Tailgating tips

[Schnauzer]

I have a question but rather than waste a whole thread on me and my question, I figure I will use this thread to ask a more general question before I get specific.

What is something you recommend, or something you have seen that you want to add to your tailgate?

I’ll share mine: We have always had Gopher folding chairs but have found people tend to stand around more than look for a place to sit at a tailgate. So we added collapsing round bar height tables this year. Instant hit. Got them off of Amazon and they fold flat but are sturdy (300 lbs.) and are instant focal points to gather around.

Now for my question. I also want to add TV. I have been looking at battery power stations (not gas powered generators). Anyone have one that would power an LED flat screen for a decent amount of time that you recommend?

 

[rugger14]

I have a question but rather than waste a whole thread on me and my question, I figure I will use this thread to ask a more general question before I get specific.

What is something you recommend, or something you have seen that you want to add to your tailgate?

I’ll share mine: We have always had Gopher folding chairs but have found people tend to stand around more than look for a place to sit at a tailgate. So we added collapsing round bar height tables this year. Instant hit. Got them off of Amazon and they fold flat but are sturdy (300 lbs.) and are instant focal points to gather around.

Now for my question. I also want to add TV. I have been looking at battery power stations (not gas powered generators). Anyone have one that would power an LED flat screen for a decent amount of time that you recommend?

I used a car battery and a power inverter. Plenty of juice to run a TV for tailgating. I switched to an ATV battery because they are a lot smaller and I still have plenty of juice.

 

[cemba99]

Regarding tailgate TVs - what are people using these days for reception? An over the air (OTV) antenna can work, but the sports channel options are limited (no B1G network, ESPN, FS1, etc.). I was able to stream DIRECTV (via an apple TV box), but need to use the hotspot on my phone for wifi. On a busy tailgate day, that wifi signal eventually peters out as the parking lot fills. Other options?

 

[Panthadad2]

I have a question but rather than waste a whole thread on me and my question, I figure I will use this thread to ask a more general question before I get specific.

What is something you recommend, or something you have seen that you want to add to your tailgate?

I’ll share mine: We have always had Gopher folding chairs but have found people tend to stand around more than look for a place to sit at a tailgate. So we added collapsing round bar height tables this year. Instant hit. Got them off of Amazon and they fold flat but are sturdy (300 lbs.) and are instant focal points to gather around.

Now for my question. I also want to add TV. I have been looking at battery power stations (not gas powered generators). Anyone have one that would power an LED flat screen for a decent amount of time that you recommend?

This battery pack powers a Traeger Ranger and a small TV. Haven't used it for more than a couple hours yet. I'm too lazy to dig up the battery capacity specs and device wattage to figure out how much potential time it has.

DEWALT 1600 Peak Amp Automotive Jump Starter, Portable Power – Four 15W USB Ports, 500-Watt Inverter,120 PSI Air Compressor DXAEPS14 - The Home Depot

The DEWALT DXAEPS14 portable power bank is one of our most powerful jump starters combined with a 500-Watt AC inverter, USB power, 120 psi digital compressor and LED work light all in a take along package.

www.homedepot.com

 

[PMWinSTP]

Regarding tailgate TVs - what are people using these days for reception? An over the air (OTV) antenna can work, but the sports channel options are limited (no B1G network, ESPN, FS1, etc.). I was able to stream DIRECTV (via an apple TV box), but need to use the hotspot on my phone for wifi. On a busy tailgate day, that wifi signal eventually peters out as the parking lot fills. Other options?

A smart tv should pick up the U of M guest WiFi.

 

[Schnauzer]

I picked up a Westinghouse power station and I think it will really do a nice job. It has been powering this TV for 5 hours straight and it still shows 2 of four indicator power bars available.

 

[State of Football]

A smart tv should pick up the U of M guest WiFi.

I couldn’t get the Guest WIFI to work. I use a Firestick connected to my unlimited package on my phone. I like DirectTV Stream but I know there are others that are equal or better.

 

[LaXGoph]

These things work awesome. Can run a tv all day and can even keep your chili hot in a crockpot.

Make sure your tv is on the newer side. I had a smaller 12 year old lcd and it pulled a lot more power than a newer tv of similar size.

EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Portable Power Station | RIVER 2 Pro Portable Power Station | EcoFlow

•Sizeable 768Wh capacity and 800W output •Provide up to 1.8kWh a day with solar charging •Fastest Recharge 0-100% in only 70 min •Safest LFP battery provides 10 years of use •First power station with a TÜV Rheinland safety certification •X-Boost output to 1600W and run 80% of home appliances •4...

us.ecoflow.com

 

[Word]

These things work awesome. Can run a tv all day and can even keep your chili hot in a crockpot.

Make sure your tv is on the newer side. I had a smaller 12 year old lcd and it pulled a lot more power than a newer tv of similar size.

EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro Portable Power Station | RIVER 2 Pro Portable Power Station | EcoFlow

•Sizeable 768Wh capacity and 800W output •Provide up to 1.8kWh a day with solar charging •Fastest Recharge 0-100% in only 70 min •Safest LFP battery provides 10 years of use •First power station with a TÜV Rheinland safety certification •X-Boost output to 1600W and run 80% of home appliances •4...

us.ecoflow.com

I love that it has TÜV Rheinland safety certification, whatever that is.