mounting cb antenna

[SStokes]

I am trying to decide how to mount my cb antenna on my 01 3500. I have a Wilson 1000. I took out the third brake light on the back of the cab, but can't get a wire through because of a petition around the light. If I mount in the middle of the cab on the quad cab, can I get the coax to the winshield pillar. How did you mount yours. Antenna is from flatbed just traded in. I guess I could spring for a new one. Any suggestions. Thanks Sam Stokes

 

[JPittman]

I have a 99 3500 but all the same construction. What I got is a Firestick "Ram Hood/Flat Edge Mount Mini-Kit" model MK-184R with Fire-Flex w/Fire-Ring Model K-8R9 (9ft. ) This mount has an offset on it to go between the hood and fender. Open your hood, on the driver's or passenger's side there is a bolt on the fender close to the windshield pillar - this is where you mount the antenna mount. Run the cable between the foam and the truck behind the door, just below the top hinge, tie it with a tie wrap and those square things that hold the tie wrap, into the truck (pull the door weather strip out, stuff the cable in there with a drip loop, push the weather strip back in and run the cable to the CB. Hope I explained it so that it can be understood. Good luck.

 

[Archive]

I've seen the firestik mount mentioned above, and would definitely second that. Very trick looking set up and equally functional. If I wire a CB in that is the route I am going to go.

 

[AYSCII]

I mounted mine on the roof racks of my camper. It is a Firestick no ground plane type (fiberglass camper) Works pretty well, though probably not as good as a ground plane type on metal roof. I used plastic stick-on cable guides so as not to rub paint.



I just put a magnetic mount on a friend's Chevy. I used similar cable guides on it as well. Route the wire down the outside to go in where ever you choose.

 

[SFord]

I have the Firestik Ram fender mount with a 3' antenna and it has worked out fine for me. Easily installed and when removed there are no holes to fill. Plus it makes it easy to remove the antenna if need be.

 

[SStokes]

Firestick mount sounds super. Where do I find them? Thanks a lot for the help. I'm a new member and have gotten good replies to both questions I've posted. I'm very impressed with people on this site. Who says you can't buy anything for $35?



Sam Stokes

 

[Deezul1]

Check These sites

http://www.fm2way.com/ant.htm



http://www.alfenterprises.com/mobile1.htm#184R

 

[tntway]

firestik...

i did the firestik fender thing--looks great, works great. one piece of advice tho'. mount it on the driver's side away from your am/fm

antena. could interfere with radio signal...

 

[Turbo Thom]

I was in Nashville a couple weeks back and saw the neatest mount I've seen yet. This camper had a wind deflector with the mounting system on the bed of the truck. He had the stick mounted on an extension from the deflector mount at bed rail height. The cable ran under the truck and up through the floor to the CB. The stick did not extend out beyond the cab. Thats the way I'll go.

Preston

 

[EricBu12]

Antenna Mounting

Here is mine,

it is a mout specially made for the ram. it uses the bolt for the fender mount and I have the Halo mount for the wire.

The wire tucks back under the fender and through the firewall.



The mount is the firestick model mk-274r

as noted under the www.Alfenterprises.com site

 

[swamp rat]

I just wished Firestick or somebody made the "Fire Ring" type coaxial connector using RG-8X aka Mini-8 coax. I hate using that small single stranded center conductor coax. Way too easy to break under extreme stress. RG-8X holds up well even after several years of slipseating, and routing through vent windows.



Until then, I'll have to stick with my GM mirror mount, Wilson T2K, and extra ground strap.

 

[SnoKing]

Just put on the fender mount and K40 36" tuneable wip. I made a L bracket of aluminum on the seat bolts of the 20 % center section and mounted CB vertical in front of the center of the seat. put a 259 90 degree adapter on the coax. I do not have electric seats and found the seat circuit under under the drive door sill cover. Had to install the fuse for it at the left of the dash (door open). Looks like it is going to workout great. May get a external speaker if needed. Snow King

 

[Zacman]

antenna mount

Like Ericbu12 did mine the same way except I dont do the Chaos Band (CB) What I did was mount a 2m/440 antenna with PL259 connector and a PL259 90 elbow below the same type fender bracket. It clears the fender swell there and everything is sealed. Everything is black save the antenna mount and connector. All in all a very clean installation including the Mike Brolin radio mount inside.



