Toolbox mounted antenna

[DIRTBOY]

I've seen a lot of guys down in Florida running 102' whips mounted to aluminum toolboxes. How are they doing that? I though you had to have a ground. Could you just run a ground wire down to the frame on the truck? Would a long ground wire effect performance?

[Guest]

They probably got it grounded to the truck bed. :Peace!:

[Phaze91460]

Since I run tool boxes on my trucks I'll answer. The box is usualy bolted to the bed. The bed is ground straped to the frame which is grounded to the battery from the factory. When I lived in FL I also mounted my whip to my toolbox. It was a good flat space and didnt damage the roof.

[DIRTBOY]

Thank you guys, that's what I was looking for. I think I might ditch the firestik and mount a whip on the tool box. I guess I'll run a ground from the mount to the bed.

[TexasBandit]

Your ears will open WAY more once you put a 102 in place of the firestick!

[Big Lou]

Anyone got a pic of there 102'' mounted on there tool box ? I got a tool box on my f-150 and was thinking about it . What are ya using a L bracket and a spring or just a whip ? Also not than I can hurt it but how many watts can a 102'' whip take ?

[oknaz]

I currently use a delta gull wing that is bolted to my truck bed . my mag mount is a RS made bottom load . i've switched antenna's twice from a larsen which was bolted to the box and didn't like the swr's so back to the mag i went and the swr's lowered fast . but soon it'll taken off and replaced with a wilson 1000 .

[Phaze91460]

Anyone got a pic of there 102'' mounted on there tool box ? I got a tool box on my f-150 and was thinking about it . What are ya using a L bracket and a spring or just a whip ? Also not than I can hurt it but how many watts can a 102'' whip take ?

Usualy we mounted the SS whip to a spring and on a ball mount. One thing to look at is hight. An F-150 bed is about 4 1/2' off the ground, tool box bringing it almost to 5' maybe, the whip is about 8 1/2' bringin you to about 13 1/2 feet in the air. There is a lot that hangs down that low including some bridges, drive through roofs, trees, power wires.

Watch your hight!

as far as power, It will take anything you can throw at it till it melts.

[DIRTBOY]

Well, I went ahead and got mine all set up. What a difference! It is really high, because my truck is lifted. I have the antenna pointed almost straight up, but if I drive slow under low hanging things, it isn't a big deal. It's more than worth it to me. My RA General Lee will reach out there!

[LordDragr]

Height is might!