Flag pole/TV antenna mast

[Ron in BC]

Now that we're switching from a bike rack on the rear of the trailer to folding bikes carried in the back of the truck I won't be using my bike rack. I had also used it to mount a mast for the 4 bay TV antenna. So I welded a s/s tube on the top of the spare tire support to serve as a socket for a 1" aluminum pole.

It's an all purpose socket. I'll probably use it most for the TV antenna but once in a while I might fly the flag or even put a second smaller panel on it.

OK, enough fooling around Time to get ready to head to Osoyoss.

Ron

 

[Ron in BC]

Opps, would a mod please rotate the second photo. Thanks, Ron

 

[Mike Lewis]

On my maiden voyage last year I picked up an aluminum telescoping antenna mast from Ham Radio Outlet in Portland, Oregon. It would fit into the receiver you put on your spare tire mount.

Right now I have the mast clamped to the spare tire mount. One thing I've wondered about is if the oscillation of the mast from wind while parked would induce metal fatigue over time in the spare tire mount. I'll show the setup to you this weekend and get your opinion.

 

[dfandrews]

..................Right now I have the mast clamped to the spare tire mount. One thing I've wondered about is if the oscillation of the mast from wind while parked would induce metal fatigue over time in the spare tire mount. ...........................

Mystery solved: the oscillation of the mast sets up a resonance that attracts moisture, thus the rain clouds that followed you around. (You are going through So. Calif. on your way home, yes??)

Great mast mount ideas, Ron, Mike. Thanks.

 

[Ron in BC]

Mystery solved: the oscillation of the mast sets up a resonance that attracts moisture, thus the rain clouds that followed you around. (You are going through So. Calif. on your way home, yes??)

Great mast mount ideas, Ron, Mike. Thanks.

Hah, you had me for a second "oscillation of the mast sets up a resonance"

Don't know about the moisture part though, but if it pours at Osoyoss people will be giving Mike the evil eye.

I'm thinking the mass of the spare tire may act somewhat as a mass damper. If there's a good breeze blowing I'll put up my TV antenna and see if there's any noticeable oscillations Not expecting anything fore and aft but side-to-side could be an issue. If so, I think it would be easy to remedy.

Ron

 

[alanmalk]

Mystery solved: the oscillation of the mast sets up a resonance that attracts moisture, thus the rain clouds that followed you around. (You are going through So. Calif. on your way home, yes??)

Great mast mount ideas, Ron, Mike. Thanks.

You know, if you ground the offending mast with a length of garden hose, the moisture is drained to the earth and won't generate rain clouds. Notice how well that is working here in Colorado!



--
Alan

 

[Cypherian]

On my maiden voyage last year I picked up an aluminum telescoping antenna mast from Ham Radio Outlet in Portland, Oregon. It would fit into the receiver you put on your spare tire mount.

Right now I have the mast clamped to the spare tire mount. One thing I've wondered about is if the oscillation of the mast from wind while parked would induce metal fatigue over time in the spare tire mount. I'll show the setup to you this weekend and get your opinion.

Your alum mast will fail long before you cause failure of the steel tube or weld. The crossection of the mast exposed to wind and it's movement is far less stress on the mount then having the tire mass shifting up and down as you go down the road. I highly doubt you could even induce movement of more then a few hundredths of an inch unless there is wind speeds over 30 mph .Which means you might have bigger problems lol

Cypher Aka Aircraft Structural Repair

 

[dfandrews]

You know, if you ground the offending mast with a length of garden hose, the moisture is drained to the earth and won't generate rain clouds. Notice how well that is working here in Colorado!



--
Alan

I can tell: you've been watching those plumbers that, when they do a re-pipe job, reconnect the electrical service water bond clamp to the new PVC. :nonono:

 

[Mike Lewis]

Your alum mast will fail long before you cause failure of the steel tube or weld. The crossection of the mast exposed to wind and it's movement is far less stress on the mount then having the tire mass shifting up and down as you go down the road. I highly doubt you could even induce movement of more then a few hundredths of an inch unless there is wind speeds over 30 mph .Which means you might have bigger problems lol

Cypher Aka Aircraft Structural Repair

Thanks for the info; I have no knowledge of metal fatigue or how to judge it via observation. The mast waves back and forth quite a bit when fully extended due to wind loading on the antennas at the top, and unfortunately I've had 30mph+ winds during my current trip. When the wind gets high I retract the mast. I think when I get home I'll have a welding shop make me an antenna mount to fit into the bike rack receiver.