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I had to replace mine just for that reason. Not sure what brand it was, they were a site sponsor for a while. Works great but cuts your reception in half, I live in west central Nebraska so radio towers are far and few between so XM is my mainstay.
An added benefit to the factory antenna is that it is just a few inches higher than the cab. I use it as a feeler gauge when I'm in a parking deck with low ceilings. If the antenna hits I better be really careful.
Yep - kiss ye reception goodbye - it's the length it is fer a reason...
IIRC the correct length for an AM/FM antenna is 31" that's the size of of the wavelength that is being broadcast. You can get away with a stubby if it is a full wave stubby, meaning the actual antenna wire inside the stub is proper length but folded over one or more times. It will receive the signal better than a cheap junk stubby, but it will never match or surpass a full length stock antennas reception ability.
I've got the Cravenspeed stubby (normal style, not the bullet) and I like its looks. Havent listened to broadcast radio in ages so I cannot comment on its effectiveness in that regard.
Yep ol'e MGD found it, Cravenspeed is the one I got but the regular style. They advertised them on this site years ago and many of us bought them. Works fine if you stay close to civilization.
I got a cheap one. Picks up local stations fine. But stations that I previously could listen to fine from the next town (50miles) are now very static-y. But I don't have to take it off when I go thru the truck wash anymore. And it looks a lot better so, I'll deal with it. I listen to my iPod in the afternoons anyway. Only radio in the AM for Rick & Bubba.
I also have the Craven Speed stubby antenna and have had it for several years with no issues. I don't listen to the radio very often (I like my Sirius/XM) but when I do I haven zero issues with reception.
I had one on my old truck... but it was only a few inches shorter than the OE one... not a major change in length.
Reception was OK, but I lived in a city and listened to local FM stations.
The biggest issue is that that stubby ones are not flexible. So you have to take care if you use automatic car washers. (hopefully none of the I-detail-my-truck-every-week people are reading this)
You MUST take it off before going through a car wash or it will take it off for you
I've had a Stubby on for about eight months now and it works fine for the VERY little time I am not on Sirius. Unless you rely on AM/FM and stations are distant or few, I say "go for it".
I too tried a stubby one. First car wash took care of that. Then I got mad- I put the stock one back on, pulled up to the garage door to see how much it was hitting by, a made a mark with a sharpe. Then I used a used a new side cutter and cut off the antenna just below the mark. Then I put the stub in a vice, took a pair of pliers and pulled the ball off the end of the stub. Then I rapped the remaining antenna in a paper towel and gently clamped it in the vice. I held the ball with a needle nose, and tapped it on to the antenna mast- good as new! I ended up shortening it about 2-1/2 inches, and it didn't seem to affect reception much- I can still hear stations 50 miles away, clear as a bell. Why the F_ck would ford build an antenna that would hit the door of every single standard 1 or 2 car garage in America?
