Chevy Trailblazer options

[IdleMonitor]

What are some good options for radio, mounting and antenna for the following in/on a '24 Chevy Trailblazer?

BC436HP
CB radio (not a priority) Either Anytone 6666 or President Grant II or TRC465.

For the scanner I do have a cup holder mount that worked well for me in a previous Ford Escape. I just haven't tried it out yet in the new vehicle. Perhaps this weekend at some point. Antenna wise I have been using an NMO magnet mount Larson VHF/UHF/800 I believe or similar tri-band magnet mount antenna that worked great but well....do I really wanna put that magnet on a brand new vehicle. Likewise for the cb antenna.

I do have one of those small earth magnet curly cellular like looking antennas that's great for me as a more temporary use, perhaps would be better to use now for the scanner permanently. I forget the name of them, they can be found fairly cheap and work decent enough. I'm not worried about any major damage by that magnet. It's actually pretty small. I can put that in the front corner near the hood/window/door. Small and discreet.

I recently pulled the magnet antennas off the Escape. Wow. Lol. I knew what was going to happen, wasn't surprised by any means but wow. The K40 antenna mount was the worst. The scanner antenna not so much but still. I had the Escape for almost 8 years. It was 12 years old.

I can for go having a cb in the mobile but I would like atleast to be able to have the scanner.

Your suggestions?

 

[IdleMonitor]

Google pic of interior

 

[mmckenna]

Well, my opinion?
Drill the hole. Do it right the first time. No worries about magnet damage or trying to route coaxial cable. Plus, it'll work better up on the top of the vehicle.

If you decide CB is what you want down the road, then add another NMO mount and get a Larsen NMO-27.

If you keep vehicles for a long time, the extra effort will pay off. The performance gains are well worth it. Plus, I just think it looks better.

 

[IdleMonitor]

I know when I had the scanner antenna on the roof, it was definitely a PITA entering underground garages. It would always get knocked over. The height on the trailblazer seems like it might be a tad shorter than the Escape. If it's drilled then that creates another issue otherwise stay out of underground garages. Luckily for me I don't encounter them very much unless I go to Ottawa.

 

[mmckenna]

With the newer multiband antennas, they have a spring at the base.

My wife's truck goes in/out of our garage at least once a day with a permanent antenna on the roof. Did that for 11 years with her old Escape. Never had any issues.

 

[IdleMonitor]

What would one of those spring loaded similar antennas look like? Brand etc.?

With the newer multiband antennas, they have a spring at the base.

My wife's truck goes in/out of our garage at least once a day with a permanent antenna on the roof. Did that for 11 years with her old Escape. Never had any issues.

 

[mmckenna]

What would one of those spring loaded similar antennas look like? Brand etc.?

NMO150/450/758SF Tri-Band Antenna 150/450/758, 0dBi/5dBi/4dBi

NMO150/450/758SF has Operating over the 150-174MHz, 430-520MHz & 750-870MHz VHF, UHF, and 700/800 MHz. Gain specs are 0dBi/5dBi/4dBi respectively.

www.arcantenna.com

I'm running that on the roof of a Ford F350. I ran it for a while on the roof of my work truck, and went up and down a lot of over grown access roads, a few parking garages, and quite a few low tree branches.

 

[mmckenna]

What would one of those spring loaded similar antennas look like? Brand etc.?

I even ran that Larsen on my wife's Chevy Colorado for about a year, in and out of the garage 7 days a week.

 

[RC4]

I even ran that Larsen on my wife's Chevy Colorado for about a year, in and out of the garage 7 days a week.

How’s her static level in that 24? I literally just bought a 24 Trailboss yesterday. My 18 Silverado 1500 had alot of noise issues with my radios so I’m hoping the 24 is a little better. Still haven’t tried yet tho I’m still in shock what I paid for this truck lol!

 

[mmckenna]

How’s her static level in that 24? I literally just bought a 24 Trailboss yesterday. My 18 Silverado 1500 had alot of noise issues with my radios so I’m hoping the 24 is a little better. Still haven’t tried yet tho I’m still in shock what I paid for this truck lol!

Her's is a 2021. Diesel motor.

I'm only running a VHF mobile, but zero issues with it. No RFI.

 

[RC4]

Her's is a 2021. Diesel motor.

I'm only running a VHF mobile, but zero issues with it. No RFI.

Oh gotcha! Are you wired straight to the battery?

 

[mmckenna]

Oh gotcha! Are you wired straight to the battery?

Yes. This truck had a few spare slots on the main buss off the battery for high amperage factory accessories. I ordered the fuse kit for the snow plow prep package for the 3/4 or 1 ton trucks and used that to provide a fused 60 amp feed using all OEM parts. Ran a 6 gauge from there back to under the rear seat. Installed a BlueSea fused distribution block, also ran an ignition switch circuit. Right now it's just the one radio (Kenwood NX-700, until something better comes down the pipe), but I have room for more radios if needed. Remote head in the center stack. Permanent mount NMO on the roof with an EM Wave 1/4 wave whip.

 

[RC4]

I’m really hoping the noise is less in the new truck! I did take my Randy walkie-talkie in the new truck and tested my steering wheel noise when I’d turn the wheel that I had for ever, I don’t notice it in this truck. But the real test will be when I get an actual radio and antenna hooked up.