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2017 Dodge Charger Installs

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Colton25

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Does anyone have experience with 2017 Dodge Charger installs? I'm looking for any ideas on radio mounting locations, antennas, etc. pictures really help too. Specifically regarding Chargers with the gear selector in the console.
 

sfd119

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Ugh, good luck. I couldn't even fit an O5 head in the one I wanted so I didn't buy it.
 

Mark

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I have a Yaesu FTM-400 Ham mounted in my 2013 Charger R/T.
Diamond Mag Mount on trunk lid with radio body mounted on back of rear left side
passenger fold down seat.. Makes for easy access and stays out of sight.
Radio face mounted on a home made steel bracket that wedge fits into that coin/glasses slot
next to shifter.
Yaesu speaker and mike mounted on left side console..
Looks great.. will get photos sometime soon. Yaesu 400 dual band radio allows for scanner listening
on B-band and Ham ops on A-Band.
 

paloozapro

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My solution to lack of space in my truck was an 03 head on the apx7500. Only way I could make it work, really.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

cbehr91

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Speaking from experience (I have a '14 Charger SE). Installing an NMO in the roof isn't too hard as you don't have to take down the whole headliner. The sun visors and "oh s---" handles hold up the headliner, so just unscrew what you need. I have an ICOM IC-2100H ham rig mounted to the center dash area down by the passenger foot well. It's low and out of site, but it's still roomy enough to have a passenger and have them be comfortable. The coax runs down the pillar to the floor (there's a hole just big enough for RG-58/U to fit through the vent) then under the floormat to the radio. The biggest pain for me is that the battery is in the trunk by the spare tire, so I have to get an extended length power cable. It simply runs under the passenger seat and under the back seats to the trunk.

Nearly all of the cop Chargers I've seen though have the NMO antennas on the trunk lid and the only reason I can figure is because the lightbar takes up the primo location for mounting on the roof.
 

jdifabio

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Dodge Charger Mounting

I have a 2014 Charger, I have a HP-2 mounted in center console using a cut holder mount. Also have mag mount antenna on trunk. Joe
 

ke6gcv

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Does anyone have experience with 2017 Dodge Charger installs? I'm looking for any ideas on radio mounting locations, antennas, etc. pictures really help too. Specifically regarding Chargers with the gear selector in the console.

What radio are you looking to install? I own a 2010 Charger SXT and have a Yaesu FT-8800. Obviously there's been considerable changes between 2010 and 2017 but the basic layout remains the same, I think.

The control head of the FT-8800 is mounted at the base of the stereo/AC bezel. Yes, I lost a storage compartment but well worth it! I have a Comet CA-2X4SR dual band antenna on a Larsen NMO-TLP as I don't want holes in the trunk (though I know drilling is best). I've mounted the radio brain in the trunk. Also "fabricated" a bit of a speaker mount for the center speaker on top of the dash.

Had to extend the external speaker cable and the existing separation kit cable was perfect length. All ran up the center and under the carpet.

In the next six to eight months I'm looking to replace the FT-8800 (and turn it into an event radio) and install two radios. One DMR and one analog; both dual band... Hopefully!
 

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Colton25

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I have a Kenwood Nx-5700 with the larger remote head. I did a quick check and it seems like the remote head will fit in the compartment in front of the shifter but I could be wrong. Planned on mounting the deck in the trunk however I haven’t decided how I want to mount my antenna.
 

ke6gcv

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I have a Kenwood Nx-5700 with the larger remote head. I did a quick check and it seems like the remote head will fit in the compartment in front of the shifter but I could be wrong. Planned on mounting the deck in the trunk however I haven’t decided how I want to mount my antenna.

I looked at the radio you mentioned. Very nice! I'm impressed! The 5700 is VHF, right? That said, you may be running a 5/8 wave or, possibly, a 1/4 wave antenna.

If drilling holes in the trunk will be an issue, like it was with me, then I recommend getting a trunk lip mount, or, perhaps, an 'L' bracket. If you're running a 1/4 wave, then a trunk lip mount should suffice. 1/4 waves are not "whippy" like 5/8 waves are. If you're running a 5/8 wave, then I'd recommend an 'L' bracket. They're sturdier and can handle the "whippy" motion of the antenna as you're driving.
 

