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VHF "Race Radio" Antenna for OBS Ford Trucks / Broncos

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 4:56 pm
by SteveG
Peep it:

https://www.ruggedradios.com/index.php? ... ts_id=2923
MT-ANT-FORD-01-MD.jpg
MT-ANT-FORD-01-MD.jpg (44.8 KiB) Viewed 1756 times

VHF "Race Radio" Antenna for OBS Ford Trucks / Broncos

Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2020 10:08 pm
by hobbyturnedobsession
Those are awesome! I may have to order one for Carly's bronco and one for my 350.

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Re: VHF "Race Radio" Antenna for OBS Ford Trucks / Broncos

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2020 8:24 am
by BDKW1
That's a pretty poor place to mount an antenna performance wise. Clean, but not super useful.

Re: VHF "Race Radio" Antenna for OBS Ford Trucks / Broncos

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 9:45 am
by 1Hondalover
Very cool piece Steven. That sheet metal is fairly thin to take much torquing.....did you put some kind of backing underneath?

Re: VHF "Race Radio" Antenna for OBS Ford Trucks / Broncos

Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 2:59 pm
by SteveG
BDKW1 wrote:
Fri Apr 17, 2020 8:24 am
That's a pretty poor place to mount an antenna performance wise. Clean, but not super useful.
True. The best place for an antenna is as high as possible with zero obstructions. Buuut, most people running radios just use them running around in a relatively close group and don't necessarily need it to have the longest possible range. Generally, those users will sacrifice range for ease of installation and, especially, drilling holes in sheet metal. That said, on Wilson, I'm using it for a backup antenna.

Re: VHF "Race Radio" Antenna for OBS Ford Trucks / Broncos

Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 3:00 pm
by SteveG
1Hondalover wrote:
Sat Apr 18, 2020 9:45 am
Very cool piece Steven. That sheet metal is fairly thin to take much torquing.....did you put some kind of backing underneath?
It seems OK. I tweaked on it and am not really concerned. Roof panels flex as much or more and I don't know that I've ever seen one break the metal. It wouldn't be hard to put a plate under it, though.

Re: VHF "Race Radio" Antenna for OBS Ford Trucks / Broncos

Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 4:25 pm
by BDKW1
I have repaired 2 roofs where the antenna pulled out. Both Dodges......... I usually put a backing plate on the bottom side if I can fit it. A little epoxy to bond everything together and it will last a very long time.

Re: VHF "Race Radio" Antenna for OBS Ford Trucks / Broncos

Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 8:47 pm
by SteveG
BDKW1 wrote:
Thu May 28, 2020 4:25 pm
I have repaired 2 roofs where the antenna pulled out. Both Dodges......... I usually put a backing plate on the bottom side if I can fit it. A little epoxy to bond everything together and it will last a very long time.
I like the reinforcement plate. Maybe we’ll start stamping them out and offer as an accessory.

Re: VHF "Race Radio" Antenna for OBS Ford Trucks / Broncos

Posted: Thu May 28, 2020 8:51 pm
by SteveG
Low-profile antenna on Wilson. You’ll have to excuse all the spider webs. Wilson’s been sitting under a canopy for a few weeks....
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1B16C9B3-36D0-48B8-914F-0BCCA579C59A.jpeg (71.6 KiB) Viewed 1438 times

Re: VHF "Race Radio" Antenna for OBS Ford Trucks / Broncos

Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 5:58 am
by yikes
Hmmmmm. I might need that for Brown. I think the mount would work.

Re: VHF "Race Radio" Antenna for OBS Ford Trucks / Broncos

Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 8:38 am
by BDKW1
SteveG wrote:
Thu May 28, 2020 8:47 pm
I like the reinforcement plate. Maybe we’ll start stamping them out and offer as an accessory.
Somebody was making them for commercial use, I used to buy them out of the catalog. I think they were for NGP transit antennas mounted in fiberglass.

Re: VHF "Race Radio" Antenna for OBS Ford Trucks / Broncos

Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 9:43 am
by ChaseTruck754
yikes wrote:
Fri May 29, 2020 5:58 am
Hmmmmm. I might need that for Brown. I think the mount would work.
Body lines are a little different, but you're smart enough to make it work. What's going on with the brown one? I wanna see!!