Also - has anyone just used a Dremel or cutoff wheel, cut a bit off the top, and then reattached the ball on top with glue?

 

Antenna-X off-road one?
Yes and it's very flexible and never looks straight. sent it back

 

I cut mine off shorter, but wasn't able to get the ball off the end, so I just painted the tip. I might try to find something that will replace the little ball, but for sure wanted to keep the OEM antenna. In my experience, there will never be an aftermarket antenna that will not have at least some signal deterioration.

 

I have the antenna. Looks much better the stock. I'll take a pic when I get a chance. Does not interfere with radio reception

 

On my last truck I cut it off with my Dremel and rounded the tip with it too. Didn't bother with the ball. I'll probably do the same with this one too.

 

A word of warning, so others might avoid the big mistake I made...

If you swap antenna's, and use an adapter stud that comes with the new antenna, use some never-seize on the threads going into the truck.

Went to switch mine back to factory the other day.. the cheap, uncoated stud that came with the antenna had rusted & corroded into the base, and snapped off when I tried to remove it.

Now I have the joy of replacing the cable/mount assy.

Just FYI...

 

How do you keep it looking straight ? Mine the rubber was always bent one way or the other never looked straight. usually bent out towards the outside of the fender.

 

Darn....already have a stubby!

 

I put my antenna in a vise[close to the top] used a pair of pliers to get the ball off. Then used a dremel to cut off 6", tapered the end a bit with the bench grinder so i could get the ball back on with a bit of jb weld. Smoothed out the ball with a file and painted. Looks and works good.

 

Here are the pics as promised
Lol...funny you say that. On a hot day it bends all the way when driving on the highway. You should've seen it bend all the way back on our trip to BC. It goes straight back up once I park