Colton25

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Yeah it’s VHF, had it installed in my previous vehicle. I wish Troy or one of the other console brands would make a console for chargers that have the shifter in the console.

I looked at the radio you mentioned. Very nice! I'm impressed! The 5700 is VHF, right? That said, you may be running a 5/8 wave or, possibly, a 1/4 wave antenna.



If drilling holes in the trunk will be an issue, like it was with me, then I recommend getting a trunk lip mount, or, perhaps, an 'L' bracket. If you're running a 1/4 wave, then a trunk lip mount should suffice. 1/4 waves are not "whippy" like 5/8 waves are. If you're running a 5/8 wave, then I'd recommend an 'L' bracket. They're sturdier and can handle the "whippy" motion of the antenna as you're driving.
 

ke6gcv

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Yeah it’s VHF, had it installed in my previous vehicle. I wish Troy or one of the other console brands would make a console for chargers that have the shifter in the console.

Havis comes to mind as having a floor shifter console, but I couldn't find it when I looked. Then again, my Google-foo skills may not be up to par.
 

Mark

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A few pics of my 2013 Charger Yaesu 400DR radio setup.
Radio mounted on back of rear fold down seat.
Antenna Diamond mag mount.
Radio head mounted on homemade angled SS bracket that wedges into console slot.
Speaker and mic mounted lower left side of console.. Needed extension cable
for mic but speaker and RG cable for radio head data were long enough.
Not perfect but works well..
 

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ke6gcv

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Somewhere, Northern CA
A few pics of my 2013 Charger Yaesu 400DR radio setup.
Radio mounted on back of rear fold down seat.
Antenna Diamond mag mount.
Radio head mounted on homemade angled SS bracket that wedges into console slot.
Speaker and mic mounted lower left side of console.. Needed extension cable
for mic but speaker and RG cable for radio head data were long enough.
Not perfect but works well..

Nicely done install! Though I'm hoping to be able to get a truck for my next vehicle, I will look into using that storage area next to the shifter should I stick with the Charger.

That's the one thing I couldn't do... Put my FT-8800 on the seat back. I use my trunk too much to mount it there. Too much potential for damage to the radio, seat, or both.

I tucked the radio away just inside the trunk above the wheel well on the passenger side. It's pushed in far enough in so no damage can come to the radio from things being placed into and taken out of the trunk. Plus I mounted the radio with the rear facing outward so that I can get access to the PS/2-looking programming port.

Though not depicted in this pic, all cables have been ran upward across the top of the radio and into the trunk lining. Keeps the trunk neat looking and eliminates the potential of breaking any wires. I will see about getting pics of my cabling a bit later, if anyone is interested.
 

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PrivatelyJeff

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Do you guys find any problems with heat and the radios on the trunk. I’m thinking of putting my stuff there as well.
 

ke6gcv

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Do you guys find any problems with heat and the radios on the trunk. I’m thinking of putting my stuff there as well.

I've had my radio in since this past summer and haven't had any issues. I'm not a heavy talker either. So... for me, heat has never been a concern.

Another way to look at it is this: Law enforcement usually has all of their communications equipment in the trunk of their Chargers and old Crown Vics. To my knowledge, from my friends in law enforcement, they haven't had any heat related issues. And they have far more radio equipment than my one radio plus heat from the exhaust. Then again, they're using commercial equipment and not Amateur equipment.
 

Mark

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Do you guys find any problems with heat and the radios on the trunk. I’m thinking of putting my stuff there as well.

Also radio has cooling fan and trunk is cooler than radio sitting on dashboard
getting direct sunlight on a hot Summer day.
My radio head on console gets warm but no problems.
Trunk is cooler and no problems here with that type radio mount.
 

PrivatelyJeff

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Good to know. Right now my plan is to put everything under the front seats to cut down on having to run wires but I’m afraid of dust getting inside of everything.
 
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