so i finally got my first mobile rig, picked up a used Yaesu FT-7900R and i love it so far, been running it at home on a mag mount just to play around but i want to do a proper install in my truck. its a 2019 F-150 and the roof is that aluminum composite stuff so im a little nervous about drilling anything, also the bed has a tonneau cover which makes the bed rail mount idea kind of annoying.

a few guys at the club mentioned a lip mount on the trunk edge but obviously thats not really a thing on a pickup. somebody else said NMO through-hole is the gold standard but again, drilling into the roof of a relatively new truck is making me sweat a little. the mag mount i have works okay parked but at highway speeds it slides around even on the roof and i just dont trust it long term.

what are you all actually running on trucks? any of the hatch or door jamb type mounts hold up okay at speed? i mostly do local 2m and 70cm stuff, maybe some APRS eventually. not trying to work the world here just want a clean solid install that doesnt look terrible.

for what its worth i ran a mag mount on my silverado for almost two years and never had it slide at highway speed, but i think a lot of that depends on how clean and flat your roof surface is. that said, for a real install i ended up doing a hood hinge mount and honestly its one of the better decisions ive made. no drilling into the cab, the ground plane on a steel hood is solid, and it doesnt mess with the tonneau at all. antenna sits right up front and ive had zero issues with it coming loose even on rough roads.

if youre really opposed to any drilling at all, the Comet RS-790 rail mount or something similar on the bed rail can work but youll want to run a ground strap to the truck body because the bed rails on a lot of newer fords arent great for RF ground. just something to keep in mind. NMO through the roof really is the cleanest looking install though, if you ever get over the fear of drilling. most body shops will tell you a properly sealed hole is basically zero risk of rust if you use the right grommet and sealant.

i did a spark plug hole mount on my tacoma and it worked fine, similar situation not wanting to drill. though tbh i eventually just bit the bullet and did a proper NMO in the roof and wish id done it from the start. the signal difference wasnt massive or anything but the antenna sits way better and i stopped worrying about it flying off on the interstate lol