[VHFcontesting] Re: Choice of Rover Vehicles

[dpease at adams.net]

I am looking at a pickup to pull my race car trailer and after having the 
old Suburban for so many years, I cannot go back to the small confines of a 
standard truck cab.  I also do several mobile operations throughout the 
year, so I also need the extra space for equipment.  My intention is a quad 
cab pickup with a short bed, still plently of room for antennas supports and 
extra seat room in the cab.  Also, by getting a full sized truck I will have 
the larger charging system and larger battery, important to me at least, for 
radio operation,

Danny  NG9R 


Dan Evans writes: 

> I would like to suggest a discussion topic: 
> 
> Choice of Rover Vehicles. 
> 
> In the last couple of years my old reliable truck has become just my old
> truck.  And it looks like I may well be in the market for another Rover
> vehicle. 
> 
> Here are a few of the things I think are important in a Rover vehicle: 
> 
> 1.  ROOM.  My current setup is a 1992 Ford Ranger pickup.  With just the
> bottom 4 bands, there is just barely room enough in the truck for me and the
> rigs.  A second op is out of the question, unless I strap them to the mast! 
> 
> 2.  Antenna mounting options.  Right now with my pickup, I set up the
> antennas on a push up mast mounted in the bed of the truck, and braced by
> the truck racks.  This way I can leave the antennas in place, and just
> extend the mast when I reach a new grid.  As a solo Rover, ease of setup is
> a must for me. 
> 
> 3. Comfortable.  My first few Rover trips I borrowed my Dad's old van.  It
> had LOTS of room, but man it was hot in July, August, and September.  Maybe
> I'm just getting 'soft', but it seems like Air Conditioning is almost a
> necessity. 
> 
> 
> What are your requirements? 
> 
> What am I missing?  I'm thinking about going with a van or mini-van.  But I
> haven't came up with a good way to mount the yagi's on a van.  I could go
> with a trailer hitch setup, but I use 12'+ yagi's and I don't like the idea
> of 6 or 7' of antenna trailing behind the van.  I could build a 'roof-rack',
> but I hate to loose the extra height and rotation of the pushup mast....
> It's a tough decision.  I may end up getting another pickup.  A full size
> pickup may give me enough room for the rigs and leave room for a future
> second op... 
> 
> What do you use?  How do you mount your antennas?  If you were going to
> choose a "better" vehicle, what would you choose? 
> 
> Hey, it beats discussing CW regulations....... 
> 
> 73
> Dan
> Dan Evans K9ZF
> Scottsburg, IN 47170
> {EM78}
> K9ZF /R no budget Rover
> ex-N9RLA
> Check out the Rover Resource Page at:
> http://www.qsl.net/n9rla
> QRP-l #1269
> Central States VHF Society
> IN-Ham list administrator 
> 
> 
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Danny Pease
dpease at adams.net 

 


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