I drove the 30 miles to get my firestikII, coax, and mounts yesterday and spent all day yesterday and today fabing up a mount and installing everthing. Also moved my backup lights from inside the back window to the roof rack.

You guys should have seen me in my apartment's parking lot with a propane torch, a dremel tool and a hatchet bending steel. Did I mention I really need a garage? The guy who owns the mercedes next to me would have been sweating bullets if he saw me grinding, pounding, and torching the steel!

Here's everything I used to make the mount.


I went out and bought some 1"x1/8" flat bar and cut it up and bent it so I could mount the antenna in the back with about 1.5 ft of antenna above the roofline. The mount was screwed to the sheetmetal below the bumper level so it was a pretty clean install.


I'm having reservations about the strength though, specifically fatigue. It's strong enough with a static load, but when the antenna swings around I can see the sheetmetal flex. Hopefully it will last until I get my rear bumper on.

Here's the finished product. You can also see the backup/tailgater lights on the roof rack.


Here's the interior:


Now I just need to find somebody with a swr meter so I can tune it.

The truck is starting to look like an off road machine with the antenna and lights. I just need the winch and bumpers to complete the look.

EDIT: Since I've been driving around with this design for over a month now, I've found a shortcoming. When off roading the antenna swings back and forth pretty hard. This loosens the screws and lets the bracket rub on the paint. Also, as stated above, the sheetmetal flexes and I'm sure that eventually it will break. To remedy this, I would recommend a 2inch wide piece of steel and 4 screws, rather than the 1inch I used. Also, make it as short as possible to minimize flex in the bracket. Until I get my bumper made, I've tied the antenna with some fishing line to prevent it from swinging back and forth.

Steve

PS. thanks for everybody's help.

 

Looks very nice Steve.
Very inovative with the rear mount for sure.

A guy at work had his CB in his '91 truck in the same spot.
Mine is to big to go there though.

Are you going with an ARB up front?

 

I'm too cheap to buy an ARB. I have to exploit my ex-roommates for as long as I can (that's where I build my stuff). (Roommates: if you read this, I'm just kidding)



Oh, and why is antenna too big? Mine's a 4 footer.

Steve

 

I meant where you have your CB radio.
Mine is way to long to fit there.

I tried, but it's one of the biggest mobile CBs on the market.

 

Steve,
that is where i also have my CB at. its a nice location...i think.

 

that's also where my CB is in my Gen 1 4Runner. the only problem i found is that i have a bottom firing speaker, so mine is upside down until i get an external speaker.

 

yeah..i have a hard time hearing it when i am going down the highway, so i will have to get an external speaker. its kinda hard to see what channel i am on also when the rig is in drive, but when its dark i can see the reflection in my windshield..its kinda cool.

 

I like your setup.Nice job on the fab of the antenna mount.