Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 11, 2025 ...

Removing Satellite Dish

April 16, 2015, 11:08:02 am

At the front end of our coach we have a crank-up OTA TV antenna (with a Jack replacement head).  Works great - we use it all the time.  At the back end of coach we have a old (date unknown) crank-up satellite dish which we never use.  IF we ever decide we want satellite TV (unlikely), we would purchase a modern portable carry-out dish setup.  So, I would like the remove the old satellite dish from the roof, mainly to free up space for a future solar panel installation.

Question:  Does anyone make a special kit to cover up the holes when the dish is removed?  Or can I get away with fabricating a simple aluminum plate to cover the holes, and sealing the heck out of it with some kind of quality sealant?  Above all, I do not want any leaks!

Open to all suggestions!

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Re: Removing Satellite Dish

Reply #1 – April 16, 2015, 11:44:06 am

You will probably find only small holes in roof when you remove the antenna and where the crank went through the roof you can fashion a plug.  Our choice for sealant is GE's best clear silicone.  We have cut a piece of flat aluminum plate with lots of silicone and a few screws to cover large holes.  Have not had any leaks.  We use aluminum angles to mount our solar with screws into metal roof supports, and with silicone on each screw.

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Re: Removing Satellite Dish

Reply #2 – April 16, 2015, 11:56:43 am

I too removed the dish as we do not need it (do not watch tv while on road as too much scenery and many friends to keep us amused etc)
I used a sheet of 20gge Aluminum and pumped lots of Dicor lap sealer under it and screwed it down (Like Barry said) then coated screws with it. Not one leak. I painted it white. The hole was filled with cut pieces of 1" styrofoam and then I used the original plastic round disc on inside of coach and glued a pce of roof liner to it. I then sprayed some glue to backside and placed it back over hole. It has been there 2 yrs and no one has ever noticed it!
JohnH

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Re: Removing Satellite Dish

Reply #3 – April 16, 2015, 01:26:36 pm

Excellent!  Two clear, concise answers from knowledgeable Forum members...exactly what I was seeking.  I will now have much more confidence when I start ripping stuff apart.  Thanks!

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Re: Removing Satellite Dish

Reply #4 – April 16, 2015, 03:46:09 pm

Here is a picture pf the disc I mentioned. It looks like it was meant to be there!
JohnH
this disc is covering the hole from were our Antenna was, but would be same for Chucks manual control of Dish

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