A tripod is the part of the instrument most often blamed for a poor view and most often actually responsible for it. Everything above it can be excellent, and if the legs flex the image will shake at exactly the magnifications where the detail lives.
What makes a tripod steady
Mass, leg diameter and how far the legs are spread. Aluminium tubing an inch across is adequate for a small refractor and hopeless under a heavy tube; steel and thick aluminium are better; and a centre column extended to its full height undoes much of whatever the legs provide. Keeping the tripod low is free stability.
The damping test
Tap the eyepiece end at your highest magnification and count how long until the image settles. Under two seconds is good. Between two and five is tolerable. Over five seconds means every focus adjustment is followed by a wait, and that is what makes people stop using an instrument without ever quite deciding why.
Cheap fixes that work
Spread the legs as wide as the ground allows. Retract the centre column. Hang a bag of something heavy from the centre of the tripod, which damps oscillation noticeably. Put vibration suppression pads under the feet, which cost little and work well. All four together often turn an annoying mount into a usable one.
When to replace rather than fix
If the head itself flexes, or the leg locks slip under load, no amount of weight or spreading will help. That is the point at which a heavy duty telescope tripod is worth buying, and it is usually cheaper than replacing the whole instrument, since tube and mount are separable on almost everything.
Questions people ask about telescope
What makes a good telescope tripod?
Mass, thick legs, a low working height and locks that do not slip. A steady cheap tripod beats a tall flimsy expensive one every time.
Why does my telescope wobble?
Usually the tripod rather than the tube: legs too narrow, spread too little, or a centre column extended too far. All three are free to fix.
Can I use a camera tripod for a telescope?
For a small refractor or a spotting scope, often yes. For anything heavier the head will flex and the view will shake at magnification.