HF Aerial on LandCruiser Traytop
Submitted: Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 12:54
ThreadID:
18182
Views:
2770
Replies:
5
FollowUps:
4
This Thread has been Archived
Member - Phil G (SA)
Debating about where to place the Barrett Autotune aerial on a 2002 HDJ79 traytop. I am planning on building a square shaped slide in camper which complicates things.
My problems are:
1. Bullbar placement is illegal.
2. Behind-cab will need sufficient clearance from metalwork (160mm minimum from aerial). The camper will be made from steel or aluminium.
3. Behind the camper would need too much clearance.
So I'm considering a couple of options:
#1 laying down the autotune. So i'll make a swing down bracket and mount it behind the top of the cab. Whippy aerial can still be mounted vertically. Then I can swing it up when stationary. Electric Bug in
Adelaide showed me some photos of this type of installation.
#2 Install vertically with minimum clearance and make a slide bracket so it can all be lifted above cab height when stationary.
Any ideas?
Cheers
Phil
Reply By: Kiwi Ray - Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 13:36
Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 13:36
Hi Phil
Do not know about your local laws but will it fit between bullbar and bonnet?
Ray
AnswerID:
86386
Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 14:45
Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 14:45
Hi Ray,
I throught of having it swing down there, but not enough clearance.
The autotune is 100mm diameter, and it needs 160mm clearance, so needs a space thats ideally 420mm wide (only 200mm there). I've seen a picture of a swing down autotune between bonnet and bullbar, but I think it only works when swung vertical. I'd like it working at all times.
FollowupID:
345028
Reply By: Member - Mal (Brisbane) - Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 14:12
Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 14:12
Hi Phil,
Do you remember my autotune aerial on the Madigan trip? I could travel with it vertical or horizontal and change it in about 20 seconds. I could send you details if you wish.
By the way, the control arm on the other side had just started to go as
well.
All the best,
Mal and Lynne.
AnswerID:
86396
Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 14:50
Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 14:50
Hi Mal,
Great to hear from you. Your autotune from memory had a neat swing down bracket, but was only operational when swung up. I had a good look at your bracket, so reckon I could weld one up OK. Just trying of an option that would work all the time, before I go ahead and build the camper.
The 100 series IFS control arms have had some publicity on this
forum and elsewhere. Hope you got your fixed OK.
Cheers
Phil
FollowupID:
345029
Reply By: brian - Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 15:46
Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 15:46
PHIL,DOES THE WHOLE ANTENNAE NEED 160 MM CLEARANCE ? I thought it was only the top that needed clearance which it is why you can successfully mount it on spare wheel rear location with very little clearance on bottom half of antennae
AnswerID:
86409
Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 16:39
Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 16:39
Hi Brian,
Yes 160mm "absolute minimum" according to Barrett. Electric Bug also told me that the top 400mm (basically above the flange) needs more than 160mm and suggested that 45 degree clearance from that point upwards.
The spare tyre mounts are able to get that clearance because
#1 The rear widows of wagons are sloped forwards
#2 The mounts are usually positioned so that the autotune leans back a bit, increasing clearance at the top.
#3 The rear window is glass, not steel.
The other interesting point I found out that a tyre is really metal because of its steel belts.
I can mount it on the rear of the camper, but was hoping that the HF could be fully contained within the cab. The head unit fits nicely below the dash, and the main unit behind the drivers
seat, so it would be nice to have the aerial behind the cab "somewhere".
Thanks
Phil
FollowupID:
345042
Reply By: GO_OFFROAD - Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 17:10
Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 17:10
G'Day Phil,
Norm needham has one of the best laid out 79's Ive seen, though he is minimalist, he has the weight spread right.
As for the HF, I would be adding a small bracket to the tray on the very back which lets the aerial move to load the back canopy, and stands up again when its on, which also goes to the header board of the tray when there is no canopy.
AnswerID:
86424
Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 20:37
Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 20:37
Hi Darren,
Yeah, I liked the look of Norm's 79series. One day I'd hope to be a minimalist too :-))
Thanks for the HF suggestion. I'll have to think about that one. Sounds like Raymond came to a similar solution.
Cheers and thanks,
Phil
FollowupID:
345075
Reply By: Member - Raymond - Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 19:19
Monday, Nov 29, 2004 at 19:19
Hi Phil
Had the same problem as you have. The solution was to fit the antenna to the back of the camper. Because the back of the camper extends the antenna swings out to the side. The radio tunes and transmits
well. If the camper is off the tray the antenna can be moved to the rear of the cab
Ray
Image 2 shows the Antenna
AnswerID:
86449