Antenna for offroad vehicle suggestions?

[wheelman918]

Im not done with building the bumper yet but im thinking big steel whip in the center of the front winch bumper and just let her bang lol it may keep tree limbs off my windshield better (just replaced yet again) with the antenna like that wouldnt that be directional like the signal would go to the rear more right?

 

[space cowboy]

yes, very directional. bad if you're stuck pointing the wrong way, but great if you're stuck pointing in the direction you're trying to broadcast. on my malibu with a uniden grant there was 4#-5# difference depending on direction. you get the best signal transmit and receive on the side with the car.
and I'd be worried about the whip breaking the windshield. you could always go fiberglass and carry some spares in case they shatter.

 

[hotrod]

Im not done with building the bumper yet but im thinking big steel whip in the center of the front winch bumper and just let her bang lol it may keep tree limbs off my windshield better (just replaced yet again) with the antenna like that wouldnt that be directional like the signal would go to the rear more right?View attachment 15081

that would be very directional and strongest towards the rear if ya center it.
i reccommend mouting it on the roof with a ballmount . it will take a beating
there but it will give you best signal 360 degrees around.plus the whip ca take
a beating that most antennas in that price range would just crumble..lol.

 

[wheelman918]

that would be very directional and strongest towards the rear if ya center it.
i reccommend mouting it on the roof with a ballmount . it will take a beating
there but it will give you best signal 360 degrees around.plus the whip ca take
a beating that most antennas in that price range would just crumble..lol.

i have seen some really stupid antenna setups in the offroad community lol

 

[hotrod]

i have seen some really stupid antenna setups in the offroad community lol

none are really stupid . but different locations will give ya different results.
if ya mount on the rear right coner of ya bed you,ll talk great on the front
left coner of vehicle.think of it like a beam. if u talk skip you can point ya vehicle that
direction gives ya a slight advantage.but for most uses roof top in the center
is the best radiate equally in all directions

 

[binrat]

i have seen some really stupid antenna setups in the offroad community lol

Some places have a antenna length restriction as well. No 108" whips allowed. From what I have been told, they were hitting the bystanders that are stupid enough to be too close to the vehicle. I got told I can't go with group because of this.

 

[Sideways]

Can't beat a ss whip for an offroad vehicle. Fiberglass whips wont last. If you trail ride, with lots of low tree limbs and such, I wouldn't mount it top of the cab unless you re-enforce your roof and mount. A large low limb will pull your mount right through the thin sheet metal.
On my old mud trucks,I used to
mount whips on the front bed rail, right behind the cab on a large spring. Used a piece of angle, 3-4", and bolted it through the bedside and the top rail and mounted the whip there. Never
budged. We'd run some pretty tight trails though. Lol
I've mounted them on the rear bumper too, but front of the bed seemed to work best.

 

[wheelman918]

Some places have a antenna length restriction as well. No 108" whips allowed. From what I have been told, they were hitting the bystanders that are stupid enough to be too close to the vehicle. I got told I can't go with group because of this.

yes it seems everything must be dummy proofed, too close because of a radio antenna hope the idiots arent around for any of them trick winching deals oh god

 

[wheelman918]

Can't beat a ss whip for an offroad vehicle. Fiberglass whips wont last. If you trail ride, with lots of low tree limbs and such, I wouldn't mount it top of the cab unless you re-enforce your roof and mount. A large low limb will pull your mount right through the thin sheet metal.
On my old mud trucks,I used to
mount whips on the front bed rail, right behind the cab on a large spring. Used a piece of angle, 3-4", and bolted it through the bedside and the top rail and mounted the whip there. Never
budged. We'd run some pretty tight trails though. Lol
I've mounted them on the rear bumper too, but front of the bed seemed to work best.

well i got the wilson the antenna part comes off and has a nice little mud/dirt cover the magnet wouldnt get knocked off but what a pain we do use gmrs walkies for rig to rig out in the trails anyways i use the radio when getting there to meet up with others and thats about it, nice to have if something happens and 4glte isnt an option lol

 

[hotrod]

well if ya really not interested in distance .you might get away
with using a 3-4 foot fiberglass trucker antenna like wilson silverloads
or skipshooter. there light and if kept short enough they,ll work ok
just dont expect anything great

 

[wheelman918]

well if ya really not interested in distance .you might get away
with using a 3-4 foot fiberglass trucker antenna like wilson silverloads
or skipshooter. there light and if kept short enough they,ll work ok
just dont expect anything great

my ocd with all that wouldnt allow me to do that lol

 

[hotrod]

my ocd with all that wouldnt allow me to do that lol

??? im talking about going from a 9 foot long antenna to a 3 or 4 foot long antenna
thats supposed to help ya ..lol

 

[wheelman918]

??? im talking about going from a 9 foot long antenna to a 3 or 4 foot long antenna
thats supposed to help ya ..lol

i sure like my wilson 1000 mag mount i put it on top of the cab and it works awesome

 

[hotrod]

i sure like my wilson 1000 mag mount i put it on top of the cab and it works awesome

good antenna , good location

 

[Mudfoot]

i have seen some really stupid antenna setups in the offroad community lol

Most of them work for thier needs.