xcmountain80

After many thoughts of how to mount the CB antenna on my rig, I was tired. I knew I needed 2 spots one for the CB and another for the HAM. Where? I though on the roof rack ,,, no on the rear bumper,,, no I did like on my last truck I had it mounted on the front bumper and I had marked the top of the truck on the antenna with electrical tape so I'd know when the clearance was just not enough. Well I knew eventaully I would be ordering a new front bumper but not today and sure as hell not next week. So there I was drill in hand found a "good" spot and drilled away. Mind you I already had the mount kit from radio shack and the antenna, it went better than expected and super flush to the bumper.

check it out
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...n/P3110165.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...n/P3110173.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...n/P3110176.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e3...n/P3110177.jpg

Roadrunner

Nice clean install. You might want to look into adding a spring and quick disconnect too.

xcmountain80

Spring? What the heck is that for... Quick disco does seems like a good idea though. Yes I know the spring is supposed to allow the antenna to flex a bit but Ive never had a problem in the past.

Aaron

BajaRunner

Looks like a good install!

Seems like a lot of guys like the antenna up front, but, personally I would freak out looking at it all the time...lol. I have mine inbetween the rear hatch area. I had to modify my mount to make it work, but firestik now sells one that would be perfect for the 4runner. I really like it back there.

xcmountain80

Holy crap your truck is Gynormous

BajaRunner

lol

SpikeStrip

A Spring will save both the antenna and the mounting spot by reducing the stresses. Use the Heavy spring. Not the medium weight. And the quick disco on top of the spring... It'll save the antenna when you do those quick trip through the 5 buck car wash...

I mounted mine, like others, in the jam of the rear hatch, but the problem with either install is it will limit the range of the CB. Any parallel surface within 20 inches of the antenna will reduce the SWR and distort the Ground Plane, which is the reflecting surface required for efficient transmission. But mounting it on the roof was impractical for me, and I don't need to talk to truckers, so on the rear is was...

Nice install, btw. Are you getting a good GROUND? The pictures show the ant mounted in the plastic? Do you have a strap to ground?

From firestik:

"Q How important is it to have the antenna mount grounded to the vehicle?
A Unless you are using a no-ground plane system, it is extremely important. Ungrounded mounts will usually cause SWR to be high across all channels."

http://firestik.com/Tech_Docs/GP-or-NGP.htm

xcmountain80

Well maybe I didnt point it out but the antenna is level for the most part with the roof line, so not much to worry about draggin it across lower surfaces. I just like to know where the roof line is when in Orlando there are quite a few lower concrete parking garages. Secondly yes the antenna is grouned because the plastic is removed around where the antenna goes through. Think of it like this the bumper is metal and the top trim is plastic. The hole in the plastic is larger than the one drilled into the bumper because the bumper hole only has to be big enough for the smallest protion of the treaded stud to go through. The larger piece thats sits on top of the bumper inside of the plastic area that had been cut out.

Aaron