[Mobile-Portable] HF/VHF/UHF Mobile in a Toyota RAV4?

[(KP4TR)Ramon Gonzalez]

I have a Toyota RAV4 2004 model which may be different than the 2007 on 
the interior.

All I have is a Yaesu Ft-857D and a High Sierra Sidekick screwdriver 
antenna (left side) and a Diamond dual-band (2m/70cm) antenna (right 
side) on a Diamond K9000 motorized mount. The 2 antennas cover every 
band the Yaesu can transmit on. The only problem is the High Sierra 
needs to be unmounted before I drive into my garage. I installed a 
Hustler quick mount for that.

In my case my RAV4 came with a roof rack mount that is round and 
metallic, making it very easy to put the HF and motorozed mounts on it. 
I grounded the HF antenna with a small braided ground strap bolted under 
the roof rack's mount where it bolts to the car's frame.

The radio is installed on the trunk/cargo space area hidden from view. 
On both sides of the cargo area is a panel snap-in door that was 
designed to store small items. The space was perfect to install the body 
of the Yaesu FT857, and an extra bonus was that the area has a small 
snap-in cover to access the tail lights which was perfect to route all 
the cables out of the storage area. Under the left (passenger side) 
storage is another snap-in cover where the spare tire wrench is stored 
in a bag. This space was perfect to install a N2VZ Turbo tuner, and a 1 
farad capacitor for power regulation. Also this area is where I bring in 
the coax and power cables to connect to the radio which sits just on the 
top of this space.

The radio's head mount is installed on a standard mount that fits into 
the square cup holder in the front of the car.

Overall I found the 2004 Toyota RAV4 a delight to install my Yaesu 
FT-857D without any ugly cables showing and all tucked away under the 
carpets. If I have time I'll take pictures and post it on my site 
(http://kp4tr.org).

Not a 2007 model but hope this helps.


Gary Pearce KN4AQ wrote:
>
> Any tips on mobile in a Toyota RAV4 (2007, V6, 4WD model)?
>
> I've got a lot to stuff in:  706MKIIG, Yaesu 8900, Icom ID800, Alinco 
> 220 MHz, maybe a scanner and even a CB rig.
>
> I'm contemplating a RAM system for mounting control heads, etc., and 
> putting the radios under the back seats.  I think there's still room 
> when they're in the lower folded-down position, but I'll 
> double-check.  Tarheel screwdriver for HF (those three bolt holes on 
> the frame at left-rear look good for a mount), and a slew of short 
> dual-band and mono-band antennas on the roof that'll clear the garage 
> door.  I need to figure out where to put a six-meter antenna, or two 
> (706 and 8900 both do 6).
>
> And sorry, Rick N1RL - I went with the RAV instead of the Subaru 
> Forrester!
>
> 73,
> Gary KN4AQ
>
>
> ARVN: Amateur Radio//Video News
> Gary Pearce KN4AQ
> 508 Spencer Crest Ct.
> Cary, NC 27513
> kn4aq at arvidnews.com
> 919-380-9944
> www.ARVidNews.com 
>
> ----
> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, mobile-portable-owner at mailman.qth.net
>


-- 
____________________________________
Ramon Gonzalez (KP4TR)
Tampa Bay, Florida
IRLP Node 4085
http://kp4tr.org