[Mobile-Portable] Mobile Antenna Grounding

[N1KHB at aol.com]

Owen,
   I would say to start with bonding the ladder rack first to the truck bed. A purist would say to also bond the bed to the chassis. You decide. This approach will also guarantee including the bed in the ground circuit rather than potentially bypassing it and thereby losing the benefit of the bed as part of your counterpoise. This will also hopefully eliminate the "ugly" strap from the rack to the chassis.
   I also wish to express caution about copper to steel or copper to aluminum connections in an outdoor environment because of the dissimilar metals creating an electrolytic reaction - ESPECIALLY for a mobile installation where there is a likelihood of corrosion due to road salts, etc. Keep in mind also that if your ladder rack is aluminum (you didn't state), that a threaded hole into the rack will be a good approach since aluminum things made for vehicles are usually anodized and the anodize coating is an insulator which will prevent a good surface connection if you for instance intended a clamped connection. Use De-ox or something similar on all surfaces of these connections too. Good luck!

Joe N1KHB