Funny little hump....

[sfoss]

So those of you with Casitas, you know where the old bat wing antenna is, that is where we were going to mount our new antenna but it won't sit level there and for it to be effective we think we need to move it ahead a bit so it will be level. From the inside it would be between the vent and the rear cupboard. About six inches from the back cupboard there seems to be something there. Maybe a brace or support of some kind. Like if you push on it from the inside you will feel a little hump like a rib that goes from one side to the other. Does anyone know what this is? Do we dare drill a hole in that area?

[Ed Harris]

I think you are seeing the AC support brace?
Is there another one in front of the AC?

Oh Wait,you dont have AC there!
You would think I would know that?

I think the ExAntenna comes through inside the back compartment which is likely why they stick it there in the first place?

Nevermind.(said as Gilda Radnor)

I also don't think it will effect the antenna performance at all if it is not level.
It may look silly but thats all.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by sfoss

So those of you with Casitas, you know where the old bat wing antenna is, that is where we were going to mount our new antenna but it won't sit level there and for it to be effective we think we need to move it ahead a bit so it will be level. From the inside it would be between the vent and the rear cupboard. About six inches from the back cupboard there seems to be something there. Maybe a brace or support of some kind. Like if you push on it from the inside you will feel a little hump like a rib that goes from one side to the other. Does anyone know what this is? Do we dare drill a hole in that area?

Here is a link to some accessory pieces for sloping roofs for the antenna.
King Controls JACK Over the Air Digital Antenna White - $119.99
mid page

[sfoss]

Originally Posted by Ed Harris

I think you are seeing the AC support brace?
Is there another one in front of the AC?

Oh Wait,you dont have AC there!
You would think I would know that?

I think the ExAntenna comes through inside the back compartment which is likely why they stick it there in the first place?

Nevermind.(said as Gilda Radnor)

I also don't think it will effect the antenna performance at all if it is not level.
It may look silly but thats all.

Ed, don't you think it would catch the wind more in the original place? It really hurts my feelings to drill a new hole there anyway.

[Ed Harris]

You might be able to use several of those wedges Jim linked to to get it level in the original spot?
It also may be easier for leaking to occur using several leveling sections?

I can't imagine the location having much difference on wind loading really. If anything the slope will put it closer to the roof line than moving it forward which I would think would make it more a wind catcher?

[john warren]

well,,,, depends on your luck....personaly i can be sure that hump would be some vital irreplacable special wire or something and i would drill right into it.

have you concidered a slice of pvc pipe cut on an angle to match, and glassed in as a mount? you would end up with a round tube sticking up with a flat level top to mount on. or would that be too much for what your wanting to do?

[Donna D.]

I'm not sure if I made this suggestion in an earlier post, if I did... please forgive the redundancy.

How about a compromise? Is Casita installing the bat wing any longer? Or am I thinking about the whale tail antenna? No matter. IF the antenna is plastic and depending on where you live, where you camp and where and how you store your trailer... the antenna is going to be damaged by UVs and may need to be replaced in about five years....

I'd NOT remount the antenna, but fill the holes and either return the antenna and use something else... or put it on a pole and mount it to the rear bumper. Obviously it would need to be removable for travel.

Something else to consider....

[sfoss]

Thanks for all the thoughts guys. We keep flip flopping back and forth on what we should do. I don't know how many times we have had our minds made up only to change it. I think if it was warm out we would have had it installed but it is an easy excuse to say 'well it's too cold today." Tuesday is going to be 72 maybe then...

[Gina D.]

You could also just utilize the winegard bones and replace the head with a JACK HEAD. King Controls JACK Antenna Off-Air Digital HDTV Replacement - $39..

I have installed a couple of these here at the motorhome dealer I work at, and yep, it really is that easy.

I will probably install one on mine too.

[sfoss]

Actually it was like Donna said, kind of a whale tale antenna and it was pretty destroyed by the time we got home with it. Really not useable.

[john warren]

i think what i will do,,,as i find any antenna sort of,,,well,,,,,ugly.
i will mount mine on a piece of plywood with three suction cups.
when we want to use it i will reach up and stick it to the roof.
when we travel i will shove it in a closet.
though so far we have decided to only carry our portable dvd player and not bother with a tv as reception is always so iffy.

besides,,, i'm such entertaining company the wife doesn't need anything more.