Hey all, looking for some advice here. I've got a maxrad antenna mounted with the hood mount on my 04 dodge ram. I'd like to get it up on the roof ( I've got a mag mount ), but the coax routing has me baffled. It's gonna look like crap coming in thru the door and there isn't enough coax to go thru the back window (quad cab). Do you think I'd be better off to mount it thru the roof? I'm not sure how easy it is to drop the roof panel down to get it hidden. Has anybody got input on this procedure?
Thanks
5H(got a little time on my hands)Outlaw
Maxrad
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231
If it's the base load model you have, it will always perform better on the roof. I would think (not knowing for sure) much of it would depend on your long term intent. I couldn't find any specs (wattage rating, etc.) on the antenna you have...so I'd just be guessing. I also have an '04 Ram 3/4 Ton QC/HO-CTD. The roof metal is flimsy IMO. I have never been excited about punching a hole in the roof of my trucks myself. But I do hard mount mine on the front driver's fender. But I don't run base loaded antennas, either. So to me, it would really be a matter of preferrence.
How well do you want it to work? Are you planning on keeping everything stock? or do you want to reach out and touch someone?
You could in fact simply invest in another larger magnet if you wanted, and configure the coax any way you want. If you aren't sure of future mods, that is probably what I would do. But once again, that is just because I know little about your antenna other than it's probably a base loaded version...which probably wouldn't handle the wattage I prefer the antenna be set up for.
Just some thoughts.
How well do you want it to work? Are you planning on keeping everything stock? or do you want to reach out and touch someone?
You could in fact simply invest in another larger magnet if you wanted, and configure the coax any way you want. If you aren't sure of future mods, that is probably what I would do. But once again, that is just because I know little about your antenna other than it's probably a base loaded version...which probably wouldn't handle the wattage I prefer the antenna be set up for.
Just some thoughts.
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5H Outlaw
My camera is with the wife in Vancouver, but I found a pic on a web site. It's only rated at 175 watts. Theres a cobra 200 in my future (believe me, I'd rather buy from the guys on here, but shipping and customs charges make it very expensive), do you think the maxrad will be ok? I can get wilsons sort of locally so that's an option as well. Got to looking and figured I might run the coax back from a mag mount and thru the cab at the high level brake light on the cab and seal it up. Probably will have enought coax then because the radio is mounted just in front of the seat in the middle.
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If it's only rated to 175 watts and you are already thinking a bigger radio, I probably wouldn't spend alot of time and energy on this. I doubt I'd consider running at rated capacity on any antenna. I'd probably suggest investing in a Wilson 5k myself. It'll more than handle the wattage of the bigger radios, and quite frankly would probably work tons better than the one you have.
Simply put, if you are going to go to all that trouble, I'd probably be inclided to just do it once and be done with it myself. The Wilson base loads aren't much bigger, and I personally think you'd be happy you made the change. Not only would your receive and tranmit be better, but the question of a bigger radio (and/or amp) wouldn't likely ever be an issue down the road. The 5k I would consider punching a hole in the roof for myself. That would look and work very well IMO.
Just my $.02
Simply put, if you are going to go to all that trouble, I'd probably be inclided to just do it once and be done with it myself. The Wilson base loads aren't much bigger, and I personally think you'd be happy you made the change. Not only would your receive and tranmit be better, but the question of a bigger radio (and/or amp) wouldn't likely ever be an issue down the road. The 5k I would consider punching a hole in the roof for myself. That would look and work very well IMO.
Just my $.02
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5H Outlaw
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231
Welcome 
I enjoy my truck too...and plan on holding on to it for a long time as well. I do enough driving that I listen all the time to the radio...and occasionally key up. I also have a 200, and plan on doing some upgrades with my antenna system too. I see lots of guys (especially on this forum) who are very pleased with thier Wilson 5k's...and many have tried several antennas. So they do in fact have something to compare them to. I have a couple Wilson Trucker series that work pretty well, but not as well as the 5k does.
I enjoy my truck too...and plan on holding on to it for a long time as well. I do enough driving that I listen all the time to the radio...and occasionally key up. I also have a 200, and plan on doing some upgrades with my antenna system too. I see lots of guys (especially on this forum) who are very pleased with thier Wilson 5k's...and many have tried several antennas. So they do in fact have something to compare them to. I have a couple Wilson Trucker series that work pretty well, but not as well as the 5k does.-
5H Outlaw
I've got somebody on locating one for me. Picked up the new cobra 200 gtl dx this afternoon. Got the truck all wired up with the new leads, and the techs gonna do the thing on it friday. After looking at some of the clean installs on the site here, I decided to go over it all and tidy things up. Glad I did, it sure looks better! Now if I can just work up the ambition to vacuum and wash it I'll be set.
