Ham radio install - Part Deux

Ok, so I showed how I installed my antennas, now for part deux.....the radios. Or in this case, the radio bodies. Part thrice will show the radio faces (when I finish it).

So to start, I removed the backseat and pulled back the carpet, exposing the horrific waste of space.


I took the styrofoam out and cut out the middle area



I wanted to add the underseat storage at the same time, so I did them all. I'll share the storage parts later.

Next, I ran power from the battery back to the area. But before we move on, today's "Trick of the Trade". When mounting something, photo copy the item first.



Now you can move and place and get spacing ideas without having to fight the actual device. Plus it makes it easy to mark where to drill holes.

On to the fuses. I wanted to mount them on the fender wall.....



But I found it might be troublesome. So I caved and did what everyone else does and mounted them on the fuse box cover.



Real quick, another "Trick of the Trade", painters tape. Stuff is a life saver. Cover the surface, make all the marks you want to test and check, and then drill once, and the final product is a clean install with no pencil marks.

I added the connection to the battery and ran the wires back to the back seat. There are plenty of youtube videos on this. @tacorob has a great collection.

Once I got the power back, I mounted the radio bodies in the cavity created.



I've got the antennas run to the radios and power connected. Now time to get the parts to mount the faces.

Radios: TYT TH-9800 & IC-706MKIIg with an LDG tuner.

I'm going to trim the carpet and expose the new cavities and neaten up the area.

 

Following this one. I have the same radio, but hardly ever do HF while mobile. Probably mount my IC-2300H if I can find a spot for it.

 

hmm. hadn't thought about putting radio bodies back there. what about ventilation? did you cut holes in the carpet? debated putting HF in the truck but i'd rather have APRS.

 

I'm going to cut the carpet so the rigs can breathe. Just haven't made it that far yet.

 

Clean install! Can you post a cross reference link in your original post here, to the antenna install you mentioned? I mounted our radio body under the passenger seat. If we had back seats still, it would have gone there instead. Remote face is by the shifter.
We run a mag mount on the hood because I got tired of smacking the antenna on low branches off road. Looks like a unicorn now.

 

Also, that’s a super pro tip about photocopying the part to work on placement. I’ve made little cutouts or cardboard mockups before, but I love that simple photocopy idea.

 

Sure! Here it is https://www.tundras.com/threads/started-my-ham-radio-install.31300/

Just a trunk lip mount and a 1/2" carriage bolt. One adder. Use locktite. I had to go back and add red locktite. Helps keep the mounts from rotating.

As for the faces, as soon as i get the parts, i will be using the "3rd" cup holder up front and putting them on a swivel from that. More pics will be coming when I get that done.

Thanks for the compliment. The antennas took about an hour and a half, and the chunk of that was figuring the first one out.

The rigs took about 5 days. Took my time and made sure everything fit and lined up before I drilled the first hole.