So i've been running a little handheld clipped to my visor for like two years now and finally decided to do a proper mobile install in my F-150. Got a Yaesu FTM-400XDR and a Tram 1185 dual band lip mount antenna on the hatch. Ran the power cable direct to the battery with a fuse holder right at the positive terminal, about 18 feet of 12 gauge wire which was kind of a pain to route through the firewall but i found a grommet on the passenger side that worked out fine.

The noise floor is so much better than i expected honestly. Was worried about alternator whine but i think doing the direct battery run helped a lot. I did have a weird issue where the radio would reset when i started the truck but that turned out to be my ground wire being loose at the chassis. Like really loose, embarrassingly loose. Tightened it up and haven't had the problem since.

Only thing i'm still figuring out is antenna placement. The lip mount puts it on the rear hatch which opens obviously so the coax has to loop a bit. Works fine but wondering if anyone has dealt with coax wear over time with a hatch like that. Using the factory coax that came with the antenna for now.

the hatch coax thing is super common with F-series trucks and SUVs. I ran mine the same way on an old Escape for probably 3 years and never had any issues but i did make sure there was enough slack in the loop so it wasn't pulling tight every time the hatch opened. the factory coax on those Tram antennas is usually decent enough but if you ever do have to replace it, just make sure whatever you swap in is flexible enough to handle the repeated bending. RG-58 gets stiff in the cold and will crack on you eventually. worth checking the loop every few months just to see if the jacket is showing any wear where it bends.

also congrats on the FTM-400, that's a solid radio. the touch screen takes some getting used to but once you set up your memory channels the way you want it's really easy to use on the move.

I just did almost the exact same install a few months ago except i went with a Kenwood TM-V71A and honestly the direct to battery wiring made such a huge difference in audio quality. my first attempt i ran it off an accessory fuse in the panel and the noise was terrible, like a constant whine that tracked with the engine RPM. moved it to direct battery with a 20 amp fuse and it was night and day.

haven't dealt with the hatch antenna thing but my buddy runs a magmount on his Tacoma tailgate and swears by it, says it's easier to just swap the whole thing if he needs to. not as clean looking though.