Where would you mount in a Chrysler T &C mini

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Where would you mount in a Chrysler T &C mini	Reply
by WA2MGB on October 1, 2002	Mail this to a friend!
I'm debating going mobile with an HF rig. I already have my trusty Swan 80-10 antenna. However, where in this all plastic minivan would you mount the rig and find a ground. Between the onboard computer sys and the airbag sys I'm scared to drill a hole!!! The car is a '99 Chrysler Town and Country Limted Ted

RE: Where would you mount in a Chrysler T &C	Reply
by K0BG on October 2, 2002	Mail this to a friend!
Yes, you do have to be careful with holes nowadays. There have been several listings on this forum about Minivans and mounting therein, and I suggest you scan thru a few for assistance. That said... You'll find several "holes" where you supply line can be fed thru the firewall on just about any vehicle. And this is exactly what you should do. Attaching to accessory outlets (cigarette lighter) and other underdash feeds is not a good idea in any vehicle. As for the antenna, it depends whether you are willing to drill holes. Mounting on extended trailer hitches, and brackets mounting to the subframe of the vehicle works, but adds greatly to groundlosses. Your biggest worry maybe noise abatement, and the most effective methodology is the use of split ferrite beads. As stated above, there is a ton of info for the taking; it just requires a little searching. If you can't find what you need, make another post with specifics. Alan, KØBG

RE: Where would you mount in a Chrysler T &C	Reply
by KR4JA on October 3, 2002	Mail this to a friend!
I've had mobile installations in several Doge/Chrysler products, including a Grand Voyager minivan. Receiver noise(Yaesu FT900 or TS130S) was minimal IF you bond everything together with copper braided strap, doors, hood, liftgate, exhaust system, etc. I used a Lakeview license plate mount on the Voyager, with a ground strap running to the frame. The antenna was a Lakeview bugcatcher or Hamstick. The power leads (fused at the battery and radio) can be ran from the fender well to the front door hinge area, and through the rubber grommet which brings other wiring from the door into the interior of the van. As for mounting the radio in the vehicle, I am now using a PDA cup holder mount for the face-plate of my IC706, it works great, easy to put in or remove if necessary. (http://www.mobileplanet.com/product.asp?cat%5Fname=&cat%5Fid=&dept%5Fid=3709&pf%5Fid=MP950753&listing=1) This setup is in a Dodge Durango (or Hyundai Santa Fe) using a Stealth II screwdriver mounted on a trailer hitch receiver. I've had no RFI problems with the vehicle's electronics, running only 100W on 75M-17M. 73, Dave Norcross, GA

RE: Where would you mount in a Chrysler T &C	Reply
by N9TGW on October 9, 2002	Mail this to a friend!
I'm not sure about the size of your rig so this may or may not help. I have had 4 Chrysler Mini-Vans and have always yanked the ashtray (smoking is bad for the health anyway) and mounted my equipment there. It's taken some creative and original thought on how to accomplish it but has worked out fine. I have a door (the face of the ashtray) that closes and covers the radio so that there isnt any visual temptation for the unsavory types to "borrow" the rig for an indefinite amount of time, and the cigarette lighter recepticle offers an awesome point to ground the equipment. Since my vans have all had electric windows, rear wiper and defroster the only other thing beside the radio and antenna that needed to be grounded was the hood ( and I am not sure that that was even necessary but was simple enough to do, so there was no reason not to do it without experimenting with it) N9TGW

RE: Where would you mount in a Chrysler T &C	Reply
by N4HRA on October 28, 2002	Mail this to a friend!
I have a 99 Caravan, and its fun installing HF. I ran my power wires over the wheel well down behinde the drivers door hinges and into the van. I have a ham stick mounted to the (&&^*#$ bumper. I drilled the hole into the bumper on the far left side making sure I drilled into the steel bar behine the bumper. I installed spacers between the bumper and the steel. works great. I did have a bad engine noise problem S9. so I use a old trick of bonding the tail pipe to the frame. engine noise now = S0

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