UHF Antenna Bonnet Mount for 2.2L Defender 110

[oldtony65]

I have a Defender 110 built late 2015. I'm trying to find a place to mount a UHF antenna and I've run out of answers. I need suggestions. The antenna is a 3 dB gain about 600mm long. I also have a longer 6 dB gain but it's too long to fit on a roof or up high.
The places I've thought about are:

Gutter mount
Under bonnet edge bracket mount
Spare wheel bolts
Front bumper
Roof bar
Roof rack
Drilling hole beside back door
Bull bar


Working on the known theory that higher with low dB gain is better than low with high dB gain and the fact that I only want the radio in case I get stuck somewhere (so I want the best range) I tried a roof bar mount. I gave up when I bought a Rhino bar (for Defender) but on my first highway only run it fell off twice. The neoprene (standard) in my gutters is so deep there's not much lip left to hold the Rhino cleats.

I tried a Benelec gutter mount but it's very unstable and won't stay upright, due mostly again to the deep neoprene in the gutters.

I don't intend to pay big dollars for a bull bar just to mount an antenna. I've had previous experience of a sheep and at another time a roo coming straight through the gaps in a bull bar on previous vehicles. I don't like the change in handling (understeer) when high speed cornering with that weight out front.

I haven't seen a roof rack that I'd be confident will stay on and also won't exceed LR's roof weight limitations. I have nothing much I'd want to put up there as I have a camper trailer, so $1,500.00 + just to mount an antenna is a bit rich.

What I've homed in on is a spare wheel mount or a bonnet lip mount although neither will give me optimum range.

Has anyone here seen a locally sourced spare wheel or bonnet edge 3/8" antenna mount? I haven't yet I've searched and searched.
I'm trying hard to not drill holes in my Defender as I'm 75 and my wife will need the top dollar when she sells the Deefer after I'm gone.

I favour a long high gain antenna mounted on a plate bolted to the spare wheel and sticking high above the roof line.

Does anyone know who would make it up (for a fee of course) somewhere in Sydney?

[LR V8]

Bull bar mounts are the simplest approach. Most quality antennas have an independent ground plane built into them nowadays, so interference from the cabin is minimal.

Cheers.

[Dorian]

Working on the known theory that higher with low dB gain is better than low with high dB gain and the fact that I only want the radio in case I get stuck somewhere (so I want the best range) I tried a roof bar mount. I gave up when I bought a Rhino bar (for Defender) but on my first highway only run it fell off twice. The neoprene (standard) in my gutters is so deep there's not much lip left to hold the Rhino cleats.



If a mount on the roof bars works for you, perhaps you could persevere with the roof bar. To get my roof bars to stick, I had to move the uprights out a bit ( 25mm or so) to get the lips to hold on to the gutters. Also you will have to re tighten them every day a few days as the mastic sinks down. I cart a kayak around so I had to get them right.

If your looking for something to hang off the spare tyre I'd reckon Daniel at the Expedition Centre would know someone who could fab one up for you. 4x4 Land Rover Toyota Nissan Frontrunner Touring Online Store - Expedition Centre Overlander (http://www.expeditioncentre.com.au)

Cheers Glen

[trout1105]

Have you thought about drilling a hole in the top of the mudguard and fitting the antenna there ?

[DiscoMick]

I bought a gutter mount and fitted it above the driver's door, so I can stick my arm out and put it up. Works fine.
As you said, a spare wheel mount is another good choice.
The higher it is the less signal is blocked by the vehicle, but also the more likely a tree is to hit it. That why I like having the adjustable gutter mount - it can be up high, but I can also lower it.

[tact]

[...] and the fact that I only want the radio in case I get stuck somewhere (so I want the best range)


If you only want to use it in case you are stuck somewhere - Would a magnetic mount do? Only put it on the roof when you are stuck. Stow it away when motoring at speed.

[trout1105]

If you only want to use it in case you are stuck somewhere - Would a magnetic mount do? Only put it on the roof when you are stuck. Stow it away when motoring at speed.

Magnetic mounts don't work that well on aluminium roofs and panel work. [bigwhistle]

[oldtony65]

If a mount on the roof bars works for you, perhaps you could persevere with the roof bar. To get my roof bars to stick, I had to move the uprights out a bit ( 25mm or so) to get the lips to hold on to the gutters. Also you will have to re tighten them every day a few days as the mastic sinks down. I cart a kayak around so I had to get them right.

If your looking for something to hang off the spare tyre I'd reckon Daniel at the Expedition Centre would know someone who could fab one up for you. 4x4 Land Rover Toyota Nissan Frontrunner Touring Online Store - Expedition Centre Overlander (http://www.expeditioncentre.com.au)

Cheers Glen
Thanks Glen. Yes I know Daniel but hadn't thought to ask him. I'll do that tomorrow. That's a good suggestion.

[oldtony65]

Bull bar mounts are the simplest approach. Most quality antennas have an independent ground plane built into them nowadays, so interference from the cabin is minimal.

