Do you guys keep antennas installed and tied down?

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mutt and jeff
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Do you guys keep antennas installed and tied down?

Unread post by mutt and jeff » July 20th, 2020, 8:38 pm

Seems like a lot of strain on the springs and might put a curve in the mast sections if I leave the antennas mounted all the time, but tied down at the front. It's a nice look for parades or trailering the vehicle to an event. But if in the garage for a few weeks, should I just disassemble the mast sections and put them in the bag?

What do others do?

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rickf
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Re: Do you guys keep antennas installed and tied down?

Unread post by rickf » July 20th, 2020, 8:46 pm

I take mine off.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

Mark
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Re: Do you guys keep antennas installed and tied down?

Unread post by Mark » July 20th, 2020, 9:03 pm

Ya, it puts a curve in the spring
mark


1968 m274A5
1960 m151
1981 m151A2
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1971 m416

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m3a1
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Re: Do you guys keep antennas installed and tied down?

Unread post by m3a1 » July 20th, 2020, 10:15 pm

Oddly, mine doesn't stay bent over, even a little bit. It goes right back up to straight but I keep it tied down all the time. Maybe it's because of the heat down here. Who knows? Remember, most real military stuff like that is always a little 'off'. Completely squared away is the exception, rather than the rule.

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Re: Do you guys keep antennas installed and tied down?

Unread post by SEABEE62 » July 21st, 2020, 9:08 am

I take mine off ....back on for show and tell and parades. SEABEE
1971 M151A2 MUTT , M416 trailer
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Mark
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Re: Do you guys keep antennas installed and tied down?

Unread post by Mark » July 21st, 2020, 9:16 am

I drove around with it free, everything should be above it.(height is 15'4"). The antenna measures 10'4".
Last edited by Mark on July 21st, 2020, 9:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
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1968 m274A5
1960 m151
1981 m151A2
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rickf
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Re: Do you guys keep antennas installed and tied down?

Unread post by rickf » July 21st, 2020, 9:35 am

Not if it is mounted in the normal place which is 6 feet up in the air plus the 12 feet of antenna equals 18 feet high. Anything above 13'6" is considered over height, you will be hitting wires lower than that in rural areas.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

1SGCAV77
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Re: Do you guys keep antennas installed and tied down?

Unread post by 1SGCAV77 » July 21st, 2020, 10:47 am

I always have my antenna off and stored. I have two antennas and two 6707 antenna base. One antenna and base are functional for the working radio. The other is strictly for show and tell. The attached pictures shows what Rickf was talking about. From ground to antenna mount....6 feet. An unbroken antenna 12 ft. Will definitely knock out acorns in the neighborhood
AAE81A21-DF06-4C1B-AFD5-80C8A29A3EA9.jpeg
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MSG, USAR (Ret) 31Jan99
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M151A1- Ford
M416-1967 CEMSCO

mutt and jeff
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Re: Do you guys keep antennas installed and tied down?

Unread post by mutt and jeff » July 21st, 2020, 7:10 pm

Well, if you did not convince me, recent work on under the hood did. It's a PITA to raise and lower the hood around all the antennas tie downs. So, we'll tie the tie downs in a secure way so they don't get under the hood and dismount the antennas and bag them until show and tell.
So, now that I've "got" you, when we mounted the antennas, we had to remove the reflectors to do so. I have been looking at images on the computer as best I can and it appears that the reflectors do not get remounted onto the mounts or in another near by location. Is this correct? No side reflectors at all with the antenna mounts?

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rickf
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Re: Do you guys keep antennas installed and tied down?

Unread post by rickf » July 21st, 2020, 7:34 pm

Can't help with the reflectors but I can tell one thing that will convince you to remove the antenna. I was pulling into the garage and I did not have just quite far enough down and the ball hit on the door and folded over til it broke of the end of the antenna. Let me tell you about a lethal weapon!!! that damn ball shot around that garage like a ricocheting 40 caliber round! It ended up back in the mutt with me, thankfully not hitting me or the windshield. It hit the inside of the top which absorbed the energy. Took it off every time after that.
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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m3a1
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Re: Do you guys keep antennas installed and tied down?

Unread post by m3a1 » July 21st, 2020, 7:53 pm

I'd imagine most of us who keep antennas mounted have a similar story to Rick's and believe me... the antenna, if run up against something, will remain completely silent until it breaks and scares the 'rap out of you. What follows is a face-palm moment and a lot of grumbling.

Cheers,
TJ

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rickf
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Re: Do you guys keep antennas installed and tied down?

Unread post by rickf » July 21st, 2020, 8:05 pm

I wasn't exactly sure what happened at first since in my neighborhood it could very well have been a 40 mil blooper round!
1964 M151A1
1984 M1008
1967 M416
04/1952 M100
12/1952 M100- Departed
AN/TSQ-114A Trailblazer- Gone

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