Cool Ford Maverick Hybrid Ham Radio Install (3rd Brake Light Antenna Mount)

[KE4JLA]

I recently installed a new Yaesu FTM 500 in my Ford Maverick 2023 Hybrid. I didn't want to deal with drilling a hole in the roof, so I used the Bullet Proof Diesel 3rd Brake Light DUAL antenna mount, and it came out nice. I have added the link to the step-by-step YouTube video with all the details of how I wired it, mounted it, and got the antenna installed. I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on how to make it even better. I am adding an HF radio next to use the second antenna mount. It is working great so far.

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[Carlitos_92]

Very cool. But you'll want a fellow hybrid owner to comment on how you hooked up that power to the 12V battery... I was under the impression that sidestepping the BMS connector on the negative terminal (as you seem to have done) was a no-no.

 

[KE4JLA]

Very cool. But you'll want a fellow hybrid owner to comment on how you hooked up that power to the 12V battery... I was under the impression that sidestepping the BMS connector on the negative terminal (as you seem to have done) was a no-no.

Carlitos, that is good to know. Maybe someone with some experience with the Hybrid will jump in and advise me. I saw some other videos where this was done with a temporary inverter hookup with alligator clips, but I was wondering why most others were running power from under the hood. I will probably get a bunch of more competent people educating me in the YouTube comments now, too Thanks for mentioning it.

 

[JetFixxxer]

435.00 for the antenna mount GTFO!! But other than that, what a great setup.

 

[bgn]

Carlitos, that is good to know. Maybe someone with some experience with the Hybrid will jump in and advise me. I saw some other videos where this was done with a temporary inverter hookup with alligator clips, but I was wondering why most others were running power from under the hood. I will probably get a bunch of more competent people educating me in the YouTube comments now, too Thanks for mentioning it.

You want the negative to go to ground after the little box with the barcode you see on the connector. Otherwise, you are pulling electricity from the battery and the truck can't track it. This applies to both hybrids and EcoBoosts.

I have my ground for my ditch lights hooked up to one of the bolts on the driver fender under the hood. Works well.

 

[SdM702]

I recently installed a new Yaesu FTM 500 in my Ford Maverick 2023 Hybrid. I didn't want to deal with drilling a hole in the roof, so I used the Bullet Proof Diesel 3rd Brake Light DUAL antenna mount, and it came out nice. I have added the link to the step-by-step YouTube video with all the details of how I wired it, mounted it, and got the antenna installed. I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on how to make it even better. I am adding an HF radio next to use the second antenna mount. It is working great so far.

I like the clean mounting of your radio ...

 

[Maverickman74]

Looks good! I used to run CB radios, but not alot of folks out here on the island on them. At my farm we use MURS band radios, and I know the boats out on the water use something. I wish I knew more about who uses what frequency with what equipment. Sure would be nice to hear whats going on with everybody.

What kind of chatter can you pick up on that setup?

 

[biggerhammer944]

Nice! Do you get much vibration out of that mount that translates into the radio? I'd be concerned about it smacking the screen, I've got almost the same setup for my RAM phone mount in my Jeep with the mid-swivel and I can't for the life of me dampen the vibration over bumps without supporting closer to the phone itself.

 

[KE4JLA]

You want the negative to go to ground after the little box with the barcode you see on the connector. Otherwise, you are pulling electricity from the battery and the truck can't track it. This applies to both hybrids and EcoBoosts.

I have my ground for my ditch lights hooked up to one of the bolts on the driver fender under the hood. Works well.

Good point. There is a ground bolt inside the battery box where the main negative cable comes off of before going to the battery. Are you saying I could ground there vs direct on the negative and that would be better or do I need to go downstream to ground further? Thanks!

 

[KE4JLA]

Nice! Do you get much vibration out of that mount that translates into the radio? I'd be concerned about it smacking the screen, I've got almost the same setup for my RAM phone mount in my Jeep with the mid-swivel and I can't for the life of me dampen the vibration over bumps without supporting closer to the phone itself.

So far no vibration with the 1cm Bullet Proof Mounting Solutiions arm. The longer arm i show at first had some vibration but even then the screw on the ball mount is tight and keeps things from moving if you really cinch it down. I don't know what it would do off roading but for city driving it has been just fine. I think the support being as close to the ball is key to keeping vibrations down.

 

[Mavrilous]

Wow! Awesome instructions video! Thank you. Looks great

 

[KE4JLA]

Looks good! I used to run CB radios, but not alot of folks out here on the island on them. At my farm we use MURS band radios, and I know the boats out on the water use something. I wish I knew more about who uses what frequency with what equipment. Sure would be nice to hear whats going on with everybody.

What kind of chatter can you pick up on that setup?

The Yaesu FTM500 I got had the MARS mod done on the inside of the radio, so I can transmit on MURS as well with it, which is nice. It doesn't do Marine, as far as I know. A good place to get info on the frequencies in your area is Radio Reference—https://www.radioreference.com/. I got mine primarily for Ham bands in the VHF/UHF range. It also picks up Aircraft frequencies.

 

[JetFixxxer]

Just started getting into DMR. I have a hotspot at the house.

 

[InfoSports]

Great video. Thanks.

73s,
KI6Y

 

[bgn]

Good point. There is a ground bolt inside the battery box where the main negative cable comes off of before going to the battery. Are you saying I could ground there vs direct on the negative and that would be better or do I need to go downstream to ground further? Thanks!

Ah, missed that you have a hybrid. Perhaps someone else can comment on that.

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