Roof Antenna - Repair & Seal

[SpifNup]

22 Ranger XLT SCrew 4x4 Oxford White

At purchase, bought and trimmed 1x2 length from Lowes to prop rollup garage door above frame.
Sized down roof antenna with 4-inch 'stubby' replacement.

Allowed safe entry & especially backup exit from garage without catching roof antenna.

Unfortunately (stupid me) didn't untie small rope pull loop fastened to center hinge on door.
[Thought of it several times, but didn't seem to be a problem (for whatever reason ant never got stuck in the rope loop). Then forgot about it! ]

Couple nights ago, parked too far left in garage. Needed to clear swing of normal door. Backed out to re-center & re-park.
During backing, stub caught on rope loop (hangs down about 14 or 15-in from center of rolled up door).
Bang noise, then wood prop dropped.

Quick glance (night time) saw no antenna damage.

Closer look in daylight today reveals antenna/roof damage as follows:

--Black plastic antenna base now loose & wobbly.
--Can finger raise to 1/2 or 5/8 inch above roof.
--Slight hollow now (only visible roof 'wrinkle') in front of ant base, in raised 'ridge' where ant is mounted.
--Corners of square mounting hole in roof seem raised (with tiny seams or cracks at corners).

Rubber seal gasket on bottom of ant base appears okay.

Not sure how to:

1. Remove antenna base fully from square hole in roof.
Is there a squeeze clip, or need to remove inside liner to unscrew or release something?
2. Flatten (pop out) slight hollow in front of ant base (or could I live with this).
3. Flatten (if required) raised corners of square roof mount hole (or could I live with this--may possibly prevent ant base from fully pressing down against roof, not sure).
4. Replace any mount clip or parts that go into mount hole.
5. Re-install & seal ant base rubber gasket tightly enuf to avoid rain & spray wash leaks into roof & headliner.

Will be stopping by repair shops or dealer(s) for suggestions or pricing to repair.

But if possible would repair myself (wish to personally do & ensure tight base/roof seal upon repair).

[ On my old ranger, had repaired & sealed high center mount 3rd brake lamp 2 or 3 times. Factory & replacement gaskets had melted/shrunk/wrinkled & leaked a bit over time. Eventually purchased weather seal or backing rod (closed cell version, IIRC) foam tubes, and split/cut to adequately fit & seal lamp housing to roof back. Also swapped to LED bulb/s to reduce one heat source that may have helped ruin orig & initial replacement gaskets. ]

Guess if I can carefully seal rubber gasket (bottom of ant base) again to roof--in any reasonable manner--the slight hollow in front may collect a few tablespoons of water and normally dry without seeping under sealed ant base.

However, over long time, water collecting there (during wet roof conditions--rain or wash spray) could eventually find or create way to leak.

If a shop does repair after all (because more than I'm willing or able to accomplish), I hope to understand enough to avoid an unnecessarily large repair bill. Like, say, $1,200 ... or whatever. Perhaps comprehensive insurance would cover some (less a deductable), but just saying (and hope to avoid a claim).

Any tips on repair & seal?
Much appreciated. Thanks!

--Spif

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[SpifNup]

Of course, I will be untying the rope pull loop (or removing it entirely). Mine is a manual roll-up door.

And think I'll replace the 4-inch stub ant with a 2-inch version (been in parking garages where pipes & low ceilings could catch antennas). Wish the stub antennas were highly flexible, but even those have limits if badly caught by something.

 

[Chris M]

I got the 2" from the get go precisely because I didn't want it to catch on the door or get hung in my garage door emergency rope thingy.
No issues with reception when I'm using the FM.

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