Ham radio question: installation of 2m/70cm antenna in Classic 28'

[Dave Jenkins]

We would like to install a short dual-band antenna in a 28' Classic. Since this trailer hasn't been built yet, we are considering asking A/S to install the mount at the factory, with the radio end of the coax terminating in the same compartment where the normal fm radio antenna comes in.

Is this feasible? Does A/S do modifications such as this? Where would such a mount be grounded?

We really don't want the hassle of setting up tripods and antennas when we stop. I guess if push came to shove we could use a glass-mounted antenna, but I really don't want to see the coax running through the lving area. (If push really came to shove, I guess, I could always go up to the pickup cab to talk, but I'd rather not.)

Anyway, if anyone out there has experience in this area, we'd love to hear from you.

[drboyd]

....mounted on one of the metal vent covers. The wire is fed down thru the airconditioner, and over to a partition.

One of the previous owners did it, probably themselves...

[Safari Tim]

Don't forget to have them run a 10 gauge power and ground wire to the radio location as well!

[DPeakMD]

The 2004's we saw on the factory tour have a new radio antenna which looks like a "rubber ducky" style and exits through the top of the coach (*see pic). Unfortunately we didn't get a good look at one to see what sort of mounting it used.

If they would allow it, you should ask them to run an extra coax for you. That would be really slick to have a built in NMO mount from the factory. Somehow, though, I fear they may not jump up and down at that idea!

If so, a lot of hams use the refridgerator vent cover as a convenient place to mount a 2m/440 antenna. You can use the area behind the fridge to run the coax and enter the coach at a convenient spot out of sight behind a cabinet. I used a Diamond multi-angle adjustable NMO style trunk lip mount to mount to the refridgerator vent cover. Even with a short dual-band antenna, it's more than adequate for simplex at a rally site or getting into a local repeater.

-Dallas (KB9QPE)

[odfarley]

My 87 Excella has a 2 meter ant mounted on the metal vent cover over the ref. and coax fed to the inside.

Both me and my wife are extra class hams.

Good luck

WD4SCL & KC4BMK