GMRS Antenna Mounting Locations?

[Thatchman]

I own a '24 Bronco 4-door Badlands SAS, with a TrailRax Aluminum roof rack installed. I have three questions regarding mounting a GMRS antenna:

1) Best type of antenna for backcountry use (western states)?
2) Best location for mounting antenna given my setup?
3) Best antenna for quick removal when I drive into bad parts of town?

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[JediMcMuffin]

I've been extremely pleased with this solution: https://www.ruggedradios.com/products/antenna-mount-for-new-ford-bronco-driver-side-view-mirror

I have an SWR of like 1.5 something? Pretty damn good. I'm using a Diamond dual-band antenna thats a hair taller than the factory FM antenna. I regularly am able to chat with other mobile users 2-3 miles away in simplex no problem. I've hit repeaters almost 100mi away before.

 

[Shrek27]

I'm using a 15W Midland and 3db ghost antenna mounted inside on my PVO Traction Board Brackets...can hear and transmit front to back on group rides of 20-25 vehicles pretty spread out trying not to eat dust.

Any antenna with an NMO mounting can be taken off as needed and caps are available to protect threads. I think the most time consuming installs are to the tailgate. Anything mounted on the hood side can easily be pushed through the firewall plug.

 

[projectbadlands]

Comet Antennas have a sleeve that slides up and is able to flex the antenna down and out of the way.

 

[Figmo]

From my thread here: My GMRS Solution

First, antenna mount: I figured, “why spend a bunch of money for a piece of metal, a couple of holes and some company’s logo plastered all over it?”. Instead, I just took a scrap piece of square tubing I had laying around, cut off about an inch and half, drilled a hole all the way through it. Couple coats of paint and done. Bottom hole is where the screw on the cowling next to the radio antenna holds it in place. Top hole is for a 3/8” antenna mount. I’ve got a ghost antenna but this would work for any type of antenna.

 

[DaddyO]

A little late coming to the party but...I don't have the external antenna, yet, but I did buy the mounts that replace the Bronco trail Sight markers on the front hood.
https://www.extremeterrain.com/trailrax-bronco-trail-sight-accessory-mount-tr-tsam-fb.html


And I found these on the Bronco Nation site https://gear.thebronconation.com/products/rtr-rtr-bronco-cb-antenna-mount-21-bronco-all

 

[BNBad]

I know it will reduce the range, but I also don’t like the outside mounts.

 

[HighVelocity]

I know it will reduce the range, but I also don’t like the outside mounts.

That's pretty much what I did, but I just used a mag mount.

It also makes cabling much easier, as you don't need to route the cable outside.

I'm not looking for ALL the fars and swrs and trying to be a radio nerd. I just need something to commuicate with other nearby vehicles. The interior fat, stubby antenna has proven to be more than capable and it's always out of the way.

 

[Oldhippie]

I just bent up a piece of scrap strap and drilled a couple holes…works good enough for what I need…

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