DeWalt 5/8 in. Elevated Construction Tripod

I set this tripod up on a muddy lot at dawn and immediately appreciated how quickly I could get a laser in the air, locked in, and level. The DeWalt tripod is built for jobsites where you need height, stability, and repeatable adjustments without fiddling. Over a few weeks of concrete prep, site grading, and interior layout, it proved itself as a reliable platform with a couple of caveats worth knowing.

Build and design
The first thing you notice is the aluminum construction. It’s stout without being a burden, and the legs don’t twist under load. At full extension it reaches a towering 111 inches, which puts rotary and line lasers above most obstacles on site. Collapsing to 47 inches makes it manageable to throw in the truck or lean in a gang box without hogging all the space.

The head assembly is the standout. The elevating column is smooth and marked with clear graduations, which makes dialing in height changes fast and repeatable. If you’re matching elevation points across a slab or returning to a previous setup, those marks save time and cut down on guesswork. The integrated bubble vial helps you get close on level before you fine-tune with your laser’s own leveling system.

Setup and adjustment
The leg extensions slide cleanly and lock down solidly. I was able to go from collapsed to working height in under a minute on most setups. The elevating head gives you a generous fine-adjust range, so instead of fussing with leg lengths to chase a half-inch, you can set the tripod roughly where you want it and crank the head to the exact height. That workflow is especially handy in cramped interiors or on uneven subgrade.

The 5/8-inch thread mount is what most rotary and construction lasers expect, and the plate sits wide and stable. I ran both a 12V line laser and a 20V rotary on this tripod without clearance issues, and the weight of the tools never caused the column to creep. If you use smaller lasers that are 1/4-20 thread only, you’ll need an adapter. That’s standard for jobsite tripods, but it’s worth noting if you bounce between survey-grade and compact layout tools.

Stability and feet
Stability is very good for the category. On dirt, the pointed feet bite quickly and keep the legs from skating. On finished floors, the rubber caps slip over the points and provide non-skid traction without leaving marks. I used the tripod on epoxy-coated concrete, plywood subfloors, and compacted base; in each case it stayed planted. At full 111-inch height, there’s a little movement if you bump a leg, but it settles quickly, and I never saw that translate into inconsistent readings with a proper auto-leveling laser.

Wind is always a variable. With the legs spread wide and the center column set only as high as needed, the tripod shrugged off a breezy afternoon. When gusts picked up, a small sandbag on the center kept everything rock solid. That’s more of a best practice than a fault; any tall tripod benefits from ballast in the wind.

Compatibility and use cases
The 5/8-inch mount and overall structure make this a natural fit for jobsite lasers:

• Rotary lasers for grading and exterior forms: The extra height keeps the beam above equipment and crew.
• Line lasers for interior layout: The elevating head gets you exactly where you need to be without juggling leg lengths.
• Long hall runs and ceiling work: The added elevation clears partitions, carts, and material stacks.

I appreciated the graduations when I needed to set repeat elevations. For example, on a slab pour we had to bump forms in 1/8-inch increments. I could note the mark, make a change, and return to the prior setting if needed without re-measuring from scratch.

Durability and maintenance
Overall build quality is what I expect from a professional tripod. The aluminum tubes resist dings, the locks stay tight, and the head keeps its smooth travel as long as you keep grit out of the mechanism. After working in wet conditions, I made a habit of wiping down the column and knocking mud off the feet at the end of the day. A little care goes a long way to keep the elevating mechanism clean and accurate.

One weak link showed up early: the leg spreader chains. On mine, one chain popped at a rivet the first week. It didn’t sideline the tripod—the legs still locked and were usable—but the chains help set consistent spread and prevent over-extension. I replaced all three with heavier chain and proper hardware in about 15 minutes, and the issue hasn’t returned. I’d like to see those chains upgraded from the factory, as the rest of the tripod feels decidedly heavy-duty.

Day-to-day tips
A few habits made the tripod easier to live with:

• Keep the center column retracted when you can. Use leg extension for major height, and save the column for fine adjustment.
• On soft ground, drive the points and give each leg a firm stomp to seat them. Add a sandbag to the center column hook or head if wind picks up.
• On finished floors, check that the rubber caps are fully seated over the points; partial contact can feel slippery.
• Periodically check fasteners on the leg locks and head plate. It takes a minute and prevents play.

Limitations
No one tripod fits every scenario. A couple of trade-offs stood out:

• The 5/8-inch mount is ideal for construction lasers but not for camera-style tools without an adapter. That’s normal in this category, but it’s a friction point if you mix gear.
• At maximum height, there’s manageable but present flex if the tripod is bumped. It stabilizes quickly, and I didn’t see practical accuracy issues with auto-leveling lasers, but it’s something to be aware of on crowded sites.
• The leg spreader chains, as mentioned, could be better. It’s a small part, yet it makes a difference in daily use.

Value and warranty
The three-year warranty is reassuring for a tool that will live in the dirt and dust. From a value standpoint, the combination of height, an elevating head with clear graduations, and solid stability puts this tripod in the professional tier. You can spend less on a basic non-elevating tripod, but you’ll give up the speed and repeatability that the column provides. If you work with lasers more than occasionally, the time savings alone justify stepping up.

Who it’s for
- Concrete and site crews who need the extra height and a stable platform for rotary lasers.
- Interior layout carpenters and electricians who benefit from precise, repeatable elevation changes.
- Small GC and remodel teams wanting one tripod that can do exterior and interior work without fuss.

If you mainly use compact 1/4-20 line lasers for short runs and prefer ultra-light tripods, this might feel like more tool than you need. For anyone regularly setting elevations, pulling control lines, or working in active jobsites, the design choices here make daily tasks easier and faster.

Final recommendation
I recommend the DeWalt tripod for pros and serious users who want a tall, stable, and precise platform for 5/8-inch mount lasers. The elevating head with graduations speeds up fine adjustments, the feet handle both rough terrain and finished floors, and overall stability is excellent for the height. I’d like to see heavier-duty spreader chains from the factory, but that’s a small blemish on an otherwise well-executed tool. If your work benefits from quick, repeatable elevation changes and the ability to get a laser above the clutter of a jobsite, this tripod earns its keep.