Stubby Antenna
Tuned
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 442
Likes: 2
From: The Buckeye State
On the 2017 I previously had I just cut down the stock antenna to a height that fit under my garage door. Factory look with no noticeable reception loss.
I pulled the ball off the top of the antenna, snipped the antenna and epoxied the ball back on. It went through many a car wash after that with no problems.
With my current 2019 I've just let the antenna hit the garage door frame for now. It's not a priority.
I pulled the ball off the top of the antenna, snipped the antenna and epoxied the ball back on. It went through many a car wash after that with no problems.
With my current 2019 I've just let the antenna hit the garage door frame for now. It's not a priority.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 483
Likes: 24
Check out these guys, they seem to have everything you could possibly want.
https://www.theantennasource.com/FOR...2017-2019.html
https://www.theantennasource.com/FOR...2017-2019.html
New User
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 16
Likes: 7
My 2016 F150 had a super long antenna too. I took it off and cut about 5-6 inches off it I think. I wanted it exactly at the height of the roof line so I could use it for a height gauge in parking garages and stuff.
I knocked the little ball end off, cut it down, epoxy the ball back on and touched up with some black paint. Did it 3.5 years ago no problems. Works just as good as stock height. I live in the desert so need the reception lol
I knocked the little ball end off, cut it down, epoxy the ball back on and touched up with some black paint. Did it 3.5 years ago no problems. Works just as good as stock height. I live in the desert so need the reception lol
New User
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Bought a couple of these over the years and found they were pretty useless. Ended up taking stock antenna and simply lopping off a few inches - just enough to be barely higher than the cab. Now it doubles as a height check for parking structures - if it scrapes, better go slow and check! Reception is a bit worse, but far better than a stubby.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,940
Likes: 1,355
From: NY/Canada border
I was never a fan of the bullet antenna either. I did have a short rubber antenna once, but it was just as susceptible or more to car wash trouble. Returned home from the car wash one day and it was gone. But in all honesty it may have loosened up and fallen out during the wash because there was no damage to the antenna base where it screws in.
Cross-Country
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 82
Likes: 13
I bought this ...the 17 in. flexible antenna: https://www.theantennasource.com/FOR...7-2019.html#1D
Very happy with it....doesn't scrape the garage door opening and the reception is good.
Very happy with it....doesn't scrape the garage door opening and the reception is good.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 769
From: SoCal/Wyoming
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,243
Likes: 79
From: Roman Forest, TX
I was never a fan of the bullet antenna either. I did have a short rubber antenna once, but it was just as susceptible or more to car wash trouble. Returned home from the car wash one day and it was gone. But in all honesty it may have loosened up and fallen out during the wash because there was no damage to the antenna base where it screws in.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,940
Likes: 1,355
From: NY/Canada border
I wish that someone made a quick attach/detach antenna. Maybe like a hydraulic coupler. Resorted to carrying a small crescent wrench in my Mustang and removing the antenna because I don't want to cut a hole in the car cover. I've cut holes on previous car covers and they invariably widen. It's not worth it to me to take it somewhere to have the area around the hole stitched to prevent this.