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How do I mount a 102-inch long whip antenna to a travel trailer?
- Thread starter kc0bus
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blakews2217
Member
Mostly a matter of convenience. It's just more convenient to have it already mounted to the trailer. But I see your point. I don't necessarily have to have it mounted TO the trailer. I guess I could have it fastened to, say, a portable tripod for example resting on the ground or some push-up mast or what not.
blakews2217
Member
Mind telling us your setup? How you plan on doing this? Pics maybe?
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RBMTS
Active Member
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Most travel trailers today are of the wood or fiberglass design. You won't have any kind of ground plane to work with as would on a metal frame vehicle. Plus you could put unwanted load onto the trailer walls caused by the wind bending the antenna. This could cause other problems to structural integrity of the trailer (especially on the "ultra-light" variety). You'd be better off using a "no ground plane" type of antenna that will be shorter and mounting to the roof ladder if you have one. The other thing to consider is that your radiation pattern will suck if you are mounting to the side of the trailer. To be most effective you'd need to have it mounted on the top of the trailer free of any body shielding. That's not really a viable solution because you are obviously going to encounter some low-height obstructions that will take your antenna out.
I would strongly suggest a telescoping pole that you can put up when you are at the campsite. Secure it to the ladder or to the spare time mount to keep it vertical. Just break it down when you are leaving your campsite and getting back on the road.
I would strongly suggest a telescoping pole that you can put up when you are at the campsite. Secure it to the ladder or to the spare time mount to keep it vertical. Just break it down when you are leaving your campsite and getting back on the road.
RFI-EMI-GUY
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What is the roof of this trailer made of? Aluminum?
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A NMO-27 may be an option IF the roof is metal.
RFI-EMI-GUY
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That is where I was going!
He will be a lot happier with the performance. Might need to tie it down for bridge clearance. No big deal.
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sjgostovich
Member
Run a short mast and the antenna from the front/yoke coupler area of the hitch. I had mine set up that way and it worked good. I've seen people use mag mounts on the roof depending what you have up there (awning, vents, AC unit, etc..).
blakews2217
Member
Should be. But remember not all are made equally. Some are 1/2"off one way or the other.
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Project25_MASTR
Millennial Graying OBT Guy
If it's a traditionally, er common, styled travel trailer, I'd look into the rear bumper. Of course, how well it actually performs is entirely dependent upon the material the trailer is skinned in.
108" is closer to 1/4 wave. 27 mHz one quarter wave is 109.36", 104.9" with capacitive fringing.
102" whip and the 6" spring mount is what most used and that equaled 108".
And those dimensions depend on a full one quarter wave ground plane. Most doubt any trailer would have 216" diameter of metal to mount a quarter wave whip in the middle of.
I made the mention of the NMO 27, or the Comtelco CB1800, antenna as they do better with somewhat less groundplane.
michy
Member
We had some of the 102" whips (on the big spring) back many years ago mounted on the back bumper. It was made of fiberglass? and had quite a bit of wind drag.
The trailer hitch mounts don't work very well, no ground plane and sticking the feedpoint out in mid air raises the feedpoint impedance making it difficult to match.
Otherwise, I recognize what looks like a Will-Burt pneumatic mast on the trailer in the larger of the two pictures.
prcguy
Otherwise, I recognize what looks like a Will-Burt pneumatic mast on the trailer in the larger of the two pictures.
prcguy
On a metal ball mount going to the frame of the trailer thats metal? As long as you grind down the metal where your mount is going and remove all the paint, A ballmount and 8 foor whip will work fine.
Cb antennas of course will work better if they are up high as possible.
Theres always the ladder on the back of the trailer..
I used to put my k40 on a metal crank out flap on the top of our trailer and it worked great.
Like the other guy said most of it is aluminum and fiberglass so you are limited.
Cb antennas of course will work better if they are up high as possible.
Theres always the ladder on the back of the trailer..
I used to put my k40 on a metal crank out flap on the top of our trailer and it worked great.
Like the other guy said most of it is aluminum and fiberglass so you are limited.
Astrogoth13
Member
Ball mounts down low like the pictures reflects a lot of RF back into the antenna. That means bad SWR. Mount the whip high up to solve that issue.
asuddendeath
Member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2018
- Messages
- 66
Big magnet mount. Easy to put down. Not very easy to remove.
Thanks for posting that up. Looks clean and low profile.
How does it work vs a K40?
Thanks for posting that up. Looks clean and low profile.
How does it work vs a K40?
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