This might seem like a really dumb question, but I am trying to figure out where to mount my MXT115 GMRS radio. I do not want to mount it on top of the dashboard as many do. The obvious place would be to mount it on the center shelf directly below the radio. Will that tray pop out somehow? I would want to drill a hole in it to run the wires down and under the floor mat and I would want to re-enforce the tray with a steel backing plate in order to bolt the radio bracket unto it securely. Any Ideas? I don't want to be breaking up that plastic shelf if it isn't strong enough to hold a mini radio. Thanks for the conversation !

 

I would be interested to see how others have mounted radios of various flavors. In my case I have an Icom ID-5100 but I’ve been unable to find a suitable mounting place for the display unit. The dash is much “busier” than in my 2017. I used to have it mounted up on top of the dash on a ram mount, but I already had to replace the LCD board in it once due to the heat. I would like to avoid that now.

 

I got a Midland MXT 575 and put in behind the rear jump seat. I got this model because there are no controls on the radio unit, only on the hand mic. I bought their mic extension and ran that to my center console so it's out of sight. I just pull the mic out and close the console lid when I want to use it and hooked the power to the unit through one of the aux switches. All tuning and controls are on the mic. I used the Bullet Proof Diesel 3rd brake light antenna mount with the short Midland antenna and only sticks up maybe an inch or two above the 2 oem roof antennas.




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There is a Ham Radio Install thread in the 2017-2022 Super Duty sub-forum. Some of the posters have mounted their external displays in the overhead sunglasses holder.

 

I use a Bulitright mount and a ram mount for my 5100. I do throw a light colored ball cap over it in the summertime, and use a windshield sun screen to try to keep the heat down. 8 years so far, same 5100 head.

 

In my 2014 I mounted my Yaesu FTM-400 under the center console cup holders. It had a remote head unit I mounted to the dash with a RAM mount https://www.lidoradio.com/products/1...000-and-ft-891 (or something similar). It was easy to pull the cup holder out, just grab & pull. Plate under them was easy to remove as well. I nicked the vent pipes when trimming under the sub-plate so the main radio would mount & patched with aluminum HVAC tape.

Not sure if that under cup holder mount will be an option on my 2024, but in the 1 minute of looking at the cup holders so far they don't appear to remove as easily. More likely to put in a GMRS radio than a HAM radio this go around. Will likely try to go with the remote mount radio & mount the display somewhere on the dash with a RAM mount or similar again. May stick the radio under the seat if I can't put it under the console.

I was never happy with the mag mount on the hood for the antenna. It scuffed the paint. It obvoulsly won't be an option on the new aluminum body either. No sun roof on the new truck so maybe a NMO mount on the roof. Putting a flatbed on, so may mount to the headache rack. Not sure if the truck will fit in the garage or not, the old one had 1/2" of clearance to the bottom of the garage door. Will have to go with a hood mount if the truck will fit.

 

The base unit for the MXT gets pretty hot if your talking on the radio a lot. If it’s mounted in an enclosed space, consider some air flow or ventilation to that enclosure.

 

I installed the head unit of my Yeasu Ham radio in the compartment under the radio on my '23 Super Duty. It interferes with the sliding cover but I don't care as I don't use it anyway.
Regarding the antenna mount, I used a fender mount which seems to work well enough.

 

I never ran into problems in my 2014 F350, but didn't transmit a lot. It's literally wedged between 2 ducts for the HVAC system feeding the rear of the truck. So while no air is getting blown on it, the pipes ducts should be cooling things down in there, at least during the summer.

 

Where did you mount the main body of the radio?

 

Under the driver's seat. I don't have a photo of that but it let me run the microphone cable between the center console and driver's seat. And the display cable is just tucked into the bottom of the console and runs up and under the factory radio. No holes or cutting needed in the console.

 

Where did you route the antenna wire through to the outside?

Also, did you eliminate your rear suspension or what?
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Antenna is routed through a floor hole under the passenger seat. I replaced the OEM plastic filler cap with a rubber grommet.
The truck has Liquid Spring suspension. It can level itself. So in this photo the right rear suspension is likely fully collapsed to level the truck.

 

Lol I figured there was something going on there, looked like the RR was just about sitting on the tire.
Did you mount the radio unit under a seat then? I'm about to install a GMRS, and trying to figure out where to do it and how to route the antenna wire.

 

Yes, my radio is installed under & behind the driver's seat. That way I didn't need to extend the mic cable. I just have the microphone in the storage compartment under the driver's side of the center console.