Toying with this idea

That's an idea, but the bed is too close to the cab on my truck. Not only is the gap narrow, but there is a piece on the roof with the 3rd brake light that juts out nearly to the bed. There would only be a 1/2" space at the roof line, plus, I'm wanting to use the 102". Mounting the base at the roof line would be too high, and mounting it at the bed that close to the cab wouldn't be good either. Any antenna I've ever had that worked decent on the bed rail, I mounted about 2' back from the cab. (I want this antenna in the middle of the vehicle, so not going the bed rail route) I've never had success mounting an antenna on the toolbox, but I've never tried bonding the toolbox to the bed either. And those toolboxes were screwed to the frame metal to metal. On this new truck, the box is setting on plastic and just clamped to the bed rail. It will take 3 or 4 bonding straps to get the rf ground needed I'm sure. I'm going to try my idea and check it at that point then go to the frame if needed. I do believe, to be effective when bonding bed to frame, you need to do so at all four corners. I've tried one bonding strap from bed to frame before and it didn't make enough difference to be worth the effort.

 

I'm not using a magnet mount, well, never say never, but not in the plan. Besides, it won't go in the garage unless I take it off every time.....and I'm lazy. And, I'm not mounting in on the bumper. If I can get the toolbox and bed bonded well enough, the 102" will be right at the middle of the whole truck and far enough from the back of the cab to perform pretty good, I think?