Question: CD Antenna Mount

[BLea]

Recently purchased a 2006 Quad Cab 3500 SRW. Pull a HR 5th Wheel. Had no trouble mounting 2 antennas (1 on each side mirror) on my 1998. 5. What is a good mounting location with the plastic covered side-view mirrors on the 2006? Want to be able to receive good strong signals when trailer is in transit.

 

[TLane]

I assume you mean CB antenna -



The best locations are probably the ones that look the worst. A few ideas come to mind:



1) Put a rack (Yakima/Thule/homemade/etc) on the cab and mount the antennae near each end of the rack; the rack needs to be grounded.



2) Mount an antenna on the fifth wheel, run the coax down to the hitch where the trailer lights hookup, and couple it to an extension that runs from there into the cab. One more connection to hook/unhook. May not work well unless you have a metal roof.



3) Use a couple of magnet mounts on the cab.



4) Mount them at the front of the bed, on the bed rails, near the cab. You can get creative and mount a metal bar to extend them out from the bed; the wider they are the better the signal will be and the bigger chance of catching them on something (like your head, or mail box, or gas pump). Can also mount them on the crossbar of a head-ache rack.



5) Use a couple of thru-hole mounts and mount them on the front fender. Might be distracting to your vision, but at least you'll know if you knock one off.



You can find something wrong with all of these suggestions, so pick the one that is least problematic for you. I'm sure others will have suggestions as well.



Probably just as important to pay attention to good connections, good coax, good antennae, etc.

 

[richardcoxid]

I searched the web and found a pre-formed single CB Antenna Stainless Steel mount that is formed to and screws to the top of the drivers side fender/underneath the hood lip, it is forward of and opposite the factory radio Antenna.



Sorry I can’t remember who I purchased it from, it also doesn’t have any identification marks on it.



Just do a search for “Dodge fender CB antenna mount” etc.

 

[BLea]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have to give some serious consideration to which way I want to go. I guess I was spoiled with the 1998 setup it was so easy.

 

[HSpiering]

I searched the web and found a pre-formed single CB Antenna Stainless Steel mount that is formed to and screws to the top of the drivers side fender/underneath the hood lip, it is forward of and opposite the factory radio Antenna.



Sorry I can’t remember who I purchased it from, it also doesn’t have any identification marks on it.



Just do a search for “Dodge fender CB antenna mount” etc.

Got mine at Radio Shack for about $10.

 

[Tractorat]

I searched the web and found a pre-formed single CB Antenna Stainless Steel mount that is formed to and screws to the top of the drivers side fender/underneath the hood lip, it is forward of and opposite the factory radio Antenna.

Thats what I have. Works fine.

I don't think its Dodge specific though. You should be able to get one at just about any place that sells cb radios. Waste of time trying to find one on the internet.

 

[DaveHess]

I mounted mine on the bed bulhead directly behind the cab IAW FireStik on the drivers side.

The fiberglass antenna must be 60% of it's total length ABOVE the cab. The reason for this is your roof becomes the ground plane (reflector if you will). Using a 5' FireStik, 19" is behind the cab and the rest above. FireStik also recommends placing the antenna behind the drivers side (Mine is there) when pulling a trailer. I use the FireStik combined with a FireWire antenna cable connected to my Cobra and have gotten approximate 4 mile range on the flat and open. Not ideal or perfect but it works. I ran the cable through a plug in the floor below my drivers side cubby under the back seat. Very easy to pop the plug. Also be sure not to coil the excess antenna cable in a circle. I did mine in a loose figure 8 under the carpeting. I also use an SWR meter to tune mine. For some reason I get a backwards curve than what is expected. Anyhow, With my combo I get 1. 2 on Channel, 1. 1 on Channel 19 and 20, and 1. 2 on Channel 40. Like I said Not ideal but it is functional. The SWR meter was $20 and worth it.

 

[richardcoxid]

I just found my old Stainless pre-formed fender/hood lip CB ant mount from my 2nd generation, the sticker says “Stainless Mounts by KAMCA” it was also purchased over the I’net.

 

[lebar]

I have used this set up on a 98,02 and 2007. A k-40 trunk mount on the rear corner of the hood (mounted it backwards) it is almost directly across from the radio antenna on the other side. I did not want the height of the standard mast so I purchased a center loaded mast. I put a small bend in the mast so it stands up straight. It seems to work fine, as the k-40 trunk mount twists or screws off from the mount it is easy to remove to run through the car wash. Will try and post a picture. I will try and get a better picture, camera battery went dead!

 

[dclassens]

hard to tell form this picture but these were mounted on the end tabs of the back rack so they were about even with the mirror glass. the did not block rear view and got great reception. really wish i still had that truck.

 

[Okie-Go]

I have the fender mount and like it. Do a search on e-bay. that's where I got mine.

Okie

 

[jeepit]

I use a Cobra magnetic mount squarely in the center of the roof of truck.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I searched the web and found a pre-formed single CB Antenna Stainless Steel mount that is formed to and screws to the top of the drivers side fender/underneath the hood lip, it is forward of and opposite the factory radio Antenna.



Sorry I can’t remember who I purchased it from, it also doesn’t have any identification marks on it.



Just do a search for “Dodge fender CB antenna mount” etc.

I have a Firestick fender mount made for a Dodge truck. For photos, see this thread and scroll down to post #3 https://www.turbodieselregister.com...e-transmission-discussions/173871-camper.html



Bill

 

[BIGNASTY]

Wilson Mag mount on the roof just take it off every so often and wax underneath it and you wont mess up your paint.

 

[BLea]

Thanks for all the info on CB mounts. I have decided to go with the Firestik hood mount.





2006 LB RSW HR 5th W

 

[Latronica]

Good Looking CB mouning option

I roof mounted mine on my 2011 3500 Megacab. I cut a small hole in the roofline about a foot back from the sun roof where the ceiling bends upward. After mounting a Wilson 5000, I covered it with a speaker grill with a small piece of black insulating foam behind it. Snake the cable down the left side through the C pillar up behind the dash. I mounted a full size Galaxy 99 in front of the console bin by trimming out the little rubber dish that is at the front of the console where it meets the dashboard. The flat roof makes a symetrical flat ground plain and my SWRs are flat across all 40 chanels.



2011 3500 SRW Megacab Laramie

 

[SOLER]

I realize this is a little old, but in case someone else is wondering the same thing, WalcottCb.com is a good site to get this stuff. They have a good selection of mounts.



I personally like having mine up on my headache rack. Good thing about that is you can mount the antenna above the cab. Also, if you want to mount twins, you'll want them 8 feet apart (for best results), and you'll have an easier time doing this if you get it up high and out of the way of your head when walking around the truck. Just don't forget it's there when you're driving around. You don't want to snag them on tree limbs and Sonic drive-ins. I use quick-disconnects just for this reason.



SOLER