HAM Radio Mount

[southern_yank]

After several failed attempts of mounting my radio head for my UHF/VHF radio, I decided to make what I was envisioning. Figured I'd share as I know I've gotten many useful ideas from this community.

A little fine tuning to do for version 2, but I'll post them pictures once I get that figured out. version 2 will also relocate the radio body to below the steering wheel behind the cover. I would have had that done already, but thanks to the glorious "engineers" at FCA, nothing is flat, square, or even remotely close to simple to fab a bracket for. So I've got to take the time and 3D scan that area so I can design a proper metal mounting solution for there.

FQTA (foreseeable questions to be asked)

• 2019 2500 Poverty package (tradesman) with cubby below radio - no drawer
• iCom 5100a mobile unit, 100 watt
• Power is run from battery through a hole in the clutch block off plate and routed below center stack
• antenna is mounted on top front edge of rear passenger door - wire running down b pillar under seats to radio - almost invisible - Amazon Bingfu lip mount - NMO with Tram 1180 dual band antenna, short stubby for around town use
• Wire from face to radio is routed into the cubby with a 1/2"Ø drilled into back face of cubby
• Mount is fastened using screws into top face of cubby - I hate this, and version 2 is in process to leverage some alternative factory mounting locations.
• Mount uses standard AMPS mounting pattern with the inclusion of slots to allow for non-AMPS mounting
• Spray paint finish on this as my powder coater was over a week lead time, and I'm impatient
• Just mounted the Auxbeam control today - No feedback on the unit as I haven't gotten the rest of it hooked up or mounted
• I haven't had the truck on any hard or challenging trails to see how truly stable it is, but on washboard dirt roads and standard highway cruising, I love it
• Yes, I will sell these - DM me as I don't know what the procedure is on this forum to be able to sell (mods if this phrase isn't allowed, let me know and I'll remove)

*edit to add pictures of antenna mounting

 

[diesel_driver_3500]

Cool!

For the antenna mount, I'm not sure what/where I'm looking though. I have yet to come up with a location that I'm happy with on my truck.

 

[southern_yank]

So I only get a few hours a week to mess around with the truck. I had a brilliant idea, and a sharp realization that FCA sucks.

I will be mounting the radio main body below the steering wheel, and therefore blocking the sound from the already tiny speakers built in. So looking for ways to add an external speaker without adding an external speaker I had a dawning epiphany.

I bought the poverty package without a speaker in the center of the dash - surely there is a location for for a speaker because there is no way FFCA engineering would ever want to design and produce multiple part numbers for the same dang part all with various tooling and mold requirements.

Low an behold, there is a speaker mounting location for a single 3.5" speaker. Just need a speaker grill with the opening to allow for the sound to project through, a cheapo speaker, and a pigtail with a 3.5mm audio jack. Simple! Ordered the center speaker grill from a Laramie, 3D printed some quick little plastic wedge nuts (dealer couldn't get the P/N for factory) and I should be good to go!


Wrong - so very, very, very wrong. I remember why I hate Chrysler. Some jack-hole engineer thought it would be a great idea to create an entirely different speaker grill mounting system for the Laramie vs. the Tradesman.

So here we are - I tried to modify the Laramie grill to fit, but the back edge of the Laramie is a lot longer than the Tradesman. So I didn't continue to modify as I don't have time to Dremel and sand and all that today.

Still debating if I should continue to modify the Laramie, or just bite the bullet and drill out the holes in the Tradesman grille. Either way, lots of work ahead. But at least the speaker is in!

Maybe next weekend I'll finish this, and possibly get the under dash area 3D scanned so I can start getting a mount designed.

 

[southern_yank]

Cool!

For the antenna mount, I'm not sure what/where I'm looking though. I have yet to come up with a location that I'm happy with on my truck.

If you don't mind dropping the coin, Bullet Proof Diesel has one that mounts to the third brake light:


I was originally leaning towards this, but if I end up with a Go Fast Camper or something similar, it won't be a usable mount.

Third Brake Light Antenna Mount - 2009 - 2018 RAM 1500 Trucks

Bullet Proof Diesel's third brake light antenna mounts make installing your antenna simple and painless. Most antenna mounts force you to choose between a magnetic base, which doesn't work on aluminum, or damaging your cab roof by drilling holes. Our patented third brake light antenna mount is...

bulletproofdiesel.com

 

[Darkone]

@southern_yank did a little bit of digging on the speaker cover and I think I found a part number that is correct for your truck if it has a black interior.
6NH55TX7AB
it’s weird to me that they would change the dash across trim levels for that part, genius engineers I guess.

 

[southern_yank]

@southern_yank did a little bit of digging on the speaker cover and I think I found a part number that is correct for your truck if it has a black interior.
6NH55TX7AB
it’s weird to me that they would change the dash across trim levels for that part, genius engineers I guess.

@Darkone I'm not sure how you dug that up, but thank you! And at less than half what I gave for the other one.


Sent from my SM-S908U using Tapatalk

 

[Crusty old shellback]

I have the bullet proof mount on my truck for a year now. Great mount, looks great, but expensive as hell. But I couldn't find anything comparable.
Pictures of the install in my build thread.

 

[Darkone]

No problem I like the idea of using an unused factory space for an additional speaker. Plus I was blown away that they would do something dumb like that and figured their had to be a solution.

 

[cms1528]

RAM Center Dash Mount - Extra-Strength with Pedestal

This ProClip dash mount is custom-made for your RAM truck. (see compatibility tab for full list of years and models) The mount attaches in the storage tray above the center screen and includes a built in 5 inch adjustable pedestal. In addition to mounting regular holders for a phone or GPS, this...

www.proclipusa.com

This is a link to the radio mount I used in my 2500 with twelve inch screen, they sell one for the smaller screen as well. It work so well, very easy to install. I have a Yasue FTM-400 attached to it. I made a very clean install of it, looks factory installed. You would have to find the correct end mount from the mounting arm to radio. I either bought that end mount from Proclips USA but I think more likely from RAM Mounts. Here are a few pics. I assure you that it does not block your view in anyway through the wind shield, the angle of the photo might suggest that but it does not.

 

[el_barto]

That mounting plate above cubby is pretty great for mounting…whatever! I agree I wouldn’t want to drill into the center console to install. Also curious how it would interfere with the transfer case shifter for those of us with the floor mounted version.

 

[southern_yank]

That mounting plate above cubby is pretty great for mounting…whatever! I agree I wouldn’t want to drill into the center console to install. Also curious how it would interfere with the transfer case shifter for those of us with the floor mounted version.

Yea, no go with mechanical transfer case. You could do it, but it wouldn't be something I'd do long term

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[GOES211]

@southern_yank

Good work on the radio install. I am going down a similar road.

Question: Did you ever figure out what the PN is for the plastic wedge nuts?

Thank you for your time.