Cheers.
Yes you're right that bull bar mounts are simplest. I live in the city so "designer" bull bars are everywhere.
However as I said, it's a lot of dough to spend just to mount an antenna and my past experiences show that they don't always prevent wallabies, roos and sheep from passing through. Fortunately the sheep I hit a long time ago came through the bar on an old Cruiser then, slid up the windscreen and ended up dead in the back of the ute. I'll treat that one as a last resort.
All the experts seem united that a small antenna on the roof will beat a long antenna on the bulbar.

I just want to get it up high where I've got good range in most directions.
Thanks Mate
Old Tony

[DiscoMick]

Thanks Glen. Yes I know Daniel but hadn't thought to ask him. I'll do that tomorrow. That's a good suggestion.
I'd be surprised if your local hardware store couldn't provide a suitable bracket for a spare wheel.

Here's a picture of my gutter mount (sorry it's dark out there).
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/08/29.jpg

[oldtony65]

Have you thought about drilling a hole in the top of the mudguard and fitting the antenna there ?
Yes that's an ideal place but as I said in the original post, I'm trying to avoid drilling holes in a near new Defender so my wife can get a good price for it when I cark it.
However, that's one place it might end up. It's probably the simplest to achieve.
Regards
Old Tony

[oldtony65]

I bought a gutter mount and fitted it above the driver's door, so I can stick my arm out and put it up. Works fine.
As you said, a spare wheel mount is another good choice.
The higher it is the less signal is blocked by the vehicle, but also the more likely a tree is to hit it. That why I like having the adjustable gutter mount - it can be up high, but I can also lower it.
Thanks swaggie
Yes a gutter mount was my choice. I got one that can be swivelled to lay flat when needs be. The problem it seats so poorly in the neoprene in the gutter and wobbles out away from the car and then back with a clink. It just won't seat squarely and stay there.
I wish it wasn't the case but I have tried in every gutter location. The stuff that LR puts in the gutter is flush with the top of the gutter over the rear door and within 5mm of the top of the gutter elsewhere.
Grrrrrr!!

Old Tony

[trout1105]

Yes that's an ideal place but as I said in the original post, I'm trying to avoid drilling holes in a near new Defender so my wife can get a good price for it when I cark it.
However, that's one place it might end up. It's probably the simplest to achieve.
Regards
Old Tony

Another alternative is to use a good quality Hand Held UHF instead of the in car units, These have a pretty good range and with most of them an external antenna can be rigged IF you absolutely Have to get more range [thumbsupbig]

[DiscoMick]

Thanks swaggie
Yes a gutter mount was my choice. I got one that can be swivelled to lay flat when needs be. The problem it seats so poorly in the neoprene in the gutter and wobbles out away from the car and then back with a clink. It just won't seat squarely and stay there.
I wish it wasn't the case but I have tried in every gutter location. The stuff that LR puts in the gutter is flush with the top of the gutter over the rear door and within 5mm of the top of the gutter elsewhere.
Grrrrrr!!

Old Tony
Maybe you can mount it to something like another bracket or a hard piece to fit under the mount.

[LR V8]

Yes you're right that bull bar mounts are simplest. I live in the city so "designer" bull bars are everywhere.
However as I said, it's a lot of dough to spend just to mount an antenna and my past experiences show that they don't always prevent wallabies, roos and sheep from passing through. Fortunately the sheep I hit a long time ago came through the bar on an old Cruiser then, slid up the windscreen and ended up dead in the back of the ute. I'll treat that one as a last resort.
All the experts seem united that a small antenna on the roof will beat a long antenna on the bulbar.

I just want to get it up high where I've got good range in most directions.
Thanks Mate
Old Tony

Sorry, I misread your original post.... so no, I wouldn't recommend buying a bull bar just to mount an antenna. Go for a roof gutter mount, I'm sure the right one will turn up.

Cheers.

[tact]

Magnetic mounts don't work that well on aluminium roofs and panel work. [bigwhistle]

OP mentioned a 2015 model. Bonnet is steel. (As are door skins for that matter). If stuck (ie not speeding down a motorway) Whack the mag base and steel whip antenna onto the middle of the bonnet.

(and as you suggested - a good 5w handheld and external antenna cable back thru the window would let you sit comfortable in the vehicle or swag while using the radio. And best - no holes or mounting even for the radio. Preserving the vehicle pristine as desired.

[oldtony65]

OP mentioned a 2015 model. Bonnet is steel. (As are door skins for that matter). If stuck (ie not speeding down a motorway) Whack the mag base and steel whip antenna onto the middle of the bonnet.

(and as you suggested - a good 5w handheld and external antenna cable back thru the window would let you sit comfortable in the vehicle or swag while using the radio. And best - no holes or mounting even for the radio. Preserving the vehicle pristine as desired.
Thanks Neil
I'd forgotten that the bonnet is steel. Maybe I'll try the magnetic base if all else fails.
I've found a beautiful Italian (Equipe 4x4) mount but it means drilling several holes high up beside the back door.

Still thinking but bonnet mount sounds good.
Old Tony

[DiscoMick]

Maybe you could mount a bracket to the spare wheel carrier held on by a wheel nut?

[HardCharger]

So putting the antenna on the original radio aerial for these radios is a no-no? Better on a gutter mount since higher?