David

01. 5 SLT QC SWB ETC Auto, Cummins, Medium Bronze 3:55's Pwr everything, LSD, Camper Spl, Infinity Sound, Convenience Group, Camel Tan, Tow Package and Mirrors, Brolin Radio Mount.

 

[DieselB59]

I too have the Wilson 1000 magnetic mount and I mounted it on the roof and used my Dremel tool to notch the plastic of the CHMSL (third brake light) enough to let the wire come in. I drilled a hole through the sheetmetal to pass the cable into the cab above the headliner, being careful not to drill through the headliner. I suggest you open the rear window and drill from the outside while holding a piece of metal inside the headliner to catch the bit when it breaks through if you're not fast enough to stop it when it does so. I then used windshield weatherstripping caulk to keep the water out. The cable sneaks above the headliner, down the rear pillar inside the plastic moulding, across the driver's side under the carpet and moulding, across the lower steel frame behind the knee bolster to the CB.

 

[PMalin]

Antenna

I installed a headache rack and then mounted my antenna's on top of that. For some people the antenna height may be a problem.

 

[Un-Hemi]

RG-58/U has solid center conductor.

RG-58A/U and RG-58C/U have stranded center cond.

RG-58C/U has a more UV-resistant jacket.

Quality of RG-8X varies. It's consumer-quality cable, IMHO. Most I've seen have cheap vinyl jacket. Foam center insulation allows center conductor to migrate and short to shield braid especially with elevated temperature and tight bends. Not recommended.

Avoid cheap cable like the plague!

Amphenol, Belden, Carol, & Times make quality cable.

Tom

 

[swamp rat]

http://www.radio-ware.com/products/techinfo/coaxapps.htm





http://www.radio-ware.com/products/techinfo/coaxloss.htm

 

[Big_Bad_Dually]

I know how to mount them in the roof!

If you are trying to mount an NMO sytle antenna I have mounted at least ten mostly in chevys and four in a Dodge.



-Take out the dome light, compass and the left or right pillar cover depending on where you want to run the coax.



-Then drill your hole in the roof for the mount. (Make sure you don't drill in the exact center of the cab because that is where the dome light is. Drill in front of the dome light for easiest routing. )



-Now get some steel baling wire or something small and really stiff ("fish tape") and feed it from the computer hole to the hole in the roof, for the anteena mount.



-Use electrical tape and tape the coax to the wire to pull it though to the compas. Then you can feed the coax over to which ever pillar you want, by stuffing it under the headliner then feeding it behind the pillar cover. I fed mine under the drivers side a pillar cover then throught the fuse box and to the CB radio.



There ya go

Brian

 

[Millfly]

Dual Antenna Installation

I mounted dual antennas on the front of my bed. They are K40's. Went to a machine shop and got them to cut a piece of 1/4" stainless steel about 11" long. Had them bend it about 2" from one end. Then drilled two holes on each front side of the bed about three inches in from the side and tapped 1/4-20 threads into the mounts. I sprayed the stainless to match the truck and then threaded my 1/4 - 20 bolts from the inside of the bed. The dual antennas look like they really mean business and the reception is outstanding. I mounted the Cobra radio between the front seats with a mount I designed. Drilled a hole in the floor under each of the seats to run the cable back to the antennas. Used rubber grommet in hole and sealed with silicone.

 

[OILBRNR]

After just going through this myself, I throw these tid-bits out.



1. ) If you want any Firestik products, call them up and order directly. Nice folks, and they gave me a 10% internet discount.



2. ) I'd be suprised if you can get SWR low enough with a 3' or less ant. on the Firestik fender mount. I gave up and went with a 5' on a spring and quick release. My original idea was to use a 3' and clear my garage door. No luck and SWR problems, so went with the 5' and just pop it on and off every time I park it inside.



3. ) Fender mount is great for coax routing as there is a hole on the drivers side allows quick access to the main firewall harness that I'd already 'violated' for guages. Warning: make sure the coax stays clear of the parking brake. Crushed my first Firering and just put in another yesterday.



4. ) I wouldn't run coax through the door gasket area, as damage can occur to the center core and insulation.



5. ) The fender mount is not going to give you the best radiating pattern, being heavily baised toward the rear passenger side if mounting on drivers. Little output directly to the right side of the truck as well.



I'd like to run an amp now, and I'm unsure with this mounting location how well it is going to work. I've thought about a center bed mounted bracket on the front of the box, but that is awfully close to the glass even with a top load 5 foot stick. Plus, I don't know if I could reach over that far to use the quick disconnect.