No whips. In my opinion a 102" whip looks... well... less appealing than I like. My inclination is to say it looks gay, but I'm not saying that. Apparently my definition of the word is not "politically correct" these days.
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Bed Mount, but where?
- Thread starter CyberRider
- Start date
If you are not wanting to make modifications to the roll bar I'd place it rear of the bed. Either side. Your choice. Lots of mounts can be used for that location. I bought a mirror mount at a truck stop. Used only the part needed. I drilled holes and attached with stainless nuts and bolts. Tossed the back clamp part because I didn't need it. Put on my 5 foot firestik II and set the SWR. No problems. Just make sure the mount makes good connection to body of the bed. That can be checked with a volt ohm meter.
I have a ladder rack. I mounted my firestik II on ladder rack on drivers side. Ran a 12ga. wire to the bed to make sure I had good ground. Tapped into bed. Some say I should use braided wire. Maybe but I haven't changed out from my 12ga solid wire yet. Seems to work ok. I'm just looking for good continuity to vehicle ground.
I have a ladder rack. I mounted my firestik II on ladder rack on drivers side. Ran a 12ga. wire to the bed to make sure I had good ground. Tapped into bed. Some say I should use braided wire. Maybe but I haven't changed out from my 12ga solid wire yet. Seems to work ok. I'm just looking for good continuity to vehicle ground.
I have a 2001 Tacoma, and here's what I did...(there's a 2-pill in the toolbox, but no pic's)
If mounting on the bed rail try to go closer to the back, the cab and that roll bar will cause problems if they're to close to the antenna.
If it were me...I would weld a metal flap right in the middle of that roll-bar between the lights and mount my antenna there... Just mount it like the lights and either run the coax down the sides of the roll-bar and zip-tie it, or drill a hole and run the coax inside the roll-bar...
You do know if you send that 10K to Kale, he will either fix it or replace it for free...
No, I didn’t. I didn’t know Kale was still alive. I didn’t know he was still building those antennas either. I had a massive issue with getting it to tune on my truck. He built that one just for my truck, so it’s a one of a kind. Lots of time spent talking to him on the phone about that aggravating truck.
I’ll have to get up with him, maybe he can help me out. Thanks for the info!
I’ll have to get up with him, maybe he can help me out. Thanks for the info!
Yeah...believe it or not, not only is he still alive, but still building antenna's 7 days a week! He was suppose to call me a couple weeks ago just to chat, but guess he got knee-deep in orders he had to get out...Guy is at least 80 now, and still kicking out antenna's like he always has!
His email is: cowtown10k@msn.com or you can call him at 817-790-6239...if you email him include a picture of the antenna.
Mounting the antenna on the front bed rail by the cab and roll bar will cause problems with the SWR. That roll bar is a deal breaker, too much metal that is too close to the side of the antenna. You could try it and see what it does but you would be better off with it on the rear corner of the bed away from everything.
Thanks for the advice but I think I'll keep the original plan of using the 5' fiberglass antenna and NOT going with the army theme.A 102” mounted in the rear and the tip pulled down in the front with a tie down clip will give you that distinctive off road military look. Paint your truck camouflage OD for further enhancement.
Thanks for the pics, friend. I'm sure you get a superior signal, but honestly, I don't like that look. And since I go off-road that antenna would get beat up. Aesthetics matter, and I've decided to mount the antenna directly behind the passenger cabin on the front of the truck bed rail.
I'm aware, but that's a chance I think I'm willing to take.
Y'all are highjacking my thread. PM each other or something.
Again - Y'all are highjacking my thread with this unrelated banter. PM each other or something.