So i am going to get a cb radio. I have decided on either the wilson or firestik II 4' antennas. It will be mounted to the bed rail for now until i can afford a bed bar from demello. I realize that it has to be grounded, and have been looking all night and finally gave up on this. Is it grounded on the mount? if not where should i run a ground wire to on the frame and what type of wire should i use? would i attach this ground between the bolt and mount on the antenna? im assuming the frame side will just be standard loosen bolt then re-tighten on top?

Thanks in advance. I hope these werent too dumb of questions.

 

If you get a regular mounting stud (vs. a no-ground plane mount - NGP), the stud does get a ground plane connection to the sheet metal that is is inserted through. Some good information ont he web page below:
- http://firestik.com/CatalogFrame.htm

 

ok thanks. so you think my best bet would be to just drill a single hole in my bed and stick the stud through it? that would make life real easy

 

Yep, that is the basic idea. I mounted mine on a metal tab attached to the 4Runner bed rail (sticking out under the shell):



http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri....shtml#Antenna

 

Wow thanks for the great responses. One last question. how is the reception on a mount like that vs reception straight to the bed metal? i would think it doesnt make any difference since they will be connected but i figure i will ask while i got you here. the main advantage i can see of that for me would be to get it so i can run the coax cable between the bed and cab without a second hole. any other reasons?

 

I would thing it is the same reception, it is electrically connected to the bed rail, I sanded off some of the paint under the tab and is is both screwed and riveted in place. Why do that? Main reason is to be able to put my soft or hard top on: