Looking to find out if anyone else's radio antenna clips the top of their garage door opening when pulling into the garage. On mine the top inch hits the top of the opening and it is kind of annoying. Is there an antenna that is an inch or two shorter out there that still functions well with the Ford radio?

 

I cut mine down to about 4" tall with a dremel. No change in reception.

 

I cut mine a few inches with a Dremel just enough to clear the garage door. I left it taller than the cab so it still serves as a feeler gauge when going into parking garages.

 

I ALWAYS buy Stubbie antennas. The stock ones look way too silly. 12"-15" look right. I don't know why Ford sticks these ultra long antennas that will communicate with aliens on these nice trucks. Never had a reception problem with them either ( I do live in Los Angeles, so reception isn't a problem). If you look closely at my 08, you can see the 15" goes half window.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/stubbie-ant...wx?filterid=j1

 

Thanks for the info guys. I like propellerhead's thinking with leaving it above the roof line since I too need to park in parking garages. I am glad to hear that cutting it down with a Dremel tool doesn't trash the reception. Thanks again & be safe.

 

The Black Powder Coated Stubbie in hydro's link looks like the one I have. No problem w/reception and looks good too. Bought it for the same reason you're thinking about buying one....hitting the garage door.

Edit: I forgot the antnenna didn't look "finished" to me the way it mated w/the truck, so, I slid a black rubber o ring over it and looks perfect.

 

I popped the little **** off the end of my antenna using a pair of wire strippers and a hammer. Tape the **** to the strippers so you dont send it flying. Then take the antenna off the truck, cut it to your desired length, bevel the new edge slightly on a bench grinder, and line the **** back uo to the end and tap it upside down on smooth concrete. Good as new, but a little bit shorter.

before I started, I actually ran a 7 foot level across my roof, found level, and cut it an inch longer than that.... works great for parking garage feeler, especially with a level kit.

 

FYI guys, cutting the antenna will effect reception and radio performance at lower frequencies because antennas that are required to be very small compared to the radio wavelength sacrifice efficiency and cannot be very directional.

 

Ive had great luck with this one:

http://www.cravenspeed.com/products/...y-Antenna.html

only $20 and has a 100% $$ back. Great customer service as well.

 

I'm gonna order that stubby from cravenspeed right now, that's sweet.

 

^Yeah, I'm liking that one also. I need to bookmark them for when i get my 150.

 

I just ordered a Craven Speed Stubby Antenna today!

 

Just ordered one myself

 

I've got the exact same piece sitting in my detail box ready to go on the truck. Based on all my research this is the best "bang for the buck".

 

Using canadianelbow's directions, I Dremeled off an inch and a half off my antenna and replaced the ball. Now I clear my garage opening by about half an inch. I still have about two inches of parking garage clearance 'feeler' left. Excellent information and suggestion from you guys. Thanks & be safe.