Batboard

A campus agency near where I work just received 2 Ford Escapes for use as their duty vehicles. Before you laugh too loud, they were driving Focuses up until last week.

I was approached informally about mounting just a mobile - probably an M1225 for their channels (UHF) - and a scanner to monitor LE folks around them (county's on VHF).

Anyone work on these and have some general insight? This is by far a done deal - they're just looking for ideas. From the quick glance I got tonight, it looks like there would be plenty of room in the center dash console by the floor to mount the radio and scanner.

Any and all thoughts welcome. Thanks!

Gordon

I agree, I havent worked on one yet but, there will be plenty of room in the center dash to mount the radio and scanner.

If you do it, POST SOME PIC'S !!

A few years ago I did some for "Wackenhut" Security. It was just a federal mini bar and a 1225 UHF uner the dash. They are not too bad to work on.


I also installed a siren and corner strobes for a firend of mine on his 2000. The speaker was a Cast 4020 behind the bumper in the drivers side weel well. The supply fit under the passenger seat..

I have done two of these - One just a M1225 UHF radio (fit right inside the pocket below the radio), and a second with a bunch of stuff - Corner and rear strobes, dashlight, Spectra A9 high power (UHF), spectra a9 low power (VHF). Not too bad to work on. The strobes in the corner were a pain because I had to take the bumper off to get the housings out!

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to email!

Thanks for the responses - if I am asked to do the install, I'm sure I'll be back for some questions as part of the research.

and Yes, I will post pics!

Gordon

I had a m1225 in mine. Now i have a spectra. I have one of those uni-ball mount things attached to the console.

Hey-
I drive a Ford Escape as my squad car at work most days. When the install was done, they took the factory center console out, and attached a Gamber-Johnson pole to the floor. Then when they put the factory console back in, they lined it up so that the pole sticks out through the cupholder pretty good idea.

On that pole I have a rack with a GE VHF radio, and a switch panel and Arrowstick controller for my MX7000 w/arrowstick.

So the radios are basically sitting right in front of the factory radio, at about the same level, only a little lower.... shakes around a lot but works alright.

I am getting ready to do an install on my 2005 escape. I will be installing a vertex vx-4000 lowband with vxr-1000 uhf repeater. I have mocked this up and it fits beautifully under the drivers seat with a remote head. I will also be installing a kenwood TK-830 remote head with the RF deck under the passengers seat. There is plenty of room there as well. It is a bit tighter than the drivers seat due to wiring for the smart sensor for the passenger air bag. The remote heads will mount on the console between the shifter and the dash without obstructing anything. The antennas will be two larsen UHF low profiles painted to match the color of the care mounted on the roof. A larsen base loaded whip on the drivers from fender. I may do another NMO on the passenger side for my uniden digital scanner but I have not found a place to mount it in the care yet. Any suggestions? And please no vent mounted radio holders!!

For my lights I an doing two small grill LED's due to the fact that there is barely a grill and I am concerned about air flow. A single talon under the rear view mirror and a dual LED dash master out the rear window. I think that I have come up with a interesting way to mount my switches. My local shop has a ton of the talon 12 volt plugs with the integrated switch. The switch is the same color and texture as my dash insert for my gauge cluster. I am going to drill in the holes and pop these in. They should like factor install when I am done. When I complet the install I will post some pictures.

I also plan to bring 12 volts to the rear cargo area where I will power a charger for my portable and streamlight.

Should be pretty nice when I am all done.

Take care,

Mark

I forgot, I wanted to know if you could do alternating flashing headlight on the escape? I know my 01 suburban could and I have heard that newer dodges with their electronic light could not be flashed. Just wondering about the ford escapes.

Doe sit have a floor shifter? or a column mount? I was looking actuallyt at a Hybrid Escape however it has a floor shifter, so I figured it wouldn't have any consoles for it.

My Escape is a 4 speed with a factory console and the shifter is in the console. There is a space between the shifter and dash where I will be able to mount my remote heads. I will not have to cut or drill any part of the existing dash. To my knowledge the 05 escapse all have consoles, either standard or automatic.

I am actually reffering to the Escape Hybrid, which has a floor shifter. I was looking for a console, as well as does anyone know if the 05 escape hybrid siren mount wor the whelen speaker will fit on the 06 hybrid?

I own a 2003 Ford Escape and have done my own install on it. Check down below for pictures and videos. Email me with any questions.
http://www.elightbars.org/bb/2003-ford- ... 31578.html