2002 Ford Explorer Limited Two Way Radio/Scanner Install

[KJ6HCB]

Fortunately, all of my radios and console was good. Not so fortunate was a bag of several Nikon zoom lenses and LED scene lights along with camera accessories.

Whats "comical" is that I was just in Vegas for 4 days with the vehicle in an outdoor parking lot with no issues whatsoever, and the evening I come home this happens in my driveway. Upset my camera system wasnt installed yet, but honestly Im pretty lucky considering. It was just a smash and grab from outside.

Time to install a locking trunkvault in the rear of my vehicles for equipment!

 

[wise871]

Sounds like someone knew you carry around expensive glass. Even when I'm home I never leave my Nikon gear in the front. If I have to leave it in a SUV I try to put it in the back on the floor board and have it covered. 99% of the time it comes with me.

Sorry for the loss. Good glass does not come cheap.

 

[KJ6HCB]

Nah, in this case it was tweaker smash and grab - we had about 15 in the neighborhood that evening and I left an empty laptop case on the front seat which they saw and smashed for. The bag was on the floorboard not really visible but they must have grabbed it when they saw the laptop bag was empty.

The lenses had some identifying marks on them.... I bet I find them one day on CL or at the swap meet....

 

[acepilot340]

I had the same problem in my area. Kids from poorer areas drive out to the suburbs because they know doors are generally unlocked/ valuable items are inside. In my case, they broke my window to steal the measly $2-3 in change in the cup holder. They didn't even touch the radios.

They are looking for 3 things... guns, money, and brand name electronics. Our radios are meaningless to them.

I would seriously look on Craigslist for your camera, if you find it call the police.

 

[fourthhorseman]

can i just make an observation,,
and this in No way is judgement,or
fingerwaggig,,

now,considering how much dough many people
invest in their on the road set ups,,Including
unmarked PD and vol/full time ems-fire-rescue
personnel..

how many actually invest in aftermarket security
systems..Even for those in Nice neighborhoods..

ive got a 99 durango..2 antenna poppin out of the
roof,1 scanner,1 for my vhf..,and my gps dome ant,,my
the vhf is hidden,the gps out and the scanner dose as well
(and an Alpine stereo sys,,amp,spkrs,sub head unit,,gps)

and to keep away crooks,a nice sensitive alpine alarm,,
with proximity-radar sensors,,shock sensors,,merc switches
and nice crisp LEDs on the pass n driver doors..

my neighbors yapped a few times during break in and
adjustment of the sensors but after i rebutted,,gimme
signed contract that You'll pay for my loss damages
or pipe down,,

all i heard was crickets...

subsequently,about 2 months later,
lil dirt balls made a smash n grab pass down our street,,
hit 4 out of 7 of my neighbors cars,,the 3 that were passed by,,had alarms..

now 7 out of 7 are visibly alarmed..

works better than Lambs Blood!

my sympathies for the loss,,glass can be replaced,,but gear i tend
to get attached to,,hope they get theirs!

 

[N8DRC]

That is sad, hopefully you get your stuff back nothing worse than a thief...I recently installed a wireless DVR camera system at my home qth..They are a good thing to have for cases like this....

 

[ShawnInPaso]

I was admiring the new photos and the great install; so sad to see the smash and grab.

 

[KJ6HCB]

New glass comes in today, Ive got the door all pulled apart and ready. $59 and $11 shipping for glass sure beats the $430 a mobile shop wanted to come and do it for! With that savings Ill be able to replace my lenses.

Im going to start hunting for a used TrunkVault or similar - something that bolts down in the rear with a slide out drawer/tray that locks. I often carry a lot of miscellaneous goodies that are worth some $$$... a little extra security wouldn't be a bad thing.

 

[hawkspringsfire]

New glass comes in today, Ive got the door all pulled apart and ready. $59 and $11 shipping for glass sure beats the $430 a mobile shop wanted to come and do it for! With that savings Ill be able to replace my lenses.

