Drilling holes through roof...

[Guitarplaya39]

Anyone here drill any holes through the roof for cables / antenna mounts?
I want to install NMO antenna mounts in my roof, but I'm still trying to get over the obvious pucker factor here...

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Make sure you make a good weather seal if you do go that route.

 

[UnderFire]

Find a different way even if you have to make compromises, it will always leak eventually, no matter what you seal it with.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Find a different way even if you have to make compromises, it will always leak eventually, no matter what you seal it with.

Well I mean, think about your roof rack... It uses nylon washers to seal the bolts so they don't leak into the cab and not many people have them leak unless they install a new roof rack and forget to reuse/reseal those.

 

[UnderFire]

Well I mean, think about your roof rack... It uses nylon washers to seal the bolts so they don't leak into the cab and not many people have them leak unless they install a new roof rack and forget to reuse/reseal those.

Mine have actually leaked into the cab twice, even after sealing them up with RTV.

 

[Troymclure]

I did it for my lightbar mounts. Have no regrets. I had a leak for awhile, but thats because I forgot to put some sealant on one bolt. Now I dont have any issues, even when pressure washing my truck. It was a bit nerve racking drilling the hole though haha

 

[having fun]

High temp silicon and rubber gaskets are your friend.
1- Roof top mounted cb antenna, 3/4" hole. 6Yrs and counting
Roof top rack,
3- holes for wires and 4 self tappers for external lights in the hatch back.

 

[kevinpt]

why not something like a k30 mount?

 

[Guitarplaya39]

Thanks for the input guys!

I currently use two lip mounts on the rear hatch, which I hate for a couple reasons: antenna performance is pretty bad because of insufficient ground coupling, and the coax can get crimped by being closed in the hatch.
Permanent mounts that are grounded directly to the vehicle's roof is the best for antenna performance. I'm just hoping the whole sunroof contraption doesn't get in the way.

why not something like a k30 mount?

Mag mounts are OK for VHF+ antennas that don't require a ground, but there's still the issue of running the coax. If you're looking for a CB (HF-) antenna, mag mounts are poor performers.

 

[kevinpt]

Thanks for the input guys!

I currently use two lip mounts on the rear hatch, which I hate for a couple reasons: antenna performance is pretty bad because of insufficient ground coupling, and the coax can get crimped by being closed in the hatch.
Permanent mounts that are grounded directly to the vehicle's roof is the best for antenna performance. I'm just hoping the whole sunroof contraption doesn't get in the way.


Mag mounts are OK for VHF+ antennas that don't require a ground, but there's still the issue of running the coax. If you're looking for a CB (HF-) antenna, mag mounts are poor performers.

i have not had problems with mine so far. im not looking for some crazy long range antenna, just something good enough for my trips with friend to the beach or GWNF. i bet a hatch mount is not going to be any better than my magnet mount on my roof. as far as coax i ran it in at the gutter and into the hatch boot. i dont have any problems with the hatch pinching it

 

[wadle5]

Well I mean, think about your roof rack... It uses nylon washers to seal the bolts so they don't leak into the cab and not many people have them leak unless they install a new roof rack and forget to reuse/reseal those.

uhm. . .I forgot to do this damN! :ybrick:

Mine have actually leaked into the cab twice, even after sealing them up with RTV.

And fortunately the only time i have had water in my cab. . .random torrential downpour while my car was parked at the beach?!?!

 

[Guitarplaya39]

i have not had problems with mine so far. im not looking for some crazy long range antenna, just something good enough for my trips with friend to the beach or GWNF. i bet a hatch mount is not going to be any better than my magnet mount on my roof. as far as coax i ran it in at the gutter and into the hatch boot. i dont have any problems with the hatch pinching it

Yeah a basic mag mount for short range is just fine. Mobile radio antenna installations can get very technically complicated when it comes to performance, grounding and noise issues. I operate several modes from 7-900 MHz, so proper grounding is crucial, especially on the lower frequencies.

I guess I'll put my big boy panties on and start punching holes in the roof in the next week or so... I'll try to post some pics and a quick write up on my experiences.

 

[kevinpt]

Yeah a basic mag mount for short range is just fine. Mobile radio antenna installations can get very technically complicated when it comes to performance, grounding and noise issues. I operate several modes from 7-900 MHz, so proper grounding is crucial, especially on the lower frequencies.

I guess I'll put my big boy panties on and start punching holes in the roof in the next week or so... I'll try to post some pics and a quick write up on my experiences.

cutting holes sounds like fun. might have to check it out once your done. i know of one person with a tacoma in the midlothian area that mounted his antenna on the roof. looks cool with the mount but he says that his signal is not good at close range and you cant really change a hole in the roof

 

[having fun]

The mag mount can get a decent ground plan, but, doing the roof top mount definitely helps better. I also added a separate ground wire to mine and not to really on the body so much. And having the wires all on the inside helps as to no pinch, dangling, ect.

