CB Antennae: Spring or No Spring

Demosthine · 08-23-2005, 12:55 AM

Alright guys, I've come upon a delemma and need some advice. I have a stock '98 4Runner and have mounted the CB Antennae at the rear passenger corner of the vehicle. I created some mounting brackets that come out from the side of the tail light unit and wrap around right below the actual tail light housing. It basically mounts in the area of painted body between the bumper and tail light.

Anyways, I run the freeway for about 90% of my daily drive and the CB has saved my butt in avoiding accidents several times this month, so I don't want to remove it. When I'm driving at 70+ miles per hour, it starts waving like none other. It doesn't hit the body, light housing or anything, but I'm concerned that the stress will eventually break something. This occurs, at the moment, because I have an spring mounted between the antennae and the angle bracket. The additional height of the spring also causes it to hit the signs in the parking garage that I am required to park in at work. I have to be careful not to hit the signs. If I take the spring off, though, I am concerned that the antennae may break due to the 70+ miles per hour driving every day.

To make the delemma worse, I am in the process of saving for a 2" suspension lift sometime in the next two or three months. I am afraid that after the lift, I won't be able to park in the garage with or without the antennae, period. The use of the CB may surpass the long walk between parking and work, but I'm still weighing that out. Just another thing to keep in mind with the advice, though.

Any help or would be great.

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Bob_98SR5 · 08-23-2005, 01:19 AM

go with the spring and tie a bungie to the antenna. also, attach a tennis ball or some kind of rubber on the antenna to prevent banging/knocking.

bob

ldivinag · 08-23-2005, 05:31 AM

careful with the tennis ball.

i wheeled with a dude who had a long antenna mounted to the side. and the ball was placed about a foot from the swivel point.

at the end of the day, there was substantial marks on the paint from the tennis ball rubbing against it.

it was a nice arc....

geneius · 08-23-2005, 06:49 AM

I use Firestik's HD spring and discos and just remove the antenna before pulling into the garage.

Works great!

TechWrench · 08-23-2005, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demosthine

Alright guys, I've come upon a delemma and need some advice. I have a stock '98 4Runner and have mounted the CB Antennae at the rear passenger corner of the vehicle. I created some mounting brackets that come out from the side of the tail light unit and wrap around right below the actual tail light housing. It basically mounts in the area of painted body between the bumper and tail light.

Anyways, I run the freeway for about 90% of my daily drive and the CB has saved my butt in avoiding accidents several times this month, so I don't want to remove it. When I'm driving at 70+ miles per hour, it starts waving like none other. It doesn't hit the body, light housing or anything, but I'm concerned that the stress will eventually break something. This occurs, at the moment, because I have an spring mounted between the antennae and the angle bracket. The additional height of the spring also causes it to hit the signs in the parking garage that I am required to park in at work. I have to be careful not to hit the signs. If I take the spring off, though, I am concerned that the antennae may break due to the 70+ miles per hour driving every day.

To make the delemma worse, I am in the process of saving for a 2" suspension lift sometime in the next two or three months. I am afraid that after the lift, I won't be able to park in the garage with or without the antennae, period. The use of the CB may surpass the long walk between parking and work, but I'm still weighing that out. Just another thing to keep in mind with the advice, though.

Any help or would be great.

I ran with a spring mount on my CB antenna for years on my old pick-up without any problems. As long as the way it is mounted to the body is secure, it shouldn't be a problem. I often had the same problem with the height, and I just tucked the antenna under the right side mirror while in a low clearance area.

4x4Lamm · 08-23-2005, 10:35 AM

You could drive forever without the spring. Even if it snaps the antenna after 5 years, what are you out, $20?

Look at big rigs, most don't have springs.

Lamm

VandalRunner · 08-23-2005, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geneius

I use Firestik's HD spring and discos and just remove the antenna before pulling into the garage.

Works great!

Kudos to the spring and disco. Got some for my rig and it has saved me from busting the tip of in parking garages; Just take it off right before you enter the garage...that would help even when you get your lift.

**waskillywabbit** · 08-23-2005, 03:16 PM

Take it wheeling w/o a spring at a lot of places and you'll lose it quick.

deathrunner · 08-23-2005, 04:15 PM

I runa 4 ft. firestik and I do high speed stuff on rough sections...never had a problem. Light trail use is no problem and freeway driving is no problem...

If you're hitting the garage with it, I say it is questionable if you should be driving.

If an unsprung antenna and mount can live up to a season of prerunner style driving, then I dont' see the need for a spring.

Now a disco, I might be looking into that.

cabbage · 08-23-2005, 05:27 PM

I have a spring but dont use it. My 4 ft firestik lived through a rollover (rolled on side 3 times) without one so I dont have any complains. I do have a quick disconnect on it though for the parking garages.