Im going to start hunting for a used TrunkVault or similar - something that bolts down in the rear with a slide out drawer/tray that locks. I often carry a lot of miscellaneous goodies that are worth some $$$... a little extra security wouldn't be a bad thing.

I have found from experience that it will be a lot cheaper just to make your own truckvault. If you are looking to buy one, they can run anywhere up to $1,000 and up. You could make yours out of wood and make all of the doors with a lock. I am in the process of planing a new cabinet/truckvault for my new vehicle.

 

[BigLebowski]

Well I am going to chime in here....

For everyone reading this thread, this is why it is ESSENTIAL to write down and keep the Model number, serial number, and value for all of the electronic items that you keep in your vehicle and home as well. If you have the serial number logged down for any item, it can be entered into NCIC as a stolen article and in many cases located. Even if you have a piece of equipment without a serial number, writing something like your driver's license number in an inconspicuous place on the item can not only help you identify the item as yours, but owner applied numbers can be entered into NCIC in lieu of a serial number.

I preach this information to everyone that I know, but very few people actually do it. In many cases, the success of an investigator hinges in this information alone since a lot of times there is zero physical evidence left behind by the thief.

 

[donny612]

New glass comes in today, Ive got the door all pulled apart and ready. $59 and $11 shipping for glass sure beats the $430 a mobile shop wanted to come and do it for! With that savings Ill be able to replace my lenses.

Im going to start hunting for a used TrunkVault or similar - something that bolts down in the rear with a slide out drawer/tray that locks. I often carry a lot of miscellaneous goodies that are worth some $$$... a little extra security wouldn't be a bad thing.

How about one of the rollaway tool boxes top box. Nice heavy duty one will have the drawers you want as well as room under the top lid. Craftsman has numerous tool boxes with drawers as well as Lowes and Home Depot. Still will set you back a few hundred though. Just a suggestion.

 

[Cheesedoff]

Where did you pass your power wires through the firewall? I have been looking for a nice place where I wont have to drill a hole but have yet to locate one.

 

[KJ6HCB]

Added a 12" Federal Signal LittLite LED red/white gooseneck light earlier. Il ahve to post a shot of the light it throws at night.... pretty impressive!

 

[KJ6HCB]

Night shots....

Red:

White:

Really pleased with the light output.

 

[divemaster500]

This is a great set up with everything you need within reach

 

[ScannaMan9]

Cool!

Does that Yaesu get in your way?
Why don't you mount them like this:

Bottom to top:
Yaesu FT7900R Dualband VHF/UHF 50 Watt
Motorola MCS2000 110 Watt Model 2 Remote Head 255 Channel
Motorola CDM1550LS 50 Watt VHF 160 Channel
Uniden BC780XLT Scanner
Uniden BCT15 Scanner w/ GPS*

 

[lafd55]

Sweet install man! Is the MCS hooked up or just not on?

 

[PursuitElectronics]

Updated picture with all the heads in and everything screwed in....

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my MCS2000 and CDM1550. I have the MCS2000 for Pinellas County and Bayflight and my CDM1550 for Tampa Fire Rescue and other minor agencies. Now, if I can just find a program cable for my Ericcson Orion, I would be stoked.

 

[2FB071]

Love this set-up. Just got a 2002 for work in law enforcement. I have to deal with having three radios. A Motorola CDM 1250, Yaesu FT-1802, and an 11 meter mobile with a side mic jack. Would love to find one of these consoles on the used market, since they discontinued production. I would also mount the cup holders in them since it is a work vehicle. lol

Any ideas on good sources for these on the used market? No dice on Ebay when I've checked.

 

[BigLebowski]

I think Auto Additions makes/made them for Jotto. They might make you a one-off if you contact them. When I did an install on an '05 Explorer Limited in 2009 they made a one-off for me since it was already out of production.