Ditch mount used for antennas

For those of you using ditch mount brackets for antennas, can you share some pics of what you are using? Thanks!

 

I'm using a CaliraisedLED ditch light bracket, drilled out to accept an OPEK NMO-3-1 NMO to UHF-Female SO-239 mount. The antenna is a NMO2/70SH (shorty dual band) due to garage door height limitations, but I can fit a longer dual band NMO antenna if desired. I had a 4' CB Firestik mounted on the other side, but noticed that the extra weight and longer moment arm caused a some wobble/flex in the mount.

 

Hood still opens fine? I have two ditch light brackets sitting in my house for this reason, simply haven't done it yet.

 

So talking to relentless fab, they said their tab is only about an inch or 1.25" wide, and if i drill out to 0.75 needed for an nmo mount, theres not much material left.

 

How wide is the tab on those?

 

These are CBI's brackets I believe.

 

Hood opens fine to a point a little past where you'd prop it open with the factory "hood prop stick".

 

Relentless fab has a antenna bracket very similar to a ditch mount. That's what I have mounted, just no antenna yet.

 

The mounting surface is 1 X 1.5" (the CBI brackets pictured above look like they have about 1/3 to 1/2" more meat in each direction). I had to use a large washer to provide a mounting surface for the antenna's NMO mount; without the washer, there isn't much for the NMO gasket to seal against.

 

We actually make an antenna bracket designed to use an NMO mount.
https://www.victory4x4.com/product/VT3CB-BARE.html

 

I just messaged them and they didnt recommend it, said not enough meat on tab after drilling out.

 

For an NMO thats probably correct. I could have sworn they make a narrow hole NMO, but maybe I am off base. I was gonna mount a CB on it anyways. All my HAM stuff goes up top.

 

What size hole is it drilled for

 

3/8" for the Laird Technologies Part #: MABTO or the PCTEL Part #: BMATM3-NC, among others.

 

How wide is the tab if i needed to drill out for 3/4"?

 

3/8” NMO is your better bet. CB antennas are 3/8 so the hole should be fine.

 

1.375"

 

Im not running cb. This is for an antenna i already have for ham.

 

@monkeyevil

Daryl, I received my mount that I ordered Tuesday. Thanks for the quick response. Now if I just had the Laird MABTO.. It's supposed to be here sometime next week.

I do have an easy question for you. Should I trim the rain gutter for clearance, or just let the mount squish it down the little bit that it needs?

 

I just let the mount push it down a little. Be careful how the cable is routed though, don't want that to get frayed.