellite dish. I can't imagine removing it unless it is leaking. A low hanging branch is a far greater danger to your a/c shroud than to your antenna...

Mikr

[SilverGate]

Two words: Resale value!

[OldVwHunters]

Originally Posted by SafariBez

We use air television quite a lot. Sometimes it is much better than RV park cable. What is the upside to removing this device?

What's the up side? No chance of evil mind manipulating thoughts and ideas being injected into the brain waves. No chance of squirrels perching themselves on it waiting to throw walnuts at you as you step out the door. No chance of an alien ship hovering above, pointing and laughing at the antenna poking out of your trailer instead of your head where they all know it belongs. The best part is that extra 6.247 miles per gallon you'll gain while towing without the extra weight and wind drag (Your actual results may vary due to driver error, and or meteorological conditions). When lightning hits the antenna on someones trailer in the campground it won't be yours. Less acidic bird poo on the aluminum.

[blickcd]

I second leaving it on for resale value.

[dkottum]

I suppose if you never use TV at home you may not use it on the road. Otherwise hang onto it for awhile, you may occasionally use the HD broadcast signals that beat the crap out of most fuzzy campground cable hookups.

[OldVwHunters]

Originally Posted by blickcd

I second leaving it on for resale value.

If you go to sell the trailer the prospective buyer will be unknowingly drawn to yours over the others because of it's sleek uncluttered appearance. By the time they figure out it's missing they'll be so calm and relaxed from the lack of television stress they will send a card thanking you for bettering their overall well being. Go on, do it! Join the anti-antennite revolution!

[J. Morgan]

I took mine down on both trailers. The little square interior antennas work pretty darn well.

Frankly both of my antennas were pretty trashed and not worth the time to repair or risk of water leaks.

I simply applied a patch over the hole in the exterior skin.

[drboyd]

I'll interject an alternate idea. I'm actually replacing my old deteriorated TV antenna with a dual Wi-Fi antenna setup. I've attached two Yagi antennas to the existing bar, which I shortened considerably.

I'll be keeping the crank-up and directional functionality. Now all I need is a WPA passwrod cracker, and I'm all set!

[slantflat]

Thanks everyone. Even though I'm not even going to have a TV in the trailer, it does seem ashame to just kick it to the curb. I mean, I remember when every house had a TV antenna, and rabbit ears, etc. I'm sure it will get repurposed somehow.

[MrUKToad]

I've often thought of replacing the TV antenna with something for the WiFi, but like others on here, I am concerned for the re-sale value. Better to add than replace or remove I think.

[Tincampers]

I wish I had one of these for the house. I get better reception and more channels in the AS.

[drboyd]

Originally Posted by MrUKToad

I've often thought of replacing the TV antenna with something for the WiFi, but like others on here, I am concerned for the re-sale value. Better to add than replace or remove I think.

Well, the plastic on the old antenna had all died in the Arizona sun anyway, and there's really not a call for old style TV reception devices any more, so I thought I'd move on = as it were.

[Dingo Girl]

I took mine off my Caravel. The plastic mount was all but gone on the outside. This in turn amounted to an inch and a half hole in the roof.
Resale value will only affect the person that buys it at the estate sale after I am gone.
I will however admit it looked pretty darn cool when it was cranked up.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Airstream Forums mobile app

[drboyd]

My thoughts exactly!!

Originally Posted by Dingo Girl

<snip>
Resale value will only affect the person that buys it at the estate sale after I am gone.
<snip>

[switz]

Some of the 2015 models have what looks to be a frisbee on a stick for the television antenna in place of the fold-up contraption. After some feedback gets posted, I might replace our fold-up for the frisbee. Who knows, I might be able to put another solar panel there in that extra roof spar or a satellite dish.

[OldVwHunters]

Originally Posted by slantflat

Hi everyone.

Has anyone removed their crank up TV antenna? I'm thinking I'm not ever going to watch network TV while camping, and the antenna might as well be gone before it gets caught on something and ripped off or blown off in a storm.

How much of the antenna should I remove, ie leave the base? What should I use to plug the hole in the roof?

Thanks everyone.


Mike

The experts say…"Lose the Antenna!"….Well my friends stopped by to see me again, hadn't heard from them since that night they hovered over our tent in Minnesota (all explained in another thread). I told them about your problem, and they said to ditch that old antenna. They all wished they could shed their unsightly protrusions, but they're permanently attached. Told me the only interesting things they've picked up over the past few years were some of Hillary Clinton's e-mails. {Artwork compliments of my Buddy Joe.}