Slacker's VHF/UHF Radio Install (pic heavy)

I finally got around to ordering and installing a radio. Hopefully some of the things I did will help someone else, or maybe you will see something I could have done better.

Parts used listed below. Almost everything was ordered from GigaParts.com:

• Kenwood TM-V71A with MARS/CAP Mod
• Kenwood PG-5F Extension Cable Kit
• Kenwood DFK-3D Remote Mount Kit
• Kenwood SP-50B External Speaker
• Comet 3D5M Antenna Cable Assembly
• Comet SBB-2 Antenna
• CAT5E Female-Female Feed-Thru Panel Mount
• - which I am going to replace with this jack
• Proclip Center Mount
• Steel Flat Bar (Antenna mount)
• Flat black paint
• 3M VHB Tape
• Tetrax Fixway dashboard mount

Not part of install but also ordered:

• Kenwood RT Systems KRS-V71 Programming Kit

I spent a lot of time reading and studying photos of other builds and credit where credit is due:

• Phyguy for antenna mount
• KaiserM715 for faceplate mount and radio location
• Desaraptor for the jack mount
• All The Way mic mount

Thanks to Phyguy I already knew exactly what to do for the antenna bracket. My tonneau is an Extang Solid and it stands about an inch above the bedrail so my mount had to be a little taller than his but it’s the same concept. The NMO antenna mount I originally ordered from Giga was not in stock and the replacement gear also had a little more clearance necessary so the bracket had to be even taller. The final bracket stands about 3 inches high. I cut the antenna hole first because it was easier to handle the flat stock. I marked a round line on the end of the bar and did a rough cutaway with a Dremel cutoff wheel. I made a jig to hold the flat bar so I could bend it. I just pressed down on the bar against the stop block with my foot. The bar bent with no problem. I then used a grinder to round out the end of the mount and hit it with 4 coats of 2 in 1 Rustoleum flat black.



I used a Dremel tool to cut the notch in the plastic bedrail cover to let the mount stick out. The bracket is screwed down with self-taping screws into the rail with star washers to bite through the paint for grounding, then I spot painted over them.



Antenna cable is routed through the rubber grommet in the wiring tray on the passenger side. I didn't want to use the vent in the back of the cab as others have done for fear of water and other things getting into the cab through the gap.



All of the cable is inside split loom tubing and runs down the cable tray under the door sills on the passenger side. Once at the front of the truck the power leads go out through a large rubber grommet in the firewall to the battery and the other cables (mic, control panel and speaker connections) go up on the passenger kick panel, across the bar behind the glove box and either up over the radio for the control cable or down into the console for the mic and speaker cables.


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After taking the faceplace off of the radio I spent some time trying to find places where the head unit would not only fit but be able to get ventilation, and a location that supported mounting without making any holes. My goal was to install the radio with as little damage to the truck as possible. The location was not important for sound or the microphone as I intended on extending both away from the head unit. Unfortunately I could not find a location where I could hide the head unit without making holes. I chose the same mounting location Kaiser used which is on the back wall of the cab. After drilling the mounting holes I shot the holes with 2 in 1 Rustoleum from the cab side and undercoating from the outside to try to prevent any rust.



KaiserM715 helped me pick the radio and the solution for mounting the panel on the dash. I did leave out some of the mount from Kenwood and just mounted the panel directly on the Proclip and skipped the fancy stuff in the Kenwood kit. The mount is pretty solid.



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The only part I really struggled with was the external speaker. Where was I going to mount this thing that it wasn't an eyesore but could be clearly heard? The simple answer is nowhere but I didn't like that answer. This is what I came up with. The speaker is mounted on my windshield directly above the rear view mirror and the cable runs behind the headliner to the audio extension cable. It is fixed with 3M VHB tape so it won't move even when I want to take it down.



Following AllTheWay and Desaraptor's lead I took the console apart and mounted the jack on the side. My original jack is pictured below but I have ordered a replacement because I think this looks really bad. I like All The Way's mic mount but see me impaling my wrist on the clips so I went with a less dangerous solution. I used a Tetrax Fixway mounted on the dash under the brake controller. I don't know how well it will hold up off-road but we will see.

VERY, VERY clean install. I'm a big fan of this. Well done. Thanks for the excellent pictures and write-up!

Nicely done.

Nicely done. Enjoyed seeing the completed install Saturday at Boston's

Saw this in person and it's very clean and nicely done. I only have a handheld VHF which I ordered from Jason (Kanakry) that I will pick up when I see him at Havoc but I plan to go this route next time.

Nice!!!!!

Good choice on the TM-V71. The location behind the seat is the same one I used.

KaiserM715 said:

Good choice on the TM-V71. The location behind the seat is the same one I used.

Click to expand...

I picked it and the location because of your post. Even pimped your install