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The Antenna Dilemma

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Rhainor

Newbie
Joined
Sep 25, 2011
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3
Location
Monroe, NC
Hi, guys, I'm new. And I've come seeking advice (or at least ideas).

I have a Cobra 29 WX NW ST, and a 27" Radio Shack magnet-mount antenna. I had everything mounted and working nigh-perfectly in my old car (a '96 Ford Thunderbird); the radio was mounted to the side of the center console, with the antenna cable run back to the trunk and the antenna mag'd onto the trunk lid.

However, I just recently traded in the Thunderchicken (heh, I don't think that word's ever getting old) and got an '06 Toyota 4Runner. I've got a good place to mount the radio, but there's not enough clearance on my garage door to stick the antenna up on the roof. Even on the T-bird, if it was on the roof, it would clip the top of the frame, and the 4Runner's even taller.

So, with what I have now, I've got two options: (a) Get out and lay the antenna down every time I go to pull into the garage, or (b) Park out in the driveway. Neither of those are exactly appealing. I dunno if maybe there's an antenna that's short enough to fit between the roof and the doorframe (I doubt it), or if I'll just have to break down and go with a permanent mount (I'd really rather not), but I figured you guys would have more experience with this sort of thing than I would.

For reference, the truck is a bit over 69" tall, and the garage door has 82" of clearance.

Any suggestions or ideas would be wonderful.

Thanks!
 

LtDoc

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2006
Messages
2,145
Location
Oklahoma
One option would be to relocate the antenna to the hood. May not be as convenient, or the 'best' place to put an antenna, but it will certainly work. Or, there are remote antenna positioners, both electrical and hydraulic that will raise/lower the thing (tilt it over). They are -not- cheap by any means! I think I could do a lot of antenna tilting by hand for that kind'a cost.
- 'Doc
 

hockeyshrink

Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2009
Messages
265
One option would be to relocate the antenna to the hood. May not be as convenient, or the 'best' place to put an antenna, but it will certainly work. Or, there are remote antenna positioners, both electrical and hydraulic that will raise/lower the thing (tilt it over). They are -not- cheap by any means! I think I could do a lot of antenna tilting by hand for that kind'a cost.
- 'Doc

that's exactly where I have my cb antenna on my '06 4Runner. It is a base loaded whip with a spring. The mount is an L bracket NMO connected to the inside of the hood seam that mounts the antenna over the cowl....you know what I mean?

Now, I also have my ham antenna mounted to the roof so I do not do garages, but with the cb only I could easily by hooking the whip to the luggage rack.
 
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Rhainor

Newbie
Joined
Sep 25, 2011
Messages
3
Location
Monroe, NC
For now, I think I'm going to put it on the roof, and see how much having to stop and lay it down irritates me. :p

For reference, this is the antenna I have currently. I'm sure I'll wind up getting another one at some point, but that's what I'm working with right now.

Moving to thinking long-term, if/when I get another antenna, I'd rather not put it on the hood. I actually unscrewed and removed my old T-bird's regular radio antenna from its mounting point next to the hood because I think having an antenna up front is an eyesore. :/

One possibility that I'm thinking about is getting a gap/lip mount (it'd have to be one that doesn't have too much reach on the underside) and putting it on the roof at the edge of the rear liftgate. If I do that, though, I'm still stuck with (a) get a quick-disconnect or something for low-clearance situations, or (b) park in the driveway.
 

Rhainor

Newbie
Joined
Sep 25, 2011
Messages
3
Location
Monroe, NC
Look at this;

Diamond® Antenna ~ K9000TM Motorized Mount

This is just an example of what you can find/make if you do a 'google' with "motorized tilt over antenna mount".
Does it work? Beats me, I don't have one. Would it work for your particular circumstances? That beats me too, would it?
- 'Doc
Nice find, Doc, thanks! This particular one won't work for me (not enough lip on the roof side of the roof/liftgate gap), but I see links for luggage-rack mounts on there.
 
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