Genuine Alloy Bullbar - Where to mount UHF Aerial??

[scottrus9987 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scottrus9987]

Prado Pointers,
Hi to all. Let me start by thanking all for the excellent advice and tips provide. What an awesome website!!!! Just quickly about myself, I've just bought my pride and joy, an 01 model 50th Limited Edition petrol, after saving 6 years of funds from after school work through to current employment. Im 20years old and have always wanted a cruiser and now I've go one wanna get it out and about!! Any upcoming trips in the Newcastle - Central Coast area, I'd love to come.

I have just replaced the standard double din stereo with a single din DVD retractable screen (cool) and plan to shortly put a UHF in the remaining bottom single din . I have one question I'd like to get some advice about and possiblely help others out there with the same question I have.

I have the genuine Alloy bullbar fitted (see a pictures below) and it doesn't have any aerial mounting bracket attached to it (unlike my fathers 120 series Alloy, which it does) to mount a UHF aerial. I believe there is a clamp style bracket to mount an aerial to out there somewhere... Haven't seen one for myself though. Other options are drilling hole in the flat part infront of LHS headlight (not keen at all) or to find a specialised alloy welder who can weld a alloy bracket on the bar.

I noticed another member having the same bullbar with aerials attached, might have to send them a msg also.
Any suggestions or experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers Scott


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[Chuck Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chuck]

Re: Genuine Alloy Bullbar - Where to mount UHF Aerial??

Welcome to Prado point, GME make a braket that fits on the bulbar to mount an antenna.

Chuck

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: Genuine Alloy Bullbar - Where to mount UHF Aerial??

hey scott go to a local dicksmith ( tighes hill, glendale or Kotara) or anywhere they do communications like newcastle prosound. im not sure what there is in raymond terrace, its shaped like a u and has 2 screws that clamp it onto the bar where ever you want, i think they r around $25. just be sure to measure the diameter of your bar to see if the brk will slide over, if this dont fit you can always go for a guard mount antenna, the brks mounts between the gap in your guard and the bonnet, they r about the same price as the other bracket, GME make both these brackets. If you r interested damonat, myself and pshenton r doing a watagans rekki this sunday, meeting at morriest caltex at 9am, tracks will be challenging, possibably muddy so we might even need to break the winches out :lol: hope this helps cheers samo

[scottrus9987 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scottrus9987]

Re: Genuine Alloy Bullbar - Where to mount UHF Aerial??

Chuck and Samo,

Thanks for the great information. Sounds like a good idea. I'll head into Newcastle tomorrow and probably pick one up.
Samo, about the trip on Sunday, sounds great, I'd love to come, however my Prado is still just the 'basic' setup and I have only standard tyres etc. Have all the recovery gear and a hand winch. Might require/rely on some assistance though. You guys happy with that?
Cheers
Scott

[Rainman Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rainman]

Re: Genuine Alloy Bullbar - Where to mount UHF Aerial??

http://www.prestigecom.net.au/index....ndex&cPath=143

Have a look here gives you an idea of what your looking for. Better otion than drilling and probably cheaper than welding

[scottrus9987 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scottrus9987]

Re: Genuine Alloy Bullbar - Where to mount UHF Aerial??

Rainman,
Sure is, how simple is that. Cheers for you help.
Scott

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: Genuine Alloy Bullbar - Where to mount UHF Aerial??

yeah no worries about sunday scott, if ya do get stuck we will take a few pics, laugh andget ya out. this is the trip thread
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4788. cheers samo

[Leethal Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Leethal]

Re: Genuine Alloy Bullbar - Where to mount UHF Aerial??

Hi Scott,

As has been said easy enough to to fit a clamp on bracket as I have done that it it survived the Simpson, Innamincka Bore Track etc.

I would not comtemplate welding as it will mean repolishing the bar to keep it looking good.

Also i don't know if you have Air bags but I found that a Airbag compatable bullbar imparts a lot of vibration to the Aerial, my GME Fibreglass whip lasted a half day on the corrugations. I was advised in Alice that it is common for them to fail when mounted on airbag compatable bars, so I would recommend guard mounting the aerial .