Demosthine · 08-26-2005, 01:36 AM

So, DeathRunner, how is questionable as to whether I should be driving if just because my antennae hits the garage signs? I don't see any correlation between your ability to drive and the possibility of hitting a sign that's only 6' 6" from the floor.

And I'll have to look into the discos. I haven't heard that term or seen them on any websites yet. By the way, ALF Enterprises still hasn't sent my dual antennae package, after three months. The credit card company is working on that one for me.

deathrunner · 08-26-2005, 10:06 AM

What I emant is if you are hitting it to the point where it is a problem, you need help.
For some reason I thought you had hit it already on several occasions.

Just take the antenna off before you go in the garage. Eithere unscrew it or get discos.

08-23-2005, 05:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
ldivinag Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: N37 39* W122 3* Posts: 1,428	careful with the tennis ball. i wheeled with a dude who had a long antenna mounted to the side. and the ball was placed about a foot from the swivel point. at the end of the day, there was substantial marks on the paint from the tennis ball rubbing against it. it was a nice arc.... __________________ leo d. stock 90 4runner

08-23-2005, 06:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
geneius Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton, CO Posts: 197	I use Firestik's HD spring and discos and just remove the antenna before pulling into the garage. Works great! __________________ Gene's 95 LTD 4Runner Downey HD Coils, Spacers & T-Bars (3" Lift) \| ProComp ES3000 Shocks \| Warn Premium Hubs \| 15x8 Black Rock Crawler Rims BFG AT/KO 33x12.5x15 \| K&N Drop-In \| 4.88 Gears (stock) \| ProComp ES2000 SS \| Idler Arm Gusset \| SS Braided Brake Lines ISR Mod \| Diff Breather \| Hella 500s \| Cobra 75WX ST \| FireStik Firefly \| Tranny Cooler \| All Pro Off Road Sliders \| More Later...

08-23-2005, 10:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
4x4Lamm Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 2,573	You could drive forever without the spring. Even if it snaps the antenna after 5 years, what are you out, $20? Look at big rigs, most don't have springs. Lamm __________________ -1992 4Runner SR5, Destroyed by fire. Lots of mods. I will miss it. -1995 4Runner SR5 Limited, Also known as the money pit. Becoming a trail rig now. -2004 Tacoma SR5 TRD, My new daily driver. I love this truck!

08-23-2005, 03:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
waskillywabbit Super Moderator-Sponsoring Member Staff Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Tuscaloosa, AL Posts: 14,554	Take it wheeling w/o a spring at a lot of places and you'll lose it quick. __________________ WabFab Off-Road, LLC MySpace Twitter Facebook 7th Annual South East 4Runner Jamboree, 2010 The toughest part of a Jeep is the chick driving it. WabFab Off-Road 4th Anniversary Sale

08-23-2005, 04:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
deathrunner Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 2,971	I runa 4 ft. firestik and I do high speed stuff on rough sections...never had a problem. Light trail use is no problem and freeway driving is no problem... If you're hitting the garage with it, I say it is questionable if you should be driving. If an unsprung antenna and mount can live up to a season of prerunner style driving, then I dont' see the need for a spring. Now a disco, I might be looking into that. __________________ IFS IS FOR LOSERS Decroded Piece of Crap

08-23-2005, 01:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Bob_98SR5 Contributing Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10,092	go with the spring and tie a bungie to the antenna. also, attach a tennis ball or some kind of rubber on the antenna to prevent banging/knocking. bob

08-23-2005, 05:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
cabbage Contributing Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Santa Maria, CA Posts: 621	I have a spring but dont use it. My 4 ft firestik lived through a rollover (rolled on side 3 times) without one so I dont have any complains. I do have a quick disconnect on it though for the parking garages. __________________ Milton 01 Tacoma access cab 4x4 TRD TC Long travel, Supercharged 04 Tacoma Doublecab 4x4 TRD hoes all around!

08-26-2005, 01:36 AM	#11 (permalink)
Demosthine Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Surprise, Arizona Posts: 23	So, DeathRunner, how is questionable as to whether I should be driving if just because my antennae hits the garage signs? I don't see any correlation between your ability to drive and the possibility of hitting a sign that's only 6' 6" from the floor. And I'll have to look into the discos. I haven't heard that term or seen them on any websites yet. By the way, ALF Enterprises still hasn't sent my dual antennae package, after three months. The credit card company is working on that one for me.

08-26-2005, 10:06 AM	#12 (permalink)
deathrunner Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 2,971	What I emant is if you are hitting it to the point where it is a problem, you need help. For some reason I thought you had hit it already on several occasions. Just take the antenna off before you go in the garage. Eithere unscrew it or get discos. __________________ IFS IS FOR LOSERS Decroded Piece of Crap

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