Getting rid of the shark fin antenna?

[SitKneelBend]

Do you have any idea how much higher the antenna is over the truck height?

I used to occasionally ping the antenna when I was driving through a multi-level parking garage.

I hate those places but it was the only option while working a temporary job.

.

I "think" it's only enough to barely clear the sharkfin antenna mounted at the rear driver side corner, but I'm not positive.

 

[PaleFlyer]

That's the one. I was just asking because every car that I've had in between trucks, did not have the AM/FM antenna, only the shark fin. Thanks much!!

They actually did. A lot of cars "hide" it in the top of the rear window, where it looks like it's just part of the defroster, but if you live somewhere where you actually can use the rear defroster, you would notice that that section doesn't defrost until the window itself heats up entirely.

I think there might be another "common" way to hide it, but I'm not sure.

 

[PaleFlyer]

Do you have any idea how much higher the antenna is over the truck height?

I used to occasionally ping the antenna when I was driving through a multi-level parking garage.

I hate those places but it was the only option while working a temporary job.

.

My thinking was if the antenna flexed, I was not only going to lose the shark fin, but probably ruin the top of the cab.

Then again, if I'm in a situation where that is a legit concern... I shouldn't be in the place at all, so I ditched the massive antenna for a slightly flexible like 8" antenna. I had a fully rigid like 4" antenna, but hated it, until it "disappeared" one day on the commute... (it was a "universal" mount, and the mounting method sucked.)

 

[RamDiver]

I "think" it's only enough to barely clear the sharkfin antenna mounted at the rear driver side corner, but I'm not positive.

My thinking was if the antenna flexed, I was not only going to lose the shark fin, but probably ruin the top of the cab.

Then again, if I'm in a situation where that is a legit concern... I shouldn't be in the place at all, so I ditched the massive antenna for a slightly flexible like 8" antenna. I had a fully rigid like 4" antenna, but hated it, until it "disappeared" one day on the commute... (it was a "universal" mount, and the mounting method sucked.)

I was working a contract job at a big shopping center in the west end of Ottawa and the parking garage was the only option.

I worked there for a few weeks, and found the path with maximum height through 4 stories but, occasionally would ping the antenna in one spot on one floor. I nearly unloaded the first time I hit that obstruction but like the claustrophobic instilling low ceiling, got used to flying through.

So, maybe I was very lucky that I didn't rip the sharkfin antenna off the rooftop. That would have sucked.


I always do my best to avoid any underground parking places because, let's face it, they just cater to small sub-compact cars. I nearly got trapped many years ago while exiting a huge parking complex with my Tundra.

I chose the wrong exit lane that suddenly had a reducing radius corner in the already ridiculously tiny exit lane. There was no chance that the DC wheelbase would ever clear that corner. LOL

Thankfully, nobody was behind me and I was able to back out a long way to get back to the point where I could choose another relatively straight exit lane. LOL

.

 

[SitKneelBend]

I was working a contract job at a big shopping center in the west end of Ottawa and the parking garage was the only option.

I worked there for a few weeks, and found the path with maximum height through 4 stories but, occasionally would ping the antenna in one spot on one floor. I nearly unloaded the first time I hit that obstruction but like the claustrophobic instilling low ceiling, got used to flying through.

So, maybe I was very lucky that I didn't rip the sharkfin antenna off the rooftop. That would have sucked.


I always do my best to avoid any underground parking places because, let's face it, they just cater to small sub-compact cars. I nearly got trapped many years ago while exiting a huge parking complex with my Tundra.

I chose the wrong exit lane that suddenly had a reducing radius corner in the already ridiculously tiny exit lane. There was no chance that the DC wheelbase would ever clear that corner. LOL

Thankfully, nobody was behind me and I was able to back out a long way to get back to the point where I could choose another relatively straight exit lane. LOL

.

I snapped a picture level with my puck antenna to give anyone interested an idea. It does look like it's meant to clear the sharkfin just barely with a little more wiggle room for the puck.

 

[KnurledNut]

easy peasy

rip off old shark fin
snip wiring
fill hole with bondo
slam 6-pack
grind smooth w/ 36 grit flap disk
paint w/ leftover house latex

 

[PaleFlyer]

I was working a contract job at a big shopping center in the west end of Ottawa and the parking garage was the only option.

I worked there for a few weeks, and found the path with maximum height through 4 stories but, occasionally would ping the antenna in one spot on one floor. I nearly unloaded the first time I hit that obstruction but like the claustrophobic instilling low ceiling, got used to flying through.

So, maybe I was very lucky that I didn't rip the sharkfin antenna off the rooftop. That would have sucked.


I always do my best to avoid any underground parking places because, let's face it, they just cater to small sub-compact cars. I nearly got trapped many years ago while exiting a huge parking complex with my Tundra.

I chose the wrong exit lane that suddenly had a reducing radius corner in the already ridiculously tiny exit lane. There was no chance that the DC wheelbase would ever clear that corner. LOL

Thankfully, nobody was behind me and I was able to back out a long way to get back to the point where I could choose another relatively straight exit lane. LOL

.

I popped the plastic end cap off the steps in the parking garage at the Mercedes stadium in Atlanta a couple years ago when I was there for Fabtech, as the damn entry BARELY fits the RAM, and I folded my mirrors to not knock them off, so I didn't see that I was too close to the barrier at the ticket gate.

 

[ProsperRam]

I recently joined and stumble on this thread. I have the same issue with a low garage door opening and could really use a couple more inches of room. No luck with the dealer, Car Toys or any where else. I do not want to loose functionality, just a more lower profile.

 

[PaleFlyer]

I recently joined and stumble on this thread. I have the same issue with a low garage door opening and could really use a couple more inches of room. No luck with the dealer, Car Toys or any where else. I do not want to loose functionality, just a more lower profile.

If you change to the puck, you lose the cellular antenna.