[Mobile-Portable] Installation in 2005 Ford F-150 Crewcab?

[Warren Melhado]

I have a 2004 extended cab F-150 with both  a Kenwood TM-733 VHF/UHF and
Icom 706 MKIIG HF radio installations.  The control heads of both radios are
remoted to the dash, and the radios are under the back seat.  The 733 head
fit neatly inside the ashtray.  I removed the dash panel holding the
cigarette lighter and replaced it with a wood panel to hold the 706 head.
The VHF/UHF antenna is mounted on the roof with a thru-hull NMO mount.  I
was able to snake the coax thru the cab and down the side door rail by
removing the lamp assembly at the top rear of the cab and working thru an
access hole in the door jam.  The HF antenna is a 102-inch whip mounted on
the rear bumper and tuned with an Icom AH-4 auto tuner mounted under the
bed.  Power to the radios is supplied by AWG 10 cables run directly from the
battery and fused there, thru an existing hole in the firewall and under the
kick plate in the door openings.  All control, speaker and mike cables are
snaked under the carpets so the installation is very neat.

There is absoultely no noise from the engine or vehicle electronics on the
VHF/UHF radio.  The HF is another story.  Fords are noted for fuel pump
noise, and I did have that problem, but only at several spots on the
17-meter band.  I was able to reduce the interference to acceptable levels
by routing the antenna feed line and tuner control cable away from any
vehicle harnesses, especially those near the fuel tank.  I checked with my
Ford dealer and was advised that there are no Service Bulletins regarding
fuel pump noise in my vehicle, so they would not do anything to help.  They
claimed that the noise reduction filters they used to supply are now built
in.

Good luck with your installation.  If you do only VHf/UHF you will not have
any problems.

73 and Merry Christmas.
Warren, WM2Z