Another Question on Antenna Placement

Best antenna hands down is a 102 whip or even a 108 whip. However most people don't want to run one because they're 9 feet tall, even though you can't hurt them/usually don't hit much going over 40 mph anyways. (antenna actually bends back)

You can't beat neither a 102 whip, nor a 108 whip for their low cost (under $30), durability (solid steel rod) or the fact you can get out like no one's business with one, all things equal.

Next best would be a Wilson 1000. They are only a little over 5 feet tall. They offer 2 versions...mag mount and hard mount. I'm currently researching this option/considering it. So far as I have gathered, the hard mount requires you to bore a hole in the roof of the cab and it comes with a seal to keep the rain out...and is supposed to have less hash as opposed to it's cousin, the mag mount.

You want to mount the antenna dead center of the vehicle for best results and an even distribution of signal.

 

Yeah but he said"sometimes". For the rest of the time I'm not sure a 9' whip on top would be exactly ideal.

Harry if you do mount one on top of the cab you might want to consider a Quick Disconnect mount so you could swap to a shorter one when you're not towing the GN. Even a 3 foot Wilson gets out from up there, just not near as well as the 108"whip. Length does make a difference.

To give you some options, Firestick makes a line of hood mounts that you might want to check out. That link is WalcottCB, you can find it cheaper but they give a good description.

Beware though that there are two types of mounts, ring and stud. They make both types. Be sure to match antenna with the mount. And no, you don't have to use a Firestick antenna with a Firestick mount.

Ted

 

On my 99' Dodge 2500 the best swr and signal pattern comes from placing my wilson 1000 mag mount about 8 inches in front of the 3rd brake light. SWR is 1.1 on ch 1 and 1.2 on ch 40 using a MFJ.

 

Unless the trailer in reference goes over the cab roof. But to give a heads up I've actually ran a 102 whip with it mounted on top of the bed bulkhead. SWR's were always low. The glass isn't reflective and most of the antenna is above the roof.

That's likely the center point of the vehicle. On my reg cab short bed truck, the center of the roof is right where the 3rd brake light would be (which it doesn't have one - too old) and that's where I have my antenna mounted.

 

Yeah it is the center, the truck is a old style quad cab (1999) with a 6ft bed. That's the main reason I haven't put my back rack on and put my pred. 10k on there. The Wilson 1000 mag mount does awesome even running a 5 pill my reflect is super low. If it ain't broke don't fix it right.

 

You can pick up a wilson trucker 2000 for around 50.00 or a magnet mount wilson would work well to

 

A Wilson 1000, or 5000 Mag mount will work very well.