So ive been going back and forth on this for a few weeks now. Just picked up a 2024 F-150 and I want to get my Yaesu FTM-300DR set up properly in it. My last vehicle had a mag mount that I used for years and honestly it worked fine but I always felt like i was leaving performance on the table.

The thing is this truck still has that plastic body trim around the roof edge and im not 100% sure where the best spot to drill would be. A buddy of mine said the cab roof center is ideal for VHF/UHF but I've also heard people go through the trunk lid or even the fender. On a truck I guess that would be the bed? Im also a little nervous about drilling into a brand new vehicle if I'm honest.

Anyone done a proper NMO install on one of these newer F-series trucks? Is it really noticeably better than a quality mag mount like a Larsen or Comet? Or am I overthinking this as usual.

Drilled a lip mount into my 2021 F-150 last spring and havent looked back. I was in the same boat as you, nervous about putting a hole in a new truck, but once you do it you wonder why you waited. The NMO connection is just so much cleaner and you dont have that coax snaking around under the door seal either.

I went through the rear of the cab roof, passenger side, with a Larsen NMO mount. Dead simple to run the coax down the pillar and under the seat to the radio. Ground plane is solid up there and the SWR on both 2m and 70cm was basically flat right out of the gate with a decent dual band whip. The difference compared to my old mag mount was noticeable on receive, not dramatic but real, especially on weaker signals coming in from the far end of our local linked system.

One tip — use a step bit and go slow, maybe put some blue tape over the spot first so you dont scratch the paint. And seal it properly, I used self-amalgamating tape under the mount flange and have had zero water issues.

i just use a mag mount on my SUV and honestly for hitting repeaters around town it does the job, but i think if i was doing a fresh install on something i planned to keep id probably just drill it. the mag mount does scratch the roof over time even with a pad under it, my old car had marks from it after a couple years. anyway congrats on the new truck that thing is probably sweet