I am about to by my cb whip for the truck but im having a hard time figuring out what i need to get and how im goin to mount it. First, what do i need to buy to get it up and going, i know the antenna and the wire, but do i need to buy the bushing and spacer type things as well? Second, does the type of metal matter for a mountingbracket. Sense im getting the whip i want to have it somewhere that it wont have a chance to hit other cars but i dont have a tool box or open ben to mount it. i was thinkin about making a bracket go from inside the bed underneath the topper and out in betweek the cab and the bed right in the center. Is that a good idea for a mounting place, and will it work? i just want to make that iv got everything in order. heres what iv got to work with having the topper there.

outside:



inside:

 

I put my whip mount about halfway down on the outside front of the box (so the whip was in between the cab and box) That worked great, room to have a toolbox and have it open. If you'll notice the front of the box panel goes back about 1/2 way down. I just used a piece of angle iron and bolted it on there.

 

^^ yeah he's got it right pat. just a piece of angle iron or another metal that is relatively beefy bent to 90 degree. then youll have to drill a hole in it to receive the antenna mount screw (the piece that has threads) then your antenna will run to that adapter piece

 

Ford Superduty mount with a heavy duty spring and 4' firestik

 

i wouldn't go between the bed and cab, it will move and hit your window and stuff.

 

just want to make sure but i need to have a good ground for it to work properly. would bolting the metal arm to bed work?

sweet ya thats what i was hoping that i could just use a 90* arm and screw the antenna to it. would bolting it to the bed work cus dont i neeed to have a solid ground for it to work?
i can put a tennis ball were it touches, i would put it farther away but if i had it on the back then id most likly hit someone behind me. i would stick it out the side of the bed but there isnt a good place to bolt the angle peice to get a good contact for groud.

 

Mine never hit the cab unless it was freezing rain and it starting going crazy in circles. That and it was only 3' long so it was pretty stiff!

 

Mounting, ⅛” steel plate, 2” or so wide bent to fit. mainly depends on what you are mounting the metal too.
Also remember, dependent on the type of antenna used, most CB antenna start radiating from the bottom of the antenna, if you mount the antenna to the bed behind the cab, the cab will block some of the signal and may throw off the SWR of the system.

Use a Stud Mount for mounting the antenna to the Plate. Get the type that uses Ring Lugs to mount the coax to the stud mount. This makes running the coax through the truck easier (just ring lugs) and easier to cut and reattach the coax to the antenna mount.

What antenna are you planning on using, what type of whip ?

GROUNDING - very important thing the grounding, without a good ground there would be no radio transmissions. The bed by itself is not a good ground, too much dirt and corrosion in the bed mounting locations, run a braided strap from the antenna mount to the frame and from the bed to the frame.
Always get to bear metal where the grounds mount, use external tooth lock washers between the frame and the ring lug and between the ring lug and the bolt head or nut and use some conductive paste on all of the connections.

The coax is important too, make sure NOT to use Rat Shaq Coax (low quality at best), stick to Belden RG-8X or Time Microwave Coax equal to RG-8X ONLY and Amphenol Connectors; unless you are using pre-made Belden Coax with a connector on one end, then use what is on the coax.
Keep the coax as short as possible and make sure to get the antenna tuned to the system once the install is done. Do not get 18 feet of coax and coil up the left over. Take a piece of string and run it along the route that the coax will go, measure that for the length plus a few feet extra to avoid any sharp bends. Start running the coax from the CB end to the antenna mount and cut off the excess coax.

What else… buy the best antenna you can afford, it is the most important part of the CB System.
Same with the coax, it is the second most important part.
Grounding is everything, get it done right.
Make sure to get the SWR set for the lowest reading, it is called tuning the antenna.

luck,

 

I have a monting bracket I bought at a CB shop that I need to get rid of. Its still on the truck but I had to take the whip off due to trees and crap grabing it and binding it back and it hit the truck.

 

So I am contemplating getting a CB radio, but I am curious as to what everyone uses them for...
Here in Canada, you can't monitor police frequencies or anything, and my buddy was going to get one too but the likelyhood of both of us driving at the same time is slim and none... so what do you use it for? what can it do?
and is there a kit I could get that includes everything I need?
Where do you guys mount the radios in your truck?
I have a manual transmission so under the storage pocket by the HVAC won't work

 

Truck Runs, Trail Runs, hanging, a lot of things, especially on a planned run.

There are kits but usually the product is cheaper than something yu culd throw together yourself.
The best small CB is the Uniden 520 with RF Gain and a pwr mic would be a good investment.
A good antenna would e the Wilson Fiberglass Flexi-Whip or a roof mounted 1000 or 2000 Mag mount.

Search the site for CB Mounting pics, there are a few.

 

superduty fender mount. This is shanes truck but i had the same one

 

x2 on the superduty mount

 

does anybody elses superduty moutn rub on the side of the hood?

 

Mind did, I moved it to a different spot, now it only rubs when it wobbles really bad

 

yeah i couldnt find a spot that it wouldnt rub when it wiggled and now i have missing paint.

 

I used the bolt for the fuse box, there is an indention that if the mount sits just right it won't hit the hood

 

Corner mounting of the antenna will create a funny transmit pattern.
Center mount high as possible.

 

by funny transmit pattern you mean?

 

Antenna Centered - radiation from the antenna will be equally spread around the vehicle.

Antenna on any corner - the antenna will radiate towards the main metal mass, sort of one sided.

That's all,no more.

Now the question is what works for you ?