Aftermarket Antenna Install Question

[supton]

Similar to the "aftermaket mods" thread, I have a question: how much does punching a hole in the roof of a vehicle decrease its value? For amateur/ham radio install, that is. Assume a "clean" install like you'd see on a Crown Vic, where no wiring is visible afterwards, just an NMO in the center of the roof.

I'm thinking, on a truck where (most) can't see the roof, it might be a non issue. Especially if one removes the mount and finds some sort of plug to hide the hole. But on a low slung car, I'm thinking it is a clear mark down in value.

I know it'd be trivial on a 10+ year old vehicle, or anything of low value--if you're going to own for a long time, then have at it. My question pertains more to the $15k or so valued vehicle, something you might buy new, drive for a few years, then "have" to change out of, due to a change in life's circumstances (another kid, relocation, whatever). My thinking is that it automatically takes something out, and is apt to turn off some buyers, since one would never know just how well the work was done.

I guess I'm trying to compare the "hmm, take a grand off for that mod" vs "I'm not touching it, you messed with it" mentality. The sort of mentality I'd have if I was looking at said vehicle myself.

 

[Trav]

You are damaging the most expensive and most difficult spots to repair properly on the car.
Welding the hole will cause lots of distortion on that large panel so fixing the hole is difficult.

If its a decent car it will probably be a deal breaker for a lot of people IMHO.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I would agree; I would not buy a vehicle with an antenna hole in the roof like that...unless it was a $1,500 beater truck or something.

 

[HerrStig]

We used to tell'm "It's already set up for a cell phone antenna," but the pocket phone business ended that. There's a guy in my neighborhood who bought an ex- police unmarked Vic, when he picked it there wasn't even a hunk of duct tape over the hole in the trunk where the mount had been, and it stayed that way for weeks, rain or shine. I couldn't stand it... I gave him a plug and it still took him a week to install it.

In less you are doing simplex DX work from your car, a ground independant halfwave VHF antenna such as from Austin Antenna installed just about anywhere will work the local repeaters. For HF a bumper mount is fine. Yes, the "every last DB" crowd will whine, but don't let it bother you. The days of the 6 foot plus Super Hustler for two meters on a roof mount are long gone. (As was the antenna itself after a few tree branches) I used a 5/8 Hustler mounted on my bumper for 2 meters for years and had good coverage. Don't put a hole in the car unless you have to.

 

[supton]

Interesting stuff.

I did notice that I can pop the covers off the rear bumper, and drill there. Not a great location, due to proximity to the bed; but, much easier to hide mods after the fact. Pretty sure bumpers are cheap to replace too, if it really matters.

I attempted to make a bracket to use the bed rails. I have a cover on the bed, to keep snow out; so I made a bracket to sneak out, anchoring to the bed rail system in the bed. Problem is, I used aluminum... Way too flexible, unless if it was quarterwave whip or something on 2m. Need to find some 90 degree 0.125" stainless if I am going to go that route. Which didn't seem trivial. [Bed cover hides the stake pockets, which aren't standard sized anyhow, otherwise I'd give thought again to using those.]

 

[Bill in Utah]

Sadly the hole on the roof or the other normal places (front fender on trucks/SUV and rear deck on sedans) scream LE use or even worst commercial so the buyer will take notice and demand lower prices or run away from the vehicle.

I've even seen trunk lip mounts that leave marks and buyers question the antenna / why it was there.

To the point where buyers just pass on the rig.

Tough market these days so use caution.

 

[exranger06]

When I installed the CB radio in my truck I definitely did not want any holes anywhere on the truck. I found an antenna mount that uses the bed stake pocket. It has two pieces of metal that basically sandwich the bed rail. Looks great, works great, no holes, can be removed without a trace of ever being there.

 

[supton]

Thought about stake pocket. I have a cover though, it covers up the pockets quick nicely. Plus I put in Bullrings, so the pockets are in use already.

I did think about pulling one ring out, and using the pocket to mount an antenna, using one of those rubber blocks; but eh, the rubber blocks didn't strike me as fitting that well plus once you add leverage it goes downhill (adding a plate so as to avoid the cover).

 

[Win]

Personally, I buy the car for my use and could not care less what the rest of the world / second owner thinks.

That said, It's been quite a while since I cut a hole in one.

The through glass half wave antennas work pretty well for vhf / uhf ( if you can live with the power limits ) and are about the only solution that will not leave some trace of an installation.

The trunk mounts are OK for vhf / uhf but are marginal for HF. My G8 has pretty strong steel, but even with a smallish screwdriver ( Yaesu ATAS-100 ) you can see it flex a bit. I also had a trunk lip mount on the hood of an Exploder, and it would flex with a smallish HF antenna. The trunk lip mounts also leave marks, as you know you have to get into metal for the ground plane.

On the plus side, so many cars come with trunk mounted batteries these days, installation of rigs has never been easier.

 

[supton]

Yeah, I know, it's for my use, and every mile I drive on it costs me something. What's a few more dollars if I modify it to be exactly what I want?

I just haven't been able to convince myself I'm in it for the long haul on my vehicles. I trade vehicles too much, getting rid of vehicles between 5 and 10 years. And right now I'm still dealing with buyer's remorse on my truck, and haven't convinced myself absolutely that I'm keeping it for 10 years. I'm working on learning how to get vehicles to last 20+ years, and once I get to that point then I can drill away...

 

[SHOZ]

I have the factory shark fin antenna on my Hyundai Genesis Coupe that is only for XM or GPS, if you have that option XM is standard. The radio antenna is in the back window and is a POS.

So those not using the XM or GPS are left with a hole in the roof if you want to remove them. I installed an interior mount electronic antenna. It has much better AM reception, which was unbelievably poor, but the FM is worse, though it was not that good to start with.

Good thin you can load songs on a USB stick and use that.

 

[supton]

Yeah, I have to admit, I do like the Bluetooth & USB jack in the truck. AM/FM stations leave me wanting these days.

Then again, half the reason I went Toyota is for the quiet ride. These days 75% of my driving is done in silence.