2021 Ram center console for ham radio.

[redtech]

Hello all,

just purchased a 2021 ram. My first ever Dodge..

The truck has the center console with the sliding tray. As I am a ham radio operator my last truck had easy placement of multiple radios, (17' silverado) this truck I am finding it difficult to find a good place for the radios. I want them in the center console is really my only option as I cannot stand the look of radios on mounts hanging off the top of the dash like bullet mounts or anything like that. Plus I have 3 radios I need to install, I might have to buy new radios to accommodate more options possibly but wanted to see if there are any custom center consoles for this application first.

 

[N7GZN]

I've not seen any pre-made kits to integrate radios into the stock console of a 5th Gen Ram.
I have a '19 Laramie Longhorn, and I dislike the sliding tray as it takes up a large portion of usable space that could be utilized for locking storage, and radio gear.
By removing the sliding tray entirely, I fabricated a bracket that fits underneath the sliding tray (when it gets reinstalled). I mount the body of a Concept Systems CS-800D inside this bracket, and the control head will be mounted in front of the Ram charger, and phone cradles, both of which I don't use.
I drilled out the front driver's side pocket of the console to route power and coaxial cable for this radio. This is the only modification to the console at this time, and it is near impossible to see, though it requires removal and disassembly of the console to drill the hole.

Another good option is, if you don't have the Ram charger, people have cut out the blank panel and have mounted a radio in this position.

A third option is to utilize the empty space at the top center of the dash to mount a radio, using a mount from ICS fab, or Bulletproof. Below is a link to ICS fab for the 5th Gen Ram with the 12" head unit.

https://www.ics-fab.com/collections/dash-mounts/products/2019-ram-dash-mount-12-screen.

If you have anything other than the Longhorn or Limited trim, there's more room to work with as the sliding tray is smaller. On YT, someone made a bracket and was able to install an Icom 7300 in front of the sliding tray.
73 for now.