Help / Ideas Equipment install for a truck

[mhubert123]

Hello fellow members,

I am getting ready to buy either a family member's 2000 Crew Cab Ford F-350 XL work truck -OR- an older 1987 International S-1600 crew cab truck. It does have a Manual Trans, so floor installs / consoles won't do
and it's time to start thinking about the personal touch of equipment.
I'd prefer to keep the install clean and as simple as possible.


The list of equipment I'd like to install is:
CB
UHF/VHF 2-way radio for biz. use
Mobile Scanner
-Need ideas on one that can pickup Railroad frequencies(160 ish MHz range), 800-900 MHz, and WX.
Laptop Mount
HD Power Inverter
Antenna's for CB, Scanner, and commercial 2-way radio.
-Thoughts on what antennas would be best and most likely not get any interference from each other.
Control boxes/switches for along with
-Mini Light bar
-Traffic Director


The pics are not new of the ford, since have installed a new bed. Cab rack is no longer on anymore.
I posted a few pictures of the basics for my situation. It has the bench seat (Front and back.)

The international truck Pics have a service body with a crane on it, but I won't get the body/crane. Just a Cab and Chassis. Here's the link to the IH truck.
Postimage.org / gallery - 87 #4, IMG 20130503 113717, IMG 20130503 113840, IMG 20130503 113846

 

[W8RMH]

A floor shifter can make it difficult. You may want to consider overhead mounting.

2000 Ford F-350 VDP Shelf-It Overhead Storage Shelf

The above should work for everything but the laptop.

Jotto Desk Universal Mobile Laptop Mount

I had something like this in my truck back in the late 70s, minus the laptop of course, which held a scanner, CB, electronic siren, light control switch panel, cassette player, and a .357 Magnum.

I ran the wiring down through the A post, and along the ceiling for the antennas and light bar, for a nice clean install.

 

[mhubert123]

A floor shifter can make it difficult. You may want to consider overhead mounting.

2000 Ford F-350 VDP Shelf-It Overhead Storage Shelf

The above should work for everything but the laptop.

Jotto Desk Universal Mobile Laptop Mount

I had something like this in my truck back in the late 70s, minus the laptop of course, which held a scanner, CB, electronic siren, light control switch panel, cassette player, and a .357 Magnum.

I ran the wiring down through the A post, and along the ceiling for the antennas and light bar, for a nice clean install.

Thank you for the idea of that shelf! I would probably have taken the dash apart and stuffed the gear in there before thinking about a roof line shelf.. I'll probably have to make one though if I get that International.
I forgot I had taken a quick interior video of the truck, it sorta shows what I'd have to deal with/work around.
Interior video - YouTube That's what the IH is like inside.

For a laptop mount, Doesn't someone make a tablet or an iPad mount that is screwed or bolted into a sturdy piece of the dash. (Quallcomm keyboard unit mounting setup) I'm debating whether or not to buy a 3G iPad and use it for finding some good Railfan spots on GPS software, Some and I mean very rarely doing Storm spotting in the Southeast.. (for an April 27, 2011 type event when it happens again) and lastly be able to take it in the house for play.

Once again, THANK YOU to W8RMH for that shelf idea!!!!

 

[tglendye]

Here is a link of what I did on the transmission hump of my 06 F150 http://forums.radioreference.com/pictures-your-shack-mobile-setup/248227-2006-ford-f-150-a.html .

Here's a link for the bracket: Two Way Mobile Radio Stack Mount New CB Ham Police Fire | eBay . I think they also design these brackets for more radios, as well.

 

[W8RMH]

Here is a link of what I did on the transmission hump of my 06 F150 http://forums.radioreference.com/pictures-your-shack-mobile-setup/248227-2006-ford-f-150-a.html .

Here's a link for the bracket: Two Way Mobile Radio Stack Mount New CB Ham Police Fire | eBay . I think they also design these brackets for more radios, as well.

I don't think that would work with the floor shifter.

 

[tglendye]

I don't think that would work with the floor shifter.

No, the F350 is automatic (as seen in the pic's). The I/H is manual. So it would work in the F350.

 

[ElroyJetson]

Check out the consoles made by Jotto Desk. They can make for an extremely neat and clean looking installation. But it won't be free, exactly.,


Elroy

 

[W8RMH]

No, the F350 is automatic (as seen in the pic's). The I/H is manual. So it would work in the F350.

Sorry Todd I was just going by what I read (below) and I didn't closely examine the photo.

It does have a Manual Trans, so floor installs / consoles won't do