So, when I sold my old utility truck the Yaesu FTM-350R that was in it found a new home in our Jeep Grand Cherokee. The hard part was figuring out where and how to mount it. I eventually went with a Tram dual band glass-mount antenna on the left side rear window, tucked the main body of the radio in the driver's mesh seatback pocket, mounted the control head to a gooseneck cupholder mount (stuck inside a can coozie because the cup holders on the Jeep are huge), and plugged the whole thing into the outlet inside the center console armrest.
Not an ideal setup, but it works.
I'd like to go digital though and I'm been looking at some of the new Yaesu offerings, particularly the FTM-500DR; FTM-300DR; and FTM-200DR. In that order (and impact on my wallet).
My biggest issue is going to be how to mount them. I'd really like to free up the cup holder the FTM-350R is occupying and I'd ideally like to get the main unit out on my seatback pocket, mount the head up on the overhead console (maybe somehow make use of the useless to us -my wife and I both wear glasses- sunglass holder) and wire direct to the battery. The issues are that there's little room to do this. I can't mount the body under the seats because of the seat heating/cooling ductwork there (and aux battery on the passenger side), the dash is filled with airbags (including knee airbags), there's side curtain airbags, and I'm trying to maintain the watertight integrity of the cabin and firewall. (I kind of like having a 30" fording capability)
Any of y'all have knowledge of special mounting hardware that might help? (and the wife already nixed the idea of using the stalk mount that gets mounted to the seat bolts because it will rub against the center console)
Try 2" wide peal and stick Velcro. You can get it at Walmart or a craft store in various lengths. Run 1 or 2 strips across the short ends of the radio and mate it up to wherever you want to mount the radio. I made a cage to hold a stack of 3 radios for roaming VHF contesting and it really holds them in place on the dash. I'll take some pics tomorrow. It also makes changing radios out (relatively) easy.
Look into the dash mounts available from ICS Fabrications. I have one for my 4Runner and it's awesome, holding a ham radio, a CB radio, and a cellphone. They make many vehicle-specific mounts as well as a "universal" one.
https://www.ics-fab.com/collections/dash-mounts
Being made of steel, I have other gear attached to this dash mount using magnets, too.
-Blast
for your PTT holder:
https://www.amazon.com/Rugged-Radios-Single-Radio-Handheld/dp/B09T319RZV/ref=sr_1_15?crid=V3AESZLJ82RO&keywords=baofeng+dash+mount&qid=1684771296&sprefix=baofeng%2520dash%2520mount%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-15
https://www.amazon.com/Rugged-Radios-MT-RH-HM-Baofeng-Handheld/dp/B0B75TN9GL/ref=sr_1_8?crid=V3AESZLJ82RO&keywords=baofeng+dash+mount&qid=1684771338&sprefix=baofeng%2520dash%2520mount%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-8\
I ran wires thru my car's firewall and mounted a jumper up under the dash to direct wire with quick connectors.
(https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hcoAAOxynapRgN33/s-l300.jpg)
(https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1zhi3HVXXXXa.XFXXq6xXFXXXL/10-Sets-Kit-2-8-series-6-Pin-way-DJ7061A-2-8-Electrical-Wire-Connectors-Plug.jpg)
But actually putting in the radios and mounting them somewhere isn't an easy decision. I keep thinking something on the ceiling would be best but haven't tried it cause that's a lot of customization I don't feel like doing. And then running the wires up under the headliner and back out for the antennas.
I'm going to be keeping the Lido cupholder mount for now. The new FTM-300D I picked up today has a much smaller head than the old radio, so should be less of an obstruction in front of the dash. Eventually, I will find or make a way to mount it to the sunglasses holder in the overhead console.
The main issue now is that the new radio has the mic attach to the main body, not the control head like the FTM-350R. I'll probably have to get a remote speaker for the rig too.
Here's some pics of my Velcro setup.
MD520 Front.JPG
MD520T - my current DMR project
Dash.JPG
Dash with no radios installed.
MD520 Bottom.JPG
Bottom of MD520T showing Velcor on mount. The red/black is an Anderson Power Pole, I use them on all my radios.
VHF Rack.JPG
The VHF/UHF stack 10M, 6M, 2M, 1.25M 70CM & 33CM for VHF contesting or bugging out. I can monitor 5 different bands/frequencies and/or scan at once.
My wife would literally slaughter me in my sleep if I stuck Velcro or anything else all over the dash of her Jeep. :smiley_crocodile:
I mean, it's a good setup and probably fits your needs quite well but we're still at the "wax it a couple times a year with the good ceramic wax and take it in for service if the floor mats don't fit perfectly" stage. Still got about a year left to pay it off, maybe after that.
It doesn't have to be on the dash if the control head was removable. I'm currently single so I don't have to worry about upsetting a wife, and it allows mounting a radio without drilling any holes. Would it work on the sunglass holder? Peal the Velcro of, use the right cleaner and you'd never know it was there.
Quote from: Z.O.R.G. on May 22, 2023, 11:16:17 PMIt doesn't have to be on the dash if the control head was removable. I'm currently single so I don't have to worry about upsetting a wife, and it allows mounting a radio without drilling any holes. Would it work on the sunglass holder? Peal the Velcro of, use the right cleaner and you'd never know it was there.
I'm thinking of something similar to that idea for the sunglass holder. I'll have to take some photos tomorrow so you get a better idea what I'm dealing with. For now though, I just spent about 6 hours getting the radio setup and programmed. Should be good to go to install it tomorrow the same basic way the FTM-350AR was installed. Got the head mounted on the Lido cupholder mount, the main body is smaller than the other one so it should fit the mesh seatback pouch. The main issues are going to be the mic cord (old unit the mic mounted to the head unit, new one it only connects to the body. I ordered a 6' extension cord that will help with that Time to get some sleep.
(https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=2753)
:eek1: OK Tank, I need an extraction.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TS68mTgxcjA/THoPrdv6LxI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/WbZ4R5502X8/s1600/tank-the-operator2.jpg)
My old truck
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DSCN0693.JPG
Quote from: MacWa77ace on May 23, 2023, 07:52:45 AM(https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=2753)
:eek1: OK Tank, I need an extraction.
(https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TS68mTgxcjA/THoPrdv6LxI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/WbZ4R5502X8/s1600/tank-the-operator2.jpg)
LOL!!!
I like the truck set-up, very cleanly done. My stack of radios is only installed for VHF contests, off grid camping or preparing for one of them. In the event of a real emergency, they'd also get installed.