My fix was to fit a RFI "rubber" aerial to my GME base .. worked fine

Lee

[scottrus9987 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scottrus9987]

Re: Genuine Alloy Bullbar - Where to mount UHF Aerial??

Lee,
Great advise. Take it into account.
I don't have air bags, however the bullbar (from reading somewhere) is an Airbag equivilent bar. I have noticed on a really bad wind corigated gravel road that one of my light force driving lights vibrated to 45degress above the horizon. So i can see exactly how much vibration there must be.
You prob just saved me an aerial.....
Cheers

[scottrus9987 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close scottrus9987]

Re: Genuine Alloy Bullbar - Where to mount UHF Aerial??

The Outcome to the UHF aerial bracket and UHF installation.

After visting Dick Smith, Jay Car, Auto pro, Repco, Supercheap, Marine Boating shop (long shot), TJM(none in stock), I thought i was nearly at the stage of admitting defeat! The last place for the day was a shop in Jesmond called Newcastle Pro Sound and communications, and they had exactly what I wanted in all different sizes and shapes. I purchased the 50mm stainless steel bracket for $35.

Here is the bracket,




The aerial just simply bolts on and bobs your uncle.....
The final Product - Using a GME 6.5db High Gain antenna






And while im on it, here are a few pictures of my installion on the Uniden Remote Head UHF.



Finding a perfect spot for the base to be mounted was a challenge. I was wanting good/load audio, so had to be relatively close to the driver. I found the area rear of the transmition shaftr to be a perfect spot.



Tested the placement, heaight and any possible problems that could result from mounting the unit there. None appeared so it was the 'spot'.



I lined up the bracket and pilot hole drilled the holes for the rubber grommet tech screws I planned on using. Before hand I made absolutely possitive that nothing below, like the transfercase and gearbox were in close proximity to where I was going to drill and screw. There is actually a full hand witch of space between the Gearbox and the gearbox floor pan.



After drilling into the floor (which I hated doing, however it was neccessary), I galvanised the holes both bottom and top, just to make sure no "RUST" could ever occur, also Galvanised the screws as a back up measure..... Im anal i know.





Here is the Base unit fitted into the frame, Fits like it was meant to be there



I used a bolt near the Unit as a earth (neg) and tapped off the Cig lighter (pos) using a scotch clamp. I wanted to use this power as it has simple access and also runs off accessories, No flat battery for me...



I mounted the remote head onto the top of the plastic tray, directly rear if the pocket in the little recess part. I was scepticle at first to drill holes through the plastic, however it'll be there for as long as im concerned and Im guessing it wouldn't be to hard to replace the plastic if need be.



As i already drilled a hole through the the plasic for the remote head, what was another two little self tapping screews going to matter. I made sure that my leg wasn't going to be hitting the mick before i drilled it, and it wasn't anywhere near it.



And putting it all back together, heres the final look. Im stocked it all work out so easily...





And also installed the DVD/screen, with the Toyota pocket below to fill the single din space.



All in all am very happy with the install. The speaker from the UHF is very easily heard, even on less than a quarter volume, and the postion of the Remote head is in a spot such that direct sunlight and easy vision are eliminated. Burgulary really concerns me, so hoping it is not just a tempting invitation by its location. Lets hope so anyway



Anyone with any comments/critism or suggestions/issue I might have missed, please feel free and do post. First stereo and UHF I have ever installed, so just learning as I go. Hope this brief post(pictures not so) with the other great stuff on this site will help others in the future.
Cheers
Scott

[Chippy Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chippy]

Re: Genuine Alloy Bullbar - Where to mount UHF Aerial??

Very nice job Scott.

That's one DIY you can be very proud of.

So what's next ???

Cheers
CHippy

[samo Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close samo]

Re: Genuine Alloy Bullbar - Where to mount UHF Aerial??

great install scott, all ya need now is the diy bashplate, recovery points, sidestep/sliders, rear door table, rear cargo area drawers etc etc. once you start you wont stop, the only limit ya got is ya credit limit or ya wallet :lol: samo