Squeaky Penguin's (Trip Reports) Build Thread

Yep, do it now. Then stick some of RAAM audios BXT matt down on the roof(its very flimsy and stiffening it will reduce low freq harmonic build up) and the BXT will help hold the cable up.

You can drill the hole and mount the NMO mount then just cap it until you get a radio and antenna.

 

Do it!!!!

I will probably do the same and move on from the mag mount. The 3rd brake light antenna mount is interesting, I might build my own.

https://www.pciraceradios.com/collections/antenna-coax/products/hole-mount-coax?variant=7923232837

 

Any preferences on mounts/coax, or just get whatever?

3rd brake light mount won't work with the go fast camper. So it'll end up on the front part of the roof.

 

forgot about the gofast..

not sure how far it'll protrude over a 1st gen cab are you? isn't it like at 20'' on the 3rd gen?

Tim posed the kind of mount, an NMO mount, but Id get a heavier duty and nicer cable. Especially if its gonna be underneath the sound deadening stuff. You'll want a quality shielded cable. give me a sec and i'll find one

 

I'd worry that the first limb hit would rip out brake light mount.

In all honesty I think the hood hinge is good enough with all the local repeaters we have in Colorado and Utah

 

Would highly recommend this antenna: https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dmn-nr770hbnmo

Tunes super good and it folds down.

and after looking at it again, the cable Tim posted would be fine, but id do the custom length one and figure out where your radio is going to live. You do NOT want to coil up excess cable as it'll hurt your performance dramatically. https://www.pciraceradios.com/colle...e-mount-coax-custom-length?variant=7924220933

Can just use a cap like this until you are ready: https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/lsn-nmocapb

 

Awesome links thanks! We have been talking about punching a hole in the roof and ditching the mag mounts.

Curious when you state that coiled cable affects performance dramatcally, by dramatically how much does it affect the performance?

 

They need to build one first to figure out the overhang. 3rd gen one is around 20" IIRC, so I would have to think it would be within an inch or two of there. So it will cover the extra cab part of the roof, antenna will go in the front.

Next trick is to figure out where the radio goes. I don't have much space, amp under one seat and sub under the other. Best option I see is get a radio with a detachable faceplate, mount the radio in the cubbies in the back, and mount the faceplate in the headliner by the map lights, or on the dash somewhere. Regardless, a 9' run of coax should be me from the roof to one of those cubbies.

A roof mount would always be better, correct? I have no qualms about drilling more holes in my truck.

 

it is better but not neccessary

 

If you want to borrow an extra mag mount you could play around with the positioning and drill once you have it figured out.

Personally, Ithink I'm gonna stick with the mag mount. I've knocked mine off quite a few times and it's a simple matter to put it back up. I cringe at the thought of tearing the roof up though.

 

Just ordered an nmo mount and cap, so haphazardly drilled holes in my roof here I come!


Also ordered some Amazon special chinamat. Looks identical to the Raamaudio stuff, and got essentially twice as much for the same price.

 

Definitely go for the detached face plate. Super handy and will keep the setup versitle.

Be curious to see how the cheap Amazon deadening works.

 

the problem with most detached face plates is they dont include the speaker or the mic hook up so the radio has to be nearby still.

 

External speakers work way better anyways and it's super easy to extend the mic cable with cat5 cable

 

My tyt has the mic hookup in the faceplate.
Speaker hookup is in the body but thats easy to run to my amplified speaker.

 

Should be some pretty good chemical emissions from the off gassing of that chinamat.

 

kids and their tide pods and cheap dynamat

 

Here is Brett power washing the carpet out of his truck.



There was some serious brown slug coming out of it.

 

I bought the Noico stuff. Has excellent reviews.

And everything else out of the cab.

 

Might as well cage it Good work Brett.