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Shorten radio antenna on a 2014+

crankbait

By crankbait
in Modifications & Accessories

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crankbait Enthusiast

crankbait

Posted
Posted (edited)

I need to shorten my antenna about 2 inches. I have read threads and seen videos with people removing ball and cutting it down.

 

I was trying with my 2015 antenna and couldn't remove the ball very easily. I just wanted to know if anybody has done this mod with a newer antenna before I try with more force.

 

* Can the ball actually be removed from the current antennas ?

Edited by crankbait
FormerFordGuy Enthusiast

FormerFordGuy

Posted
Posted

I need to shorten my antenna about 2 inches. I have read threads and seen videos with people removing ball and cutting it down.

 

I was trying with my 2015 antenna and couldn't remove the ball very easily. I just wanted to know if anybody has done this mod with a newer antenna before I try with more force.

 

* Can the ball actually be removed from the current antennas ?

I used an adjustable (crescent) wrench to remove the ball. Hold antenna upside down and put the wrench on the antenna shaft and adjust it just smaller than the ball. Then wack the wrench with a hammer.

 

It's a good idea to put a ziplock bag over the whole setup so the ball doesn't get lost after it bounces off the garage floor :(

wurgs Senior Enthusiast

wurgs

Posted
Posted

Here's one of the 4" billet antenna on my F150

 

1560587_10152162320216084_1356620790_n.j

Like the looks of that. Is the reception just as good as factory one?

oldscsc Enthusiast

oldscsc

Posted
Posted

FM radio won't be affected, but I'm willing to bet AM reception will be effectively useless after the antenna modification.

 

AM requires the antenna to be a certain length and height in the air. 32" is ringing a bell, but don't quote me on that.

 

I relocated my antenna under my hood and lost 100% of my AM radio reception FWIW.

CoasterCOG Enthusiast

CoasterCOG

Posted
Posted

I normally use a billet shorty antenna.

 

However I trimmed the factory antenna by about 4" so it is about 2" taller than the top of the shark fin. In the unusual case that I'll need to park in a parking garage I put the trimmed factory back on as a height indicator.

Skeeter McSkeet Senior Enthusiast

Skeeter McSkeet

Posted
Posted

I bought the stubby. Works just as well as the factory one. It was like 25 bucks. http://www.stubbyantenna.com/

What model year did you put this on? I was looking at their site and they list 89-2006 for fitment on sierras. I've got a 2015 and am looking to swap mine out as well.

 

Thanks

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

junkyardz Enthusiast

junkyardz

Posted
Posted

removed mine completely and ran it inside passenger fender, used a bed rubber cap to fill in the hole on the plastic antenna base cover... looks much nicer with no antenna

LaVaDog Enthusiast

LaVaDog

Posted
Posted

I'd like to put a shorter antenna on....but what I have experienced is either the antenna is soft and bends from the wind when moving or the shorty antenna doesn't have the little wire wrap around it for wind noise and you can actually hear the wind in the cab. Suggestions on a shorty/stubby that won't suffer from those traits.

Skeeter McSkeet Senior Enthusiast

Skeeter McSkeet

Posted
Posted

Last one I had was too flexible as well, stayed bent back like I was going 75mph at a standstill lol.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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