antenna clearance and mounts for low overhead access

Sounds like the perfect reason to run a short base loaded whip antenna. The ss whip will take a lot more abuse then the fiberglass antenna will.

 

Yup. I've got a 102" steel whip mounted to my lower mirror bracket. Thing set 15'6" tall when it was new, but has got into enough stuff (trees, bridges, etc...) over the years it has lost a little length. A fiberglass antenna mounted that tall would be junk the first time it got into anything at speed...and if it wasn't on a spring, wouldn't last long at slow speeds either.

 

Old one will work.

 

Get a mag mount sirio and be done with it..
Glue some sheet metal to the cab roof(inside i mean so mag will stick to it..Mine folds down but i just take it off my pick up roof..

 

If you want to go mag mount and real short with excellent performance, try a Wilson Lil Wil. I use one on my car and it’s a fantastic performer for its size.

A couple of caveats... it’s VERY narrow banded, so having someone set it with an antenna analyzer will keep you from pulling your hair out trying to get the SWR to the lowest on 19. The coax is also very skinny and won’t take too many slammings in a door jamb before it’s junk. Route it accordingly and don’t pinch it, even a little bit.

 

Lil we i found a pia..Its nothin compared to my sirio..
Had my sirio upgraded with lem 240 and some weather treatment done..Dont want water gettin in..
Plus my sirio mag mount can bed over at a right angle if need be..Bigger mag on the sirio..
The wilson lil wee will work but so will a 3 ft fibreglass just not as good as it can be..

 

I got the solution for you. You're going to need a machine shop to make one of these for you but once you have it you can screw a 9-foot whip directly into the top of it and cut that whip to any length you desire and whined yourself a copper coil around this thing to tune the antenna for any length you desire.
Then you'll be able to smash that whip into anything you want without having to worry about damaging something.


the more top-heavy and fragile the antenna is, the better it will perform and as you move the load to the bottom of the antenna you will notice a drastic reduction in how it performs although it will be indestructible at that point.