Upfitting for Amateur Radio Installation

[mrerick]

I'm interested in any reference information that is available for helping me upfit my 2023 Powerboost F-150 XL for installation of a UHF mobile two way radio for amateur radio usage. It's about 50 watt output, drawing 5 amps when transmitting. I'll also need to mount a transmit antenna.

This general upfit reference has been published discussing police vehicle features:

https://www.vdm.ford.com/content/da...ochures/23_FordPro_Police_guide_4.14.2023.pdf

Is anything more specific available?

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[DcnPat]

Not much there and when I asked Ford they just pointed to the upfitter guide. I asked about tapping power from the little battery under the seat and they strongly advised against it.

I ran some 8 gauge (might be 6 gauge - I don't recall and it's cold and dark out now) from the battery (positive to the battery, negative to common ground point on the "right" side of the current monitor), across to the driver's side and fished it inside along with the the massive wire harness gromet above the driver's left foot. Then I ran it along the channels in the door sills to behind the back seat and terminated it in a 75 amp Anderson connector. Right now it powers my vhf/uhf radio but I hope to put an HF rig in eventually.

Antenna mount is the Bulletproof Diesel dual brake light mount for the 14th gen F-150. You can find cheaper mounts but I don't think you will find a better one. Coax goes through the brake light hole and was fished along the headliner to the driver's side, down the trim and exits at the floor.

Radio is on a home made aluminum L mount fastened to the truck floor. There are a fair number of bolts there to pick from. You can get a custom designed amplifier plate from Soundz Good Stereo if you don't want to make a bracket. I bought the panel when decided to to use it right now because I'd have to move the factory B&O amp to it and I'm generally lazy.

Control head is on a RAM mount mounted to the Built Right Industries pro dash mount.

73,

NE4PO

 

[mrerick]

I did locate the Ford upfitter guide.

https://prod-apis.onemagnify.com/bbas/download/50000076

On page 2-19 they show a B+ voltage access point at the battery under the rear seat, but this may be only available on the police version F-150 trucks.

I'm curious about the other mounts and approaches, when you get a chance to post some photos and details .Thanks.

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