When I bought a new 1998 Saturn SC2 (coupe), I went through the usual period of angst about not wanting to 'mess up' the car with punching holes in the car body for antennas. After that had passed (by the time I got home with the car), I needed to think about where to mount the antenna. The radio was pretty much a given as to where it would go (front passenger seat floor, leaning up against the passenger seat). The power cable and the coax cable was a snap to install and run through the car.
But, where to mount the antenna? A friend of mine makes and markets the Tenna Hitch [DC Sales], but I didn't want to go that route (sorry, Jim/N5DC): I didn't need a trailer hitch AND an antenna mount; I have no trailer which needs pulling.
So, I had a trailer hitch assembly put on the car. I removed the ball and used the hole to place the insulator and mount the antenna base. The only problem I found was that the mount was loose in the mounting post sleeve. I replaced the cotter pin and bolt with a real bolt. However, the mount was still a little loose in the sleeve. I then drilled two holes, tapped them, and inserted two stainless screws and locked them down to the outside of the sleeve with a couple of nuts. This snugged up the mounting post in the sleeve very nicely.
The mount is a heavy duty quick disconnect mount from GLA Systems owned by Henry Allen, K5BUG. The base mounted matching coil is also one of Henry's. The antenna is a Hustler resonator vertical with a breakover mast.
Performance-wise, the antenna works great and the signal reports I receive are generally very good. I also seem to work a lot of DX which, of course, is always fun--case in point, I was giving a ride home for a friend, John, AB5SS, one day and while waiting for him to come out of his office building, I was tuning around 20 CW. I heard a 9Q5 working a few stations and, just as my friend opened the door and sat down in the passenger seat, I dropped my call in when the 9Q5 had said 'tu' after a QSO. He came right back with my call and gave me a nice 589 report. I responded and we finished the QSO. When John heard the 9Q5 sign his call, he was amazed (and, I hope, impressed).
My only regret is that after getting the trailer hitch mount put on the car, I dragged my feet and dragged my feet, until the week before ARRL DX CW contest in February, I finally put the whole thing together for the drive down to Mexico (XA5T). It's also worked great the whole way down and on subsequent trips to Mexico and Florida, as well as runs between home and work. So, if you have a project hanging, FINISH IT!! You WILL feel much better when it's finished and you can play!
