Antenna/Flag Bracket

callaway · **Posted:** Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:49 pm

After going to an off road park where a flag was required, and having to finagle it with zip ties onto the spare tire, I made up this little bracket. Nothing too fancy but it holds a 4' firestick antenna and a 6' flag.

(I left the real thing at work so a drawing is all I have for now)

It mounts to the lower 2 bolts that hold the spare tire carrier onto the tail gate via a 1/8" thick flat wire plate. The frame is 5/8" square steel and is held onto the plates by 1/4-20 bolts.

The plate that holds the flag/antenna comes right about even w/the 'Jeep' text on the lower left of the tailgate and sits about 3" above the flat top of the stock bumper (the plate is parallel with the 'flat' top of the bumper)

The plate is roughly 5" wide x 2.5" deep and is 1/16" sheet metal welded to an enlarged U-Bolt.

The whole thing is plenty sturdy and was a good way to kill some time at work this week. I'll post some real pictures of it tomorrow night.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Thu Apr 12, 2007 10:39 pm

Looks awesome. How is it working or is it still in the manufacture/testing stage?

callaway · **Posted:** Thu Apr 12, 2007 11:30 pm

I have everything assembled and welded in place. Tomorrow I'll put the holes in for the antenna and flag, sandblast the whole thing a final time and paint it.

callaway · **Posted:** Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:43 pm

Tonight was disappointing. Everything fit fine, but I forgot to take into account the tailgate opens

The bar construction was not as solid as I would have liked, so the next one is going to be one solid piece of aluminum sheet w/the mounting plate bolted to it.

Pics...

The bracket...

Mounted...

Antenna and Flag mounted...

With Tire...

Ooops...

Its always more fun doing things the second time

riptricket · **Posted:** Sat Apr 14, 2007 12:20 pm

man i know how you feel, i've been there too. good try though... u've inspired me!

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:21 pm

It looks like you could shorten it a few inches and it would clear the bumper and the tire
(although I don't think you could open the rear glass)

callaway · **Posted:** Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:47 pm

ATXKJ wrote:

It looks like you could shorten it a few inches and it would clear the bumper and the tire
(although I don't think you could open the rear glass)

the rear glass opened fine - I had to hold the antenna so it wouldn;t rub against the glass and damage the antenna or glass but it opened.

I can cut it down ~2.5" but then thats cutting it somewhat close for when I put the larger tires on...

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:59 pm

What if you angled it upwards and outwards a bit. Not sure if it would clear the plastic lens.

callaway · **Posted:** Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:07 pm

Tokyojoe wrote:

What if you angled it upwards and outwards a bit. Not sure if it would clear the plastic lens.

Thats what I'll probably end up doing - I've only got to go up something like 1 maybe 1/5" to clear the plastic of the bumper. But then I cover up the 'Jeep 4x4'

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:09 pm

Or, you could just reverse it and put it on the right instead of the left

callaway · **Posted:** Sat Apr 14, 2007 9:12 pm

pixeldzn wrote:

Or, you could just reverse it and put it on the right instead of the left

quiet you

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:49 am

HAHAHAHA!!!!

LiLredLibby · **Posted:** Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:15 pm

pixeldzn wrote:

Or, you could just reverse it and put it on the right instead of the left

Well,he probably already thought of that,but knew it would get in the way of the handle...right Callaway? :lol:

What ever you do,hurry....we all need to make us one. :wink:

callaway · **Posted:** Sun Apr 15, 2007 1:24 pm

It would get in the way of the handle and having the wiper/handle/antenna/flag/bracket all on the right side was too much for me.

I'll have #2 done by the end of the week

FastTRX · **Posted:** Sun Apr 15, 2007 9:11 pm

Ready to make some more?? I want one!!! Very sweet Rob...plain awesome! :twisted:

callaway · **Posted:** Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:13 pm

FastTRX wrote:

Ready to make some more?? I want one!!! Very sweet Rob...plain awesome! :twisted:

Once I get it working I can make more if you'd like.

callaway · **Posted:** Wed Apr 18, 2007 11:58 pm

The second bracket, milled from 1/4" Aluminum plate...

Bracket mounted...

Tail gate fully open...

When mounted, the antenna/flag combo are slightly angled away from the tailgate. This allows for the glass to be opened w/the flag and antenna mounted. This angle, in conjunction w/the Al plate, allows for the plate itself to act as a spring to hinder the antenna/flag from smacking the glass (See youtube link). I have a spring on the antenna but w/out the spring the results are the same.

Youtube Test video
The cardboard was there just in case I did manage to hit the glass (which never happened). I'm not sure why I filmed most of it sideways...

with tire...

There's still some things that need to be modified but its coming along

FastTRX · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2007 12:19 am

Awesome Rob...you put alot of time into that. Your work paid off....definitley sweet.

BTW....how do you like your lifted KJ now???

AndySRT · **Posted:** Thu Apr 19, 2007 1:29 am

defintly looks good Rob. I really need to stop buying skids and ect for mine so i can lift it and put on my tires.

Antenna/Flag Bracket

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