Radio antenna installation in Ford Expedition

[AK9R]

I think this topic has been mentioned before, but I'd like to dive into it a bit more.

The owners manual for my 2024 Ford Expedition contains the following notes:

Following the second note are plan views of a sedan, a van, and a pickup truck (no SUV, though I suppose the van would apply) with antenna locations indicated. In call cases, location 1 is on the rear bumper, location 2 is at the rear of the roof, and location 3 is at the front of the roof. That's followed with this chart of maximum output power for various bands and the three locations:


The 2022-2024 Expedition SSV Modifiers Guide contains the following in a list of "considerations" to keep in mind:

Later in this document, under Mobile Radio Installation Guidelines, we find the following:

In the Antenna Location and Installation section, it says "permanently installed antennas are preferable over magnetic, glass, or body lip mounts for anything other than for low power or temporary installations." Did @mmckenna write this? Mag-mounts are out since Expeditions have an aluminum body.

So, here's my dilemma. I park my Expedition in my garage. The clearance between the garage door and the Expedition's roof is less than 6 inches. I could put a 1/4 wave antenna for 440 MHz or GMRS up there, but anything else is going to make regular contact with the garage door. I suppose that a 1/4 wave for 144 MHz would work if it's flexible enough.

My initial plan was to use one of these vehicle specific mounts on the left side of the hood: NCG - FO3ANTNCG - Mount for F-150, Super-Duty, Expedition - cometantenna . But, the "consideration" about antennas near the ABS controller has caught my eye. Yes, Comet has a similar mount for the right side. But, I'd really like 2 antennas (the Expedition has no whip antenna for broadcast receive, so that's not a concern).

What do you think? Should I heed Ford's "consideration" and not mount an antenna on the left side?

 

[mmckenna]

Did @mmckenna write this?

Ha! I've read that. Usually the owners manuals or upfitter manuals for Ford, GM and Dodge have similar wording. Good sound reasoning behind it. Too bad more don't read the manual.

So, here's my dilemma. I park my Expedition in my garage. The clearance between the garage door and the Expedition's roof is less than 6 inches. I could put a 1/4 wave antenna for 440 MHz or GMRS up there, but anything else is going to make regular contact with the garage door. I suppose that a 1/4 wave for 144 MHz would work if it's flexible enough.

Never had an issue with a basic 1/4 wave going in/out of a garage, even with reduced clearance.

You might want to try this, less expensive than the Stico:

EM Wave EM-MFLX132-FT Ultra-Flexible X-Nut® 132-1000 MHz - Field Tunable

EM Wave EM-MFLX132-FT Ultra-Flexible X-Nut® 132-1000 MHz - Field Tunable

theantennafarm.com

What do you think? Should I heed Ford's "consideration" and not mount an antenna on the left side?

Your choice, but I'm a firm believe in a permanent mount in the center of that nice big ground plane.

 

[K4EET]

<snip> Should I heed Ford's "consideration" and not mount an antenna on the left side?

Aside from potential interference with the ABS that could lead to an accident of which the insurance companies and lawyers would probably have a heyday over with a transmitting antenna mounted there, also any warranty equipment failure of the ABS, Ford would probably try to say that the warranty was voided by the installation.

I would go with @mmckenna’s tagline solution. You know that you want to do it. Besides, then you could just blame @mmckenna as being the root cause of any problems that arise thereafter. 😂

 

[mmckenna]

I would go with @mmckenna’s tagline solution. You know that you want to do it. Besides, then you could just blame @mmckenna as being the root cause of any problems that arise thereafter. 😂

Yup. My standard money back taillight guarantee applies in these situations.

If you do drill, pay attention to how it compares to drilling steel body vehicles. I had to hear a lot of nonsense from people calling the newer Ford body panels "beer can aluminum". I think the last one I did (2025MY) took longer to drill than a steel body Chevy pickup (2024MY). This isn't soda can aluminum. It's a stronger grade material.

 

[AK9R]

The EM Wave ultra flexible antenna is an interesting suggestion that I'll have to consider.

Unfortunately, the ground plane isn't as huge as it could be since my Expedition has the twin-panel panoramic sunroof. I only have sheet metal from about the C pillars back to the D pillars.

I'm not discounting the "what could go wrong" perils of not following Ford's recommendations. Life is about choices, though some individual choices have larger implications.

As an aside, my Expedition is currently under recall for a possible brake line issue that could result in total loss of braking power. Of course, Ford doesn't yet have the parts to fix the problem. Some Expedition owners have been told to park their vehicles until parts become available...in 6 months. I've checked mine and don't think I have the problem, but it goes to the dealer this week.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

What do you think? Should I heed Ford's "consideration" and not mount an antenna on the left side?

Given that you are under warranty and given the high rate of ABS related failures on these vehicles, I would not mount antennas in that location.

 

[W9WSS]

I put EM-Wave and Comet antennas on the roof of my 2022 Ford Escape SE Hybrid Plug-In. Only two of them slightly bang on the open garage door, but no damage has been caused to the antennas or the garage door. They are all NMO mounted.

 

[AK9R]

I put EM-Wave and Comet antennas on the roof of my 2022 Ford Escape SE Hybrid Plug-In.

An Escape is about a foot shorter than an Expedition. Good info about the antennas.

A friend recently purchased a new Escape Hybrid. She likes it so far.

 

[W9WSS]

An Escape is about a foot shorter than an Expedition. Good info about the antennas.

A friend recently purchased a new Escape Hybrid. She likes it so far.

Not related to the antenna topic, but mine is a hybrid plug-in. I get anywhere from 55 to 84 mpg. It's higher when it's warm outside.

 

[mmckenna]

Not related to the antenna topic, but mine is a hybrid plug-in. I get anywhere from 55 to 84 mpg. It's higher when it's warm outside.

Nice. We had a 2009 Hybrid Escape, all wheel drive. I loved that thing. Could easily cruise along at 40mpg on it. Had a VHF mobile in it with a 1/4 wave whip mounted on the center of the roof. No issues with RFI at all.

Passed it down to my niece with about 160K miles on it, and she ran it for a while until she had another kid and needed something bigger.

But, that basic VHF whip hit the garage door every time in/out. Never had an issue with it.