HF radio for the gurus.

[outback]

Good points you have raised there.

I would never mount an auto tuner on the Bull Bar for that reason.
Mine is as protected as I can possibly get it, so much so that the vehicle would be totalled

Long wire antennae are decievingly complex to get right so are often not a very viable option unless the type of long wire and its propogation pattern is understood.
IMHO in a dire emergency it is probably better carrying a spare multitap whip than a long wire.

Yes some good points raised as you say.
Long wire is something I use to do back in the days of 27 Mhz, but it is not simple.

As it is I will be approaching this slowly. I am still deciding on what I really need via HF considering I run a sat phone.