Anyone out there installed a ham radio in their f150? I'm looking for ideas on install locations for the head unit, radio and antenna and powering the system. I'd like to run 2m and some hf bands. Pictures and ideas welcome!
Thanks!

 

Are you a new Ham ? great source for mobile info is www.k0bg.com .
I have a 2009 so things should be similar. Unlike my previous truck I only have it set up for 2m. HF mobile is a very different story !!
I have a regular cab .Cable is connected directly to the battery with both sides fused there .Cut hole in firewall , grommet and seal with silicone, lead wire through door frame channel to behind the seat. Using a radio that can be separated like Icom 706 or 7000, secure the radio to the floor. The control head is attached to the top of the dashboard .Control head is easily seen and easily operated -this is for safety and convenience !! Antenna is installed through hole in roof -the proper way . The job is somewhat of a PITA but the best way .
Don't get cheap stuff [radio shack ] you'll be buying problems !!
HF is a very different story which includes grounding EVERYTHING to the frame .By far the best system is a good screwdriver type antenna.
Make sure everything is secure, easily accessible, NOT enclosed, to get proper ventilation.
Robert AC2RC

 

Want to install my Icom 2200H as well, can't decide where to put it. Ideas welcome as well.

 

I just brought home my 2011 F-150 and was starting to install the radio. I found a place for the radio, I don't have the center console so I put it in the larger dash cubby towards the floor in the center of the dash.

But now having trouble finding a 12volt power source in the cab, I know the best is to the battery but I was trying to avoid the firewall issue. But as I look this truck over it is so well sealed up it is going to even be hard to get the coax in. Might have to wait until daylight to finish the radio install.

LOVE THIS TRUCK!

 

I dont have that MY truck, but as far as power goes, I would run the power straight from the battery. My Yaesu is 50W and thats a few amps you don't want to be jumping from another wire- that can have high resistance and melt wiring. Lots of pics of mobile setups in the www.radioreference.com forums too

 

It's not a big deal to drill a hole though the firewall !! Drill, grommet, seal with silicone.
Get that radio on top of the dash to be visible and accessable !
Looking down to see the radio takes your eye off the road --not good.

 

I'm thinking about mounting my IC706 to the bottom of my rear seat. Fold it up and it's still out of the way. Mounting it in the console of my FX4 i think it will overheat so mounting it to the bottom of the rear seat is probably best bet. Just to find where to install the antenna now. Remote head unit is great way to go. Need to reinstall my thru the glass Larsen for 2m. Took all of it out of my 2000 Expo.

 

The firewall should already have rubber grommets in it. No drilling required, and if you put those radios on top of the dash, you are going to prematurely kill it. All of my Kenwoods strictly say "do not place in direct sunlight" and with a temp range rarely exceeding 120*F. Where I'm from, that can be easily exceeded by 11:00am on a sunny day. Also, sunlight will kill the LCD display and you risk getting your stuff stolen.

Just my $0.02

 

I found plenty of space under the dash on the driver side. I would have to fab up some kind of bracket to hold my Icom 706 head, but the space is there for sure. With breathing room! And a nice short cable thru the firewall...somewhere.

I've been a ham for about 10 years, but still found some great info at that site. Thank you!. My biggest struggle at this point is the HF. I was thinking of using a glass mount for my 2 meter, on the back window. But now, I see I have a defrost conflict back there..

As for HF, the bed cover I installed prohibits post mount options that I was entertaining. It's in the way. It's kind of looking like I either have to go to the hitch or bumper, or drill a hole in my roof. I'm not interested in roof drilling just yet. Going to spend time seeing if I can get a decent signal otherwise.

I'd like to get 2m, 440 ad 220 up first and then worry about HF.

Where should I look for these pre-drilled holes?


Taking my time, but anxious.

 

Open your hood and look on the firewall. You should see big, black rubber grommets.

 

I am not mounting anything on top of the dash, #1 heat with the direct sunlight just cooks a radio, #2 theft, might as well have decals made that say, HEY I HAVE HIGH $$ ELECTRONICS IN MY TRUCK, KEEP AWAY! #3 Looks, I like Ham Radio but I still like my truck to look nice. And I don't change the channel all that much, I am either on the local repeater or on simplex and the buttons to control the radio are on the microphone so I don't have to look down that often.

50 watt radio will pull about 12-14 amps at most that isn't some huge draw that will melt a 12 gauge wire, the biggest drawback to in cab wiring is RFI.

Got my radio mounted:



I plan to use some of that flexible tubing to encase the coax and 12volt wires to make that look a little better. I had some but it was too small will have to get to the store and get a larger diameter.

Antenna on the front fender:



On the firewall you will see two rubber grommets, at the top of each one you will see a rubber nipple, I took an exact knife and made a slit in each of them. If you pull out the rubber plug the back side is molded with a channel to the rubber nipple almost like Ford made it that way. On the drivers side it is easy access from the inside, on the passenger side not so much, I used a coat hanger to fish my 12 volt wire through.

Passenger Side:


Drivers Side:

 

Through the glass antennas are NOT efficient and as you found there may be embedded heaters in the glass. Get a good Larson 2m/440 , drill a hole through the roof ,that's the best way.

 

A good quality glass mount can do okay depending on your terrain. If you live in the hill country not so much, but the flat plains of the US you would be shocked.

The entire rear defrost thing is from years ago, I ran one on a chevy truck with good sucess, when you get a glass mount you will see an opening in the double sided tape, make sure that is between two lines and you will be fine. Only reason I moved from a glass mount to a fender/hole mount was because I wanted to run more than a 50 watt radio.

 

Thanks, this shows me just where to look. Going to order an antenna today, maybe I can get this done over the coming weekend. Now I just have to work up a bracket for the head unit up under drive side dash...

 

How did you get that number?