That's an extreme price, based on what I have invested in my design. I have a hour or two of CAD, a few $ worth of materials and if powder coated, about another $20 (which will probably be much lower per item if I do quantity). Also, Larson wants an extreme shipping cost, it was just shy of $200 total.

 

 

This is awesome! Please let me know when I can order one w/ camera.

Do you have any pictures showing antennas installed? Wire routing to the inside?

Thanks,
-- Del

 

 

I was thinking the same thing about my 2017 F-250. With an aluminum body, you can't stick anything magnetic to it. Great job on the fabrication and placement! but I'd be concerned about clearance issues after that. Why not just install a hood bracket mount and use a tunable fiberglass antenna for CB? You can have a solid mount, a tall enough antenna for range with good SWR and it won't impede on height.

 

Its done, mounted etc.



We mounted this on a truck with the LED lights (like mine) but with the camera, and had to make a small adjustment. Gotta love CAD. Quck adjustment in CAD, cut a new one on the plasma, and its fits fine on the camera version as well. I think in the final version we will separate the antenna holes a bit further, they seem too close in this version, but it works fine. Probably biases the center ham antenna a bit with a minimal Yagi effect. Full disclosure, it makes a slight bit of wind-noise at high speed, but its not bad.

We are looking for a good way to cut out the closed-cell foam weatherseal. I cut them by hand right now, PITA.

I have used several hood/trunk mounts over the years, and every one left a brutal scar on the metal when removed. The action of the antenna wobbling back and forth wears away the paint and leaves a nasty scar. Also, you tend to have to put them fairly far out on the hood or they tend to hit the cab when you open the hood.

I frankly dont care much about the CB, its very secondary to me. My 4X4 club requires the CB for club events, so I have a CB. Otherwise, its pretty useless unless you want to sharpen your 4-letter-word skills.

The height is not an issue for me, I havent been in a parking garage in many years. The ham antenna will actually fold over, leaving only the base coil, and its not hard to unscrew either antenna which puts you back down to about the same height as the running lights and Sirius/GPS antenna from the factory.

 

is there no better way to route the cable?

 

Better as in what? More hidden from view? The cable must connect to the individual antenna mount and find its way into the cab within limited radius bends. Also, you want a "drip loop" to some extent to minimize capillary effect of water trying to find its way in, so you dont want to route them in from the top of the assembly. I routed the two coaxes between the added plate and the cab with 1/4" foam as a seal between the two. Saturday we got close to 2" rain on the truck, and Im not getting any intrusion that I can find.

Putting such antennas on your vehicle dictates that you get over the ugly antenna factor. They are not pretty, and theres not much to be done to make them so. I plan to put a cap on mine before long, so the whole assembly will be largely hidden from view.

 

understand the drip loop and radius - maybe w/ a 45* it could trace along the light and enter more to the side instead of right in the middle?

 

duplicate message deleted, but this forum seems unwilling to let me delete it.

 

the time you quoted if you use very conservative estimates of CAD and machine time cost... like $120 an hour you are at well over $200. Powder coating is pricey in short runs too. I bet they don't sell a ton of those but the price seems fair. Nobody wants to work for free.

 

I think it's a job well done and I would buy one if the price is reasonable.

Thx

 

I think its awesome. I'd be interested as well should you decide to sell them.