2023 Lightning Pro ER 2-Way Radio Install

[Azgunguy]

Installed my TM-V71 in my ‘23 Ford Lightning. The head unit is secured with heavy duty Velcro, with wire running through the center console and then down under my seat, and along the channel. I also mounted the interior antenna for my cell booster on the center console, again with Velcro. The bodies of each unit are secured to some pretty thick plywood and then that plywood is secured by 2 screws going through the seat brackets. It’s not bulletproof but it works. Speaking of bulletproof, the antenna mount is a Bulletproof Diesel third brake light mount. These antennas are just placeholders until my dedicated antennas get here. Pardon the dog hair and dust! I also have to do some cable management so bear with me on that.



73s

Sponsored

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Installed my TM-V71 in my ‘23 Ford Lightning. The head unit is secured with heavy duty Velcro, with wire running through the center console and then down under my seat, and along the channel. I also mounted the interior antenna for my cell booster on the center console, again with Velcro. The bodies of each unit are secured to some pretty thick plywood and then that plywood is secured by 2 screws going through the seat brackets. It’s not bulletproof but it works. Speaking of bulletproof, the antenna mount is a Bulletproof Diesel third brake light mount. These antennas are just placeholders until my dedicated antennas get here. Pardon the dog hair and dust! I also have to do some cable management so bear with me on that.



73s

We love it, Michael! That's awesome!

 

[Jreed]

I have the same radio and I have been trying to decide how I could mount it in my Lariat with minimal modifications to the truck. You have given me some good ideas, but I do have some questions; what is the model of your antenna amp, did you need the Kenwood extension kit and where did you run the coaxial cable from the antenna mount to the radio? Any information would be appreciated.
73
KK6TXO

 

[Azgunguy]

I have the same radio and I have been trying to decide how I could mount it in my Lariat with minimal modifications to the truck. You have given me some good ideas, but I do have some questions; what is the model of your antenna amp, did you need the Kenwood extension kit and where did you run the coaxial cable from the antenna mount to the radio? Any information would be appreciated.
73
KK6TXO

I’m not sure what you mean by antenna amp. One unit is a cell booster and that’s made by weboost, and the other is just my kenwood. I used the kenwood extension kit. I ran my coax from the antenna into the cab through the third brake light hole, along the headliner, down the drivers side of the cab to under the rear seat.

 

[Jreed]

Thanks for the cable routing information, seems like a clean way to route the coax. At first glance of your picture I had assumed the cell booster was connected to the antenna input which led me to believe it was an antenna amp, but after zooming in I can see it’s not connected to the radio at all.

 

[Azgunguy]

Thanks for the cable routing information, seems like a clean way to route the coax. At first glance of your picture I had assumed the cell booster was connected to the antenna input which led me to believe it was an antenna amp, but after zooming in I can see it’s not connected to the radio at all.

I also routed everything down the drivers side of the truck in the channel under the kick panels. Then under the drivers seat to the center console.

Sponsored