Losmandy Folding Heavy Duty Tripod with MAL Top

Product Overview

This is Losmandy's folding heavy-duty tripod supplied with the larger MAL top fitted, for HGM Titan and G11T mounts. Adjustable legs give a height range of 33 to 52 inches, it folds to 14 by 14 by 39 inches, and Losmandy rates it to carry up to 425 lb at a tripod weight of 37 lb. The electronics bracket is not included unless the tripod is bought with a mount head or a Gemini 2 unit.

Who It's For

This is the tripod for the heavy end of the Losmandy range. A G11T head is 46 lb on the RA side alone and carries a published 75 lb of instrument, so the base under it has to be beyond question — which is what a 425 lb rating on a 29-inch footprint buys. If your mount takes the MA rather than the MAL, the MA-topped version is the one you want instead.

Key Features & Design

• MAL top fitted — 7 inches in diameter, machined for HGM Titan, HGM 200, GM 200 and G11T mounts.
• Carries up to 425 lb at a tripod weight of 37 lb.
• Adjustable legs, 33 to 52 inches from ground level to the top of the tripod.
• 34 inches tip to tip with the legs retracted, 53 inches extended.
• Folds to 14 by 14 by 39 inches with the legs retracted.
• 29 inches between leg centres when retracted but spread.
• MAL top doubles as a pier adapter, and carries a hole pattern for the large Meade field tripod.

Recommended Uses

Supporting a G11T or HGM Titan for long-focal-length imaging. Visual observing with a large SCT or Newtonian at up to the 52-inch height. Semi-permanent installations that stop short of a pier. A base for a Titan-class mount that will later move onto a pier, since the MAL interface carries over.

Compatibility and Accessory Notes

• Mounts: the MAL top fits HGM Titan, HGM 200, GM 200 and G11T heads. It is the tripod supplied with the G11T with Gemini 2 GOTO package, and the interface the Titan RA axis needs.
• For a GM 8, GM811 or G11G, the MA top is the correct one — see the MA-topped version. A MAL to MA adapter bridges the two if you need to mix.
• Electronics bracket: not supplied unless the tripod is bought with a mount head or a Gemini 2 unit. Ask us and we will confirm what your order includes.
• Vibration: glow-in-the-dark vibration pads fit the adjustable legs — 5 inches across for contact area, and they glow for up to 15 hours.
• Transport: the wheeled tripod case is made for it.
• Hardware: tripod screws are available as spares.

Good to Know Before You Order

• The MAL is the larger adapter, 7 inches against the MA's 6. It is not interchangeable with the MA without the MAL to MA adapter, so the mount decides which tripod you buy.
• 37 lb. Two pounds more than the MA-topped version, and a tripod you site rather than carry.
• The electronics bracket comes with the mount, not the tripod.
• The 425 lb rating is the tripod's, not the mount's. Instrument capacity is set by the head — Losmandy publishes 75 lb imaging for a G11T.
• Specifications are Losmandy's published figures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it difficult to set up?

No. The legs slide onto the centre column and lock with the leg clamps, and the mount drops onto the MAL top and bolts down.

Which mounts does the MAL top take?

HGM Titan, HGM 200, GM 200 and G11T. For a GM 8, GM811 or G11G you want the MA top.

Can I put a G-11 on it?

Not directly — a G-11 head is machined for the MA. The MAL to MA adapter is the piece that bridges it.

Why is it heavier than the MA version?

The MAL adapter is larger: 7 inches in diameter rather than 6, which accounts for the two-pound difference.

Can I use it on a pier later?

The MAL adapter is made for both tripod and pier use, so the mount interface carries over.

Bottom Line

In short: Losmandy's 37 lb folding HD tripod with the 7-inch MAL top fitted, 33 to 52 inches, rated to 425 lb — the base for a G11T or HGM Titan.