Mounting Ham Radio onto Thule Crossbar

[KI6BEN]

Hello Friends,

I couldn't figure out how to post in a specific forum, so hopefully this "New Thread" will be OK...

I want to mount an Amateur Radio antenna to my Thule "squarebar" crossbar which is mounted atop my Ford Transit Connect.

Does anyone know of an off-the-shelf antenna mount that fits my crossbar?

I have seen some made by Diamond and Comet but the shape of the clamp doesn't look like it would fit the square cross-section of my Thule bar.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

Kind Regards

John Vargas

[eddyturn]

Look at Rhino Rack to see their antenna mount.

[Oogs]

Originally Posted by eddyturn

Look at Rhino Rack to see their antenna mount.

What he said.....I'm using a Rhino Rack mount for a 4g signal booster on my high top SMB. It's super handy to fold down when not in use.

[Glen]

I have round bars, but the guys at Ham Radio Outlet in Anaheim were very helpful. I had no idea what I was doing & they had me bring my van to them so they could look at what I needed. They set me up with everything and it worked out great.

They have several shops around & their Web-site is: https://www.hamradio.com/

[bec_n_em]

Hi KI6BEN,

Rhino Rack folding mount here as well. It will fit in a crossbar if the bar has a slot. A square/round light bar mount can be used with the RR folding mount; see links below to product examples and my install, perhaps of help.

I used an NMO mount instead of a bolt type, so I had to modify the RR mount. I added those pics to my album below in case you want to see what I did; think saws-all.

I'm also running a COMPACTenna that has seemed to work well over the past month; still testing. Last pic in the album and link below. A relatively "new" antenna (evidently old redesign) "odd" design; you can look up the patent at the USP&TO site to see how it works.

Key benefit, as the name implies, is its compact! Only 7.5 inches tall.

Again, hope the info helps.

Best,

Em -
KG6HDV


SMB HAM Install
https://photos.app.goo.gl/X5Vd8T1BZfzBY9kR8

FOLDING AERIAL BRACKET
https://bit.ly/3sEhlCb

UNIVERSAL LED LIGHT ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING CLAMPS
https://bit.ly/3HzMzQV

COMPACTenna
https://bit.ly/3gq2Bkj

[Sporkchop]

Man it all works out are you in the cool kid club?

[Wirehead]

A standard roof mounted antenna is 1/2 wavelength with 1/4 being the antenna and 1/4 being using your roof as the ground plane through a proper antenna mount. If you are using mounts where you don't have a good electrical connection to your roof (and a minimum of 1/4 wavelength around the antenna in all directions) such as the Thule crossbar or similar you will need what is called a "No Ground Plane" antenna. You should not use a standard 1/4 wavelength spike. You will get very weird radiation patterns.
It's an entire system, the proper antenna with the proper mount and the correct amount of ground plane. If one part has to be adapted so do the others.