Antenna Problems
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Tuned
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 311
Likes: 50
Antenna Problems
On my 2017 F350 the antenna mount has broken. I'm sure it has to do with lots of times thru the car wash and a bird that nailed it. Anyway, after I replace the mounting bracket I would like to add a shorter antenna. I do like the Bullet style but am worried it is to rigid and will do this again in future car washes. Also contemplating a 12-14' stubby style antenna. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 325
Likes: 8
From: Central Ohio
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...0-antenna.html
There’s lots of threads on this subject- check this one out.
There’s lots of threads on this subject- check this one out.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 169
Likes: 7
I replaced mine with a shorter one so it wouldn't bang on the garage door. Didn't get the "stubby" since I've seen a fair number of reviews that said they didn't get good reception with those. I haven't taken my super duty through a car wash, but on my old truck, I always unscrewed the antenna before running through the car wash. Would probably recommend doing that also.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
https://www.cravenspeed.com/the-stubby-antenna/
Been super happy with the 50 CAL one; reception is the same but the only over the air channels I listen to are AM.
Been super happy with the 50 CAL one; reception is the same but the only over the air channels I listen to are AM.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
On my 2017 F350 the antenna mount has broken. I'm sure it has to do with lots of times thru the car wash and a bird that nailed it. Anyway, after I replace the mounting bracket I would like to add a shorter antenna. I do like the Bullet style but am worried it is to rigid and will do this again in future car washes. Also contemplating a 12-14' stubby style antenna. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Also, stop going through a car wash or remember to unscrew and remove it before going into a car wash.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 273
From: South Central Indiana
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 294
From: SE Michigan
I don't listen to FM. I replaced mine with "The Stubby" from Cravenspeed. It's only 3" tall and is a bullet style antenna. Ironically, FM reception isn't that bad!
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 1,357
From: NY/Canada border
After many times posting about the dozens of times I'd been through a car wash without removing the antenna and never had an issue, it finally caught up to me.
On the annual Florida vacation I went to my favorite full service car wash. I've been using a stubby rubber antenna. Later that day I just happened to look at the truck and the only thing left was the stud.
This car wash is full service if you pay for it. When the automatic part was over and the staff was attacking the interior and hand waxing, another guy came through with a 2017 F250. I noticed him putting his antenna back on after the auto wash.
I'm definitely going to pull the ball from the top of the mast, cut the mast down and replace the ball as others here have done. It hits the garage door frame. I haven't decided whether to keep a small crescent wrench on hand to remove it before car washes yet. If it happens once every 4 or so years like this time, probably not.
I generally listen to satellite or the music on my phone anyway.
On the annual Florida vacation I went to my favorite full service car wash. I've been using a stubby rubber antenna. Later that day I just happened to look at the truck and the only thing left was the stud.
This car wash is full service if you pay for it. When the automatic part was over and the staff was attacking the interior and hand waxing, another guy came through with a 2017 F250. I noticed him putting his antenna back on after the auto wash.
I'm definitely going to pull the ball from the top of the mast, cut the mast down and replace the ball as others here have done. It hits the garage door frame. I haven't decided whether to keep a small crescent wrench on hand to remove it before car washes yet. If it happens once every 4 or so years like this time, probably not.
I generally listen to satellite or the music on my phone anyway.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
After many times posting about the dozens of times I'd been through a car wash without removing the antenna and never had an issue, it finally caught up to me.
On the annual Florida vacation I went to my favorite full service car wash. I've been using a stubby rubber antenna. Later that day I just happened to look at the truck and the only thing left was the stud.
This car wash is full service if you pay for it. When the automatic part was over and the staff was attacking the interior and hand waxing, another guy came through with a 2017 F250. I noticed him putting his antenna back on after the auto wash.
I'm definitely going to pull the ball from the top of the mast, cut the mast down and replace the ball as others here have done. It hits the garage door frame. I haven't decided whether to keep a small crescent wrench on hand to remove it before car washes yet. If it happens once every 4 or so years like this time, probably not.
I generally listen to satellite or the music on my phone anyway.
On the annual Florida vacation I went to my favorite full service car wash. I've been using a stubby rubber antenna. Later that day I just happened to look at the truck and the only thing left was the stud.
This car wash is full service if you pay for it. When the automatic part was over and the staff was attacking the interior and hand waxing, another guy came through with a 2017 F250. I noticed him putting his antenna back on after the auto wash.
I'm definitely going to pull the ball from the top of the mast, cut the mast down and replace the ball as others here have done. It hits the garage door frame. I haven't decided whether to keep a small crescent wrench on hand to remove it before car washes yet. If it happens once every 4 or so years like this time, probably not.
I generally listen to satellite or the music on my phone anyway.
Believe it or not, there`s a good chance that you might have lost it while driving and didn`t even notice it because they do come loose.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 1,357
From: NY/Canada border
It does occur to me that it seems that I kept twisting the replacement antenna and never seem to tighten as much as I would have liked. The stud was firmly screwed into the base of the truck, but the antenna didn't seem to tighten to the stud that well.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,698
Likes: 12,825
From: Wyoming
Poncho, I keep a small wrench to remove/install my antenna in the center console. While the mounting bracket on the Superduty is supposed to be different from the F-150 (that is known to be a problem) I'm not taking any chances. In my prior truck, the antenna would whip back and forth after going through a section of the car wash. The top of the antenna would hit the pillar and take a nick out of the paint. Yeah, I'm OCD and I'm OK with that.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,698
Likes: 12,825
From: Wyoming
TCNashville, how far below the top of the cab does that 21" antenna sit? My OEM antenna hits most of the garage door as well as the door frame. I want an antenna that misses the door and frame but still sits slightly above the cab to give me an indicator that the cab will/will not fit.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 273
From: South Central Indiana
TCNashville, how far below the top of the cab does that 21" antenna sit? My OEM antenna hits most of the garage door as well as the door frame. I want an antenna that misses the door and frame but still sits slightly above the cab to give me an indicator that the cab will/will not fit.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,698
Likes: 12,825
From: Wyoming
Jim, the 21'' antenna sits even [visually] with the cab lights. The antenna clears my garage header by 1/4'' as do my cab lights. So if my 21'' antenna hits something I know the cab lights won't clear as well. I guess if you didn't have cab lights the 21'' antenna would be slightly higher than the cab. I'm stating all this because I'm assuming the cab lights are the high point on the roof, at least thats the way it looks.