As a ham radio operator, I need to install my mobile radio and its antenna in my new Regular Cab XLT, and route the antenna lead under the seat and out the rear of the cab to an antenna mount in the front of the truck bed. Since I haven't found any suitable existing penetrations in the bottom of the cab's rear panel, it looks like I'll need to drill a small (~3/8") hole at the bottom of the rear panel behind the driver's seat for the coax (I could run the coax thru the existing cab vent grille, but I'd rather route & grommet/seal the coax securely into its own hole thru the panel).

Does anyone (maybe someone who has access to a 2009-2012 shop manual) know if the bottom corner of the regular cab rear panel (where it is welded to the floor panel), behind the seats, is of single-wall construction, or is it a double-wall sheet-metal assembly? If it is double-wall, are there any wiring harnesses routed between the inner-outer walls in that bottom/rear/corner area that I might risk drilling into if I drill a small hole through the sheet metal?

 

I only have 2m in my present truck so I don't have all the answers.
The best source of mobile info is www.k0bg.com . Read this thoroughly .There is a world of difference in installing HF vs 2m.
In any case keep stuff on the passenger side [as the manual says] to keep away from the computer. Run cables in the wire channel under the door sill. Make sure you remove all interior panels to work so you don't have surprizes like drilling through air bag gas lines or electric wires !!! It's easier to go through the air vent openings but it's possible to drill if you know where possible wiring is .Always use grommets then seal with silicon. I doubt that there would be any wires between double panel areas but check with dealer. There's lots of room under the top of the dash board.My 706 control head is mounted on top of the dash ,easily reached and easily seen.Wires are put under the dash .down under the panel near the fuse box, through the wiring channel .The radio proper is mounted on the floor behind the passenger seat .Make sure you have good ventilation .The air flow of the 706 and 7000 is from under the radio then through the top.Directly attach the power cord to the battery fusing both sides. Yes removing the interior panels is a PITA but safer! AC2RC

 

Thanks mete -
With some assist from one of the local dealer's body shop people, I have found an antenna feedline route that will require no drilling of sheet metal, to pass the coax out to the top rear of the cab at the center-high brake/cargo light unit, using a custom-made bracket/spacer that will mount the antenna above a proper metal ground plane (the cab's sheet metal roof) as needed for reasonably-good RF performance and antenna efficiency (BTW, we're only talking about a 2m 1/4-wave radiator here, about 19" long...so there won't be a large level of wind loading on the antenna mount), and support the brake/cargo light unit as well. I'll try to make some pics as I go along, and post them here...

 

I'm using about the best , a Larsen NMO 2/70B which is 33" and total is about 9'. Mounted by drilling a hole in the roof center. No problems with drilling holes in the roof .Just remember to seal carefully with silicone.

 

The center of the cab roof seems an optimum location for establishing a RF ground plane...but looking ahead to resale several years down the road, I want to avoid putting visible holes in the truck's sheet metal; hence my planned use of the existing mounting location of the center brake / cargo lamp assy. for my new antenna mounting bracket. The ground plane symmetry at the rear edge of the cab roof will not be ideal, but will, I think, provide for sufficient antenna efficiency for around-town repeater work and local simplex traffic.

 

Resale is no problem as long as the hole is plugged properly As the Larsen one. Look how many holes are in cars now such as cell phone and GPS.The F-150 roof is 6' high how many people can see that ?? Ask your dealer about that !

 

Another option that has worked well for me is a high quality "stake" mount on the bed. I used one for many years on my Ranger. I'm planning on doing an install in my new F-150 as well. You can get them in NMO, 3/8 and UHF versions. It gets the antenna away from the cab and it's very easy to get a good ground. The name of the company is GEO TOOL (WA6JKH)

http://www.geotool.com/antmount.htm

Cal
N3CAL

 

I thought Geo Tool had gone out of production ! They're back , that's good news .I had one on my 2004 for HF.

 

Thanks, I'll look up Geo-Tool and see what they have.

 

I drilled my 3/4" NMO hole right in front of the third brake lamp by removing it. The coax runs down the side pillar and up under the seat. 3 years and no issues other than wind noise with the antenna up.

 

L8 APEX,
that is the routing in the cab's interior that I am planning for the RG58 coax antenna feedline: under the seat, behind the rear interior panel and up/around the rear window and rear corner/passenger side pillar, and up/over to the center/third brake light location. I am a bit concerned about (1) running the feedline in the same area as the side curtain airbag (the feedline routing will come to within about 5-6 inches of that airbag location, as nearly as I can tell) - but I will install a coax choke to help reduce common-mode RF energy on the outside of the coax shield; and (2) the possible problem of a "lop-sided" assymetrical antenna radiation pattern due to the off-center sheet metal area at the antenna base.

Its good to know you've had no problems with your install. I will press on.