Tower Upgrade - 2023

I've taken a few tips from Andrea, K2EZ, to improve my rooftop "micro-tower." See details in this video.
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[@alessandroconcas]

🤩💯💥I'd like to have the "courage" to complete the setup like yours on my wrangler jku, currently I'm satisfied with vertical antennas because I don't want to drill holes in the fiberglass roof to put a roof rack, I think that's the biggest limit who has owns a wrangler it may have a hardtop or convertible but if you want a roof rack you have to give up something! Currently I use with pleasure my old but workhorse radios 706mk2g tmd-700 motorola gm380 and a president licoln with 5 vertical antennas in the corners: my little tarhel II, 2x diamond triband, cb , civilian uhf of work... 73 de IZ3QVB

[@StealthGTI]

"Courage" in quotations is the right phrase. I have since learned that aftermarket racks are not suitable for this load. Yes, it's within the weight limitation. However, the cantilevering effect of the tall load that's felt on the rack mounts is too much. A factory rack with roof rails is much stronger, for sure! I'll explain in an upcoming video. Thanks for visiting!

[@macdudeguy]

You knew what you were doing with this video's cover photo. 😅 Marrying up... 👏

[@StealthGTI]

You know it! Thanks for visiting!

[@nidaldajani728]

Just wondering (if it does not go against your principle) whether or not you considered an "antenna trailer": 1- to relief that load off of your car top. 2- easier to move around with. 3- able to use telescopic mounts to reach higher up.

[@NoZenith]

Ooh, this is an idea! He's got a utility trailer this would work great on!

[@StealthGTI]

Thanks for the comment! As @NoZenith has mentioned, I do have a utility trailer and love to use it. See it at kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXXZoGagrNeNpNEsi=T9dtI-ip4CDAAkVH. I have avoided placing antennas on it because the trailer tends to bounce with light loads, sometimes rather violently, over some road obstacles. I've been convinced that a tower and Yagis would simply take a beating back there. BUT I have a solution: Ballast. I've moved other fragile cargo by ballasting the trailer with 200 lbs of either cinder blocks or water. Water (or fuel) certainly is useful on remote journeys. The ballast pre-loads the suspension so that it moves instead of bounces. So, that could work for the tower, too. I haven't released this info yet (video coming on September 11), but I removed my rack to inspect for tree damage and have found some concerns. I'm awaiting replacement parts so that I can compare my damage to new rack parts. Then I will share more info. The good news is that the damage is limited to the rack's towers and not the car. I COULD just install the replacement parts and party-on, knowing that each mistake could cost another $230. However, what I'm looking to determine is whether the tower load, regardless of my relationship with trees, is putting enough lateral stress on the rack's tower mounts during braking and cornering that it may be time to move to a trailer. If that's the case, then I have just the set-up in mind! Stay tuned!

[@NoZenith]

Interesting

[@StealthGTI]

Yes, I've gone nuts! HAHA! Thanks for visiting!