And as OP has suggested, better frequency range. When your pushing a high amp radio, you need to make sure of the 1.1 swr. And definitely a heavy gauge wire to power it.

I choose my option also so that the antenna won't get knocked off on the trails on low hangers. It also can be removed and capped of when I go into low hanging garages.

Edit... This was the latest hole punching. Wires coming in through both tail light walls, and self tappers to secure the wires from movement and rubbing.

 

[Guitarplaya39]

Finally...

Finally got around to doing one through-roof NMO mount. Sorry I didn't get a chance to grab any pics or do a write-up, but I plan on putting another one behind it soon, so hopefully I'll be able to take my time and get some pics. I'm using NMO mounts that actually only require a 3/8" hole instead of the standard 3/4" hole. Just used a standard step drill to punch the hole... went pretty well. It's all the extra work like taking off the interior panels and dropping the headliner that's a pain... plus with my truck having the sunroof, it kind of limits the space I can use to mount antennas.

 

[testshoot]

Finally got around to doing one through-roof NMO mount. Sorry I didn't get a chance to grab any pics or do a write-up, but I plan on putting another one behind it soon, so hopefully I'll be able to take my time and get some pics. I'm using NMO mounts that actually only require a 3/8" hole instead of the standard 3/4" hole. Just used a standard step drill to punch the hole... went pretty well. It's all the extra work like taking off the interior panels and dropping the headliner that's a pain... plus with my truck having the sunroof, it kind of limits the space I can use to mount antennas.

I am interested in a NMO (3/4") for the center of my 2000 4Runner roof. I am concerned about dealing with the headliner, and how to get from there to the dash. The last time I did it, it was a 72 Dodge Maxi Van that had large masonite type roof sections...you could get to anywhere on the roof in a minute....down the pillar, into the dash, easy peasy. When I look at my 4runner roof... I freak....I do have a sunroof too...

Even if there was a way to get to the roof above the dome light...still need to route the antenna cable to the dash.

ideas?

 

[nykoda]

I drilled holes through my 2nd gens roof to mount a roof rack on. Used rivets and put a silicone sealant over it and never had any problems. I even had one hole that was mis-drilled. So I filled it with the silicone sealant, it was perfect. I was nervous.... but it turned out just fine.

 

[testshoot]

I drilled holes through my 2nd gens roof to mount a roof rack on. Used rivets and put a silicone sealant over it and never had any problems. I even had one hole that was mis-drilled. So I filled it with the silicone sealant, it was perfect. I was nervous.... but it turned out just fine.

My issue isn't the 3/4" hole in the roof, it is how to get the headliner out and then how to get the cable down from there, i.e. can it come down between the doors, meaning inside...the cable will be coming from the underside of the NMO mount, across the underside of the roof, above the headliner, to a pillar or column to get down and to the dash. I am sure there are people here with a 2000 4Runner who had done what I am going to attempt. I saw the example above that didn't involve drilling the hole in the roof. You mounted to the roof rack, then ran back to the rear door, down between the door and body, and then in by the taillight wiring. I just don't want to run all that extra distance to the back and then back to the front.

Thanks

 

[having fun]

I am interested in a NMO (3/4") for the center of my 2000 4Runner roof. I am concerned about dealing with the headliner, and how to get from there to the dash. The last time I did it, it was a 72 Dodge Maxi Van that had large masonite type roof sections...you could get to anywhere on the roof in a minute....down the pillar, into the dash, easy peasy. When I look at my 4runner roof... I freak....I do have a sunroof too...

Even if there was a way to get to the roof above the dome light...still need to route the antenna cable to the dash.

ideas?

I have a Wilson 5000 mounted on the rear section of the roof. I can get you some shots in the morning if you wish. Was a easy access for the liner with no removal and 18' coax was long enough to get to the center console.

 

[testshoot]

I have a Wilson 5000 mounted on the rear section of the roof. I can get you some shots in the morning if you wish. Was a easy access for the liner with no removal and 18' coax was long enough to get to the center console.

It seems the preference is a bottom loaded antenna which means using the roof for a ground plane and since the forward part of the roof is glass (sun roof) the "ground" central would probably be about 1/3 of the way back on the rack. The antenna is going to interfere with most rack use, whether the antenna was mounted just in front of or just in back of, so it seems the best ground pland would put it in the forward rack area?

I can see where a rear roof location would give you stronger signal forward vs. in an omnimode.

It is likely I will use the ham radio more which will be a dash mount wired to the NMO on the roof, in the optimum location as it would be priority.

I suspect the CB would be secondary and could be a magnet mount which could be put somewhere center out of the way of the other antenna. What is the desired separation between antennas?

Either way, this is more about how I get into the headliner and down the side or front pillar...

thanks!