After viewing WMU989's fine post on what he did with his T4R, I thought I would share my attempt at shoe-horning a radio and a scanner into this truck. I always try to install in such a way that I can remove the equipment and antennae and not leave a noticeable mark.
For the external antenna, I used a pair of Comet RS720 NMO mounts. A Maldol X-107 dual band for the Yaesu 8800 and a Larsen NMO 150450800 for the BCT15 scanner. I ran the coax from the back hatch into a rubber boot, carefully slitting the boot to admit the coax. Once inside the headliner, I ran the coax along the the top seam between the fabric headliner and the plastic side molding. I ran it down the door pillar and then underneath the seats, careful not to place the coax near the seat mechanisms.
The radios were installed in the center console, cutting just a small hole in the back corner to admit the coax, power and speaker wires. Power from the battery ran through the bulkhead and then down the center console. I used a makeshift mounting cushion in the console made from plywood and rubber grommets.
The control heads are mounted in the cab on a flexible stalk my friend found at a garage sale for $.50. I used a commercial mount for the Sirius radio and then tagged on a homebuilt mount holding the Uniden head and the FT8800 head. Power and control cables were hidden in the stalk wiring loom.
Speakers were attached using RS speakers mounted on the handhold mounts hidden behind a plastic cover. I guess my version of the T4R didn't come with a handhold on the driver's side. I choose the RS speakers solely because of their size. Besides having speakers close to the old ears helps me hear what people are saying.
I've also included a shot of my shack, small, but I like it. A IC7000 connected through a Rigblaster pro PSK through a AT2000 tuner. A 756 Pro for SSB phone connected through a AT1KP Palstar tuner and an Ameritron 811H Amp. Some Heil mic's complete the station.
Most of the ideas I used I got from reading this forum, so thanks and 73.
For the external antenna, I used a pair of Comet RS720 NMO mounts. A Maldol X-107 dual band for the Yaesu 8800 and a Larsen NMO 150450800 for the BCT15 scanner. I ran the coax from the back hatch into a rubber boot, carefully slitting the boot to admit the coax. Once inside the headliner, I ran the coax along the the top seam between the fabric headliner and the plastic side molding. I ran it down the door pillar and then underneath the seats, careful not to place the coax near the seat mechanisms.
The radios were installed in the center console, cutting just a small hole in the back corner to admit the coax, power and speaker wires. Power from the battery ran through the bulkhead and then down the center console. I used a makeshift mounting cushion in the console made from plywood and rubber grommets.
The control heads are mounted in the cab on a flexible stalk my friend found at a garage sale for $.50. I used a commercial mount for the Sirius radio and then tagged on a homebuilt mount holding the Uniden head and the FT8800 head. Power and control cables were hidden in the stalk wiring loom.
Speakers were attached using RS speakers mounted on the handhold mounts hidden behind a plastic cover. I guess my version of the T4R didn't come with a handhold on the driver's side. I choose the RS speakers solely because of their size. Besides having speakers close to the old ears helps me hear what people are saying.
I've also included a shot of my shack, small, but I like it. A IC7000 connected through a Rigblaster pro PSK through a AT2000 tuner. A 756 Pro for SSB phone connected through a AT1KP Palstar tuner and an Ameritron 811H Amp. Some Heil mic's complete the station.
Most of the ideas I used I got from reading this forum, so thanks and 73.
T4Rs are not too rig friendly but you and others who take the time and improvise show what can be done with a little ingenuity.
