Need ideas for 2018 Ford Explorer install

[sjxts3000]

Picked up a new ride. 2018 Explorer XLT. With all the public service Explorers out there, I'm looking for ideas on installation of a mobile radio.

Needs:

• VHF mid-power mobile
• no roof holes
• minimal presence inside vehicle front seat area (possibly looking to go the APX O3 head route)

Will more than likely go the route of an APX 4500 VHF (I'll post separately in the Wanted section)
Need ideas on where best to install the speaker, O3 head mount, and remote mount brick.

For the antenna, I don't want to put anything on the roof. I'm leaning toward a hood lip mount which I can get to easily to quickly remove the antenna when going through a car wash, for example.

[phonebuff]

So if this were my thread the title would be "Need funds for...."

Enjoy the new ride, but watch for exhaust fumes.

On my Chevy (much older) I took the AM/FM out of the fender and mounted my Antenna there.. Then did a glass tape for the AM/FM.

[sjxts3000]

The exhaust fumes issue was resolved in 2017.
There is no fender antenna on these vehicles.

[bstafford]

Look into Proclip mounts and see if they have anything for the explorer to mount the head. They are no drill mounts that install betwren factory panels.

I have 2 of them in my sierra and am going to be getting a third. I just got the vehicle mount and not the device holders. I have a snowplow joystick on one, a w-3 head and kenwood mic on another and am getting a third to mount my feniex 4200 on. They aren't nesesarily the cheapest, but they are well built and look professional and it saves me from drilling my interior so they are worth it in my book.

[HWRTcomm]

If you can do without p25, try the MotoTRBO 5550e with the HHCH. Goes to a lip mount nmo on the rear hatch and is paired with a ngp antenna. Zero holes drilled. I used the pro clip with the magmic clip for the control head.

[HeliTech]

Avoid the fender mount if you can due to poor ground plane and gain to the rear of vehicle.