Paul that should be 9 pounds not kg
With the tripod fully extended the height is 109cm from ground to the base plate where the mount attachs , with the scope pointed at Zenith and balanced the diagonal is 100cm high , with my observing chair at its lowest height ,53cm, the view is comfortable but I do have to lean a little {6"1} . The spreader plate slots into three clips that are on the three spreader bars and one bolt screws into the centre. The other tripods tray and spreader bars use wingnuts etc , the steel tripod is much easier to set up .