I'm getting ready to go off-roading and one thing I ordered was a cb for trail communications. I've been trying to search for antenna mounting on a 4th gen and I can't seem to find any pics. I looked at the rear of the 4runner and I don't know where I could mount the antenna. Any suggestions and/or pics?

TIA,

-Bobby

 

Hi Bobby

I just installed my CB today and will do the antenna during the week.

I am considering two locations

- Drivers side front fender using a mini mount adjustable kit from Firestick ordered thru Alf Enterprises. http://www.alfenterprises.com/

- Top edge of tailgate using the same mounting equipment.

I am not confident on using the rear bumper mounting systems nor mounting it low on the tailgate as every cb specialist I've read or talk to about this says the directionality and signal reception/sending will be reduced.

The ideal setup is to have a min of 66% of the antenna above the roof line, from what I have read.The Firestick website has some useful info in this regard. http://www.firestik.com/Tech_Docs.htm

Here's an example of their concerns in relation to low mounted bumper installed antenna.....

"The problem involves interference/reflection within the antennas near field of radiation. When you key down on the microphone button the antenna needs to absorb the energy and radiate it outwards through free space. The radiation field on wire wound antennas is relatively weak at the bottom but as it moves upward, the field strength increases dramatically. This characteristic is the primary reason why wire-wound antennas are such efficient radiators … specifically because the highest point of the antenna generates the highest concentration of energy. There in lies the problem when bumper mounts are used on SUV's and other vehicles with tall parallel surfaces (trucks with campers, etc.). The highly reactive portion of the antenna is not in free space. We see it all of the time and it almost always results in a high SWR condition. Not because the antenna won't work, but because it simply can't under those circumstances. We can only imagine that the people with these installations have no clue as to what SWR is, let alone have their antenna tested and/or set.

Solid items in the near field of radiation block the antenna's ability to radiate its energy. When the antenna is unable to absorb the energy because it is out of tune that problem can be fixed by tuning the antenna. However, when the tuned antenna (capable of absorbing energy) is mounted too close to other objects the energy is reflected back into the antenna. The only way to correct that problem is to move the antenna or take a chain saw and chop off all parts of the vehicle that are within a few feet of the upper two-thirds of the antenna. "





Good luck.

Mark

 

I had very good luck with my antenna when it was mounted on the drivers side front fender with the hood mount.

It is now on my ARB bumper, but it does work good when using a hood mount.

 

I looked at the top and sides of the rear hatch and I can't seem to find a place to mount it. I don't have the parts yet so I don't know if it'll work or not but I just don't see anywhere I could mount the antenna mount. I was hoping to get some ideas from people with 4th gens to post some pics. I've seen the hood mounted antennas and was hoping to mount it on the back somewhere.

FWIW, I ordered the Firestik doorjam mini mount with the fireflex cable, QD, Firestik II 4' antenna and Cobra 75 WXST.

 

Bobby - I have the same cb equipment as you but I ordered an adjustable fender ount. Using the door jam mount I still think you may be able to mount it at the back but up high rather than low (near the bumper) if you want the best reception (other than drilling holes in the roof!

Check out some of the photos in the various threads on installing cb.

 

So I ended up doing this....

https://www.yotatech.com/attachment....achmentid=5399

 

I just finished installing my cb and antenna. I did the antenna first and took some pics. I ended up ordering another mount ($7) that was flat and about 4" long. I don't have pics of the cb install yet b/c it was getting too dark but it looks good. I got a SWR reading of 1.1 on ch 1 and 40. I thought my SWR meter was broken after reading up on tuning antennas and most say that 1.5 is good. I tapped power from an unused connector by the DAC wire bundle and grounded to the transmission.

I talked to some guys that were about 4-5 miles away while I was playing with it. It was a lot easier to install than I thought. I'm pretty happy with it.

 

any body know about those roof rack mounts? im lookin at those.