Thanks for all your help.  I passed my test, looking for my callsign in the next week or so.  I completed the installation and gave the radio a listen.  All I got was a weak conversation accompanied by lots of static on 147.45.  I would suppose the fact I live in a narrow north/south mountain valley with ridges on 3 sides didn't help.  Later this week, I'm going mountain-topping.

I'm going to have about 9' of excess coax when I finish my mobile rig setup.  I've read lots of stuff on the effects of coiling the excess or not, but those folks can't seem to agree (mostly CBers) on what to do.  I'll be on 2 and 6 meters mostly.  Since I don't have the PL-259 installed yet, is cutting to fit an option?  The setup is a Larsen 5/8 wave mobile on a Larsen NMO mount going to an appropriate duplexer and then to the IC706MKIIG radio. 

No callsign yet, I'm taking the test on Saturday.

Thanks everyone.  Wish me luck, I'm taking my test on Saturday.

Has anyone seen any sort of interference issues with running antenna coax, DC power, aux. speaker wires and head control cable in the same raceway through the vehicle?  I'm doing a new installation and the only convenient raceway is the floor molding along one side from the dash to the cargo area in the rear.  It's possible the coax won't have to run under the door with the other cables, just down one side near the radio location.

K3GM...If one installed two antennas, my IC706MKIIG radio has two connections, one for VHF/UHF, and one for HF, how far apart do the antennas need to be?  Also, is the skinny teflon coax worthwhile, it would be a lot easier to snake two of them down inside the door post and under the floor molding.

Bruce

K5LXP and K3GM,
 Thanks for the help, you've confirmed my suspicions.  I was thinking 6 and 2 meters, plus 70cm for the three band, although I'm told that there's not much activity on 70 in this area.  Two antennas, haven't thought about that.

OK guys and gals, a  newbie here...taking Technician next month.

I have a regular Jeep Cherokee Sport (2000).  My OEM roof rack has a metal cross bar about 3" above the roof, but I'm not sure if there is a metal connection between the crossbar and the roof track.

I've almost resigned myself to punching the roof, but am wondering if a roof rack mount that close to the roof and centered, will have an adequate ground plane. 

Also, give me some opinions on tri-band mobile antennas...I would like to run 2 and 6 meters, or is this wishful thinking?

Bruce