In put on new mobile set up with puck,spring,fighting stix giving 12in. of adjustment,102 whip.

[Mudduckmobile]

Setting up new antenna on 2009 crew cab ram pick up.
1. Can not mount on top of cab.
2. Have tool box back of cab, if I mount to top of tool box whip antenna will be 1 foot from back of cab, and bottom of antenna to top of cab would be 18in.
Q. Do you think it best to mount here or side of tool box? ( I know I want the most metal UNDER the antenna, and not to the side ).
Q. Would it be best to mount antenna to the middle, back of tool box (24in. from cab) with bed of truck 24in. below?
3. Antenna right now is mounted coming out from the hood on the drivers side about half way from front to back of hood to windshield.( this mount is just not strong enough to support antenna, i'm always having to mess with it...) So it's time for a new mount. I'm also putting in new bigger coax, so coming from motor bay just will not do as coax is to big for the body gap.
I have everything Bonded..
Just looking for so good in put.
Thank you !
73

 

[fourstringburn]

Mobile installs generally are a compromise for most of us.

The center most position on a single antenna mobile install is best. The center of your tool box should work fine and you will still have plenty of the antenna length above the roof line.

 

[Mudduckmobile]

Mobile installs generally are a compromise for most of us.

The center most position on a single antenna mobile install is best. The center of your tool box should work fine and you will still have plenty of the antenna length above the roof line.

That's what I was thinking, over 4 5th of the antenna would be over the cab but the closeness to the cab was what in my mind would be offending...center of tool box 1ft. from cab, back of tool box 24in. from back of cab, and of course it's about 24in. to the bottom of the bed of the truck. So is the metal under the antenna at tool box 1in. or the metal of the bed 24in. best....? This is what bugs me...Yes mobile antennas are a compromise, I just hate drilling holes if I'm not going to use it after the mfj 259c tells me I pick the wrong place...To drill a hole in the back wall of the cab to run the coax I have to remove the back seat 30 mints. in it's self...I wish I could mount it on the top of the cab but I have my wife's sun roof that I can't get around......some times wifes just don't get it when it comes to radio...
Thank you for your in put!
73

 

[midnight special]

i have a 1999 ranger with gull wing tool box mounted in bed have a antenna mount in middle of box about 18 inches from cab,,1 inch ground strap from tool box to cab body under neath,,,i use a hustler c 32 ball that instead of bolt i used a so239 type mount that screws in the ball,,6 inch military/government style spring(holds 102 inch whip up and takes the impact)102 inch antenna specialist stainless steel whip,,,9 feet of coax goes from antenna to trucker 150 puts out bout 50 watts,,,the coax is belden rg213,,,from the amp to the cobra 29 i use a 6 foot piece of belden rg8x,,radio is set at 3 watts and is not a swinger so about 50 watts is output,,, this has been my set up thru 3 rangers over about 20 years,,except for the cobra which is one i redid,,,,, swr is 1.1 to 1 thru cb band and goes up to 2 to 1 at 26.0 and 2 to 1 at 29.2... all check with a mfj 259,,,, i get 39 ohms on channel 40 with 30 ohms at each end of the measure ments....from bottom of ball mount to top of cab is about 18 inches,,, usual range is right at 25 miles and if i can hear them good in skip land can make contact,,,, so to your set up you have a good start,, just like i did many years ago experiment,, one day i need to borrow a camera and take pics,,, i tried a smart phone today and gave it back to grandson nope did not like it,,,, oh and the coax is run up into cab by a hole that was drilled before i got truck i just enlarged it a little and put a split rubber hose and foam to seal it up,,, i think who had my truck before had a stereo amp and speakers back there,,,,,

 

[Mudduckmobile]

i have a 1999 ranger with gull wing tool box mounted in bed have a antenna mount in middle of box about 18 inches from cab,,1 inch ground strap from tool box to cab body under neath,,,i use a hustler c 32 ball that instead of bolt i used a so239 type mount that screws in the ball,,6 inch military/government style spring(holds 102 inch whip up and takes the impact)102 inch antenna specialist stainless steel whip,,,9 feet of coax goes from antenna to trucker 150 puts out bout 50 watts,,,the coax is belden rg213,,,from the amp to the cobra 29 i use a 6 foot piece of belden rg8x,,radio is set at 3 watts and is not a swinger so about 50 watts is output,,, this has been my set up thru 3 rangers over about 20 years,,except for the cobra which is one i redid,,,,, swr is 1.1 to 1 thru cb band and goes up to 2 to 1 at 26.0 and 2 to 1 at 29.2... all check with a mfj 259,,,, i get 39 ohms on channel 40 with 30 ohms at each end of the measure ments....from bottom of ball mount to top of cab is about 18 inches,,, usual range is right at 25 miles and if i can hear them good in skip land can make contact,,,, so to your set up you have a good start,, just like i did many years ago experiment,, one day i need to borrow a camera and take pics,,, i tried a smart phone today and gave it back to grandson nope did not like it,,,, oh and the coax is run up into cab by a hole that was drilled before i got truck i just enlarged it a little and put a split rubber hose and foam to seal it up,,, i think who had my truck before had a stereo amp and speakers back there,,,,,

Thank you for your in put, it sounds like your set up is working good, I'm going over to the big box hardware store to get some mounting things and a can of spray foam to close the hole I'll make, and a pass grommet too.
Thank you
73

 

[M0GVZ]

Why not mount on the top of the cab? Its a 7 year old truck.
If you've a stake pocket in the bed corner you can use one of these;

https://breedlovemounts.com/stake_pocket_mount_2.html

 

[Mudduckmobile]

Why not mount on the top of the cab? Its a 7 year old truck.
If you've a stake pocket in the bed corner you can use one of these;

https://breedlovemounts.com/stake_pocket_mount_2.html

Sun roof in top of cab, can't open if mounted up there. Stake pocket, would be as what am doing now and changing from....
Thank you for your in put \73

 

[RatsoW8]

Why not mount on the top of the cab? Its a 7 year old truck.
If you've a stake pocket in the bed corner you can use one of these;

https://breedlovemounts.com/stake_pocket_mount_2.html

I have to second this reccomendation. I use one.

 

[Mudduckmobile]

I have to second this reccomendation. I use one.

Does the pk mount give as good a gp as it would mounted to the center of steal tool box, or is bed pk mount used to make EZ'er to get to?
Can't use roof....sun roof.

 

[M0GVZ]

Does the pk mount give as good a gp as it would mounted to the center of steal tool box, or is bed pk mount used to make EZ'er to get to?
Can't use roof....sun roof.

Damned sunroofs. Bet you sit there with it closed and the aircon on as well.

Those stake pocket mounts are fine. It'll give a better one than the tool box. When you use the toolbox only the tool box is the groundplane and the truck bed is a far removed groundplane. When you use a stake pocket mount the whole truck bed is the ground plane.