I am in the process of installing a Cobra 25 in my 2001 Ranger. As for the power connections I have that figured out. My question is this. I have the antenna mounted on the bed, the bed of the truck has rubber plugs so that the coax can be ran thru those. I cannot seem to find a plug in-cab to run the coax out. I am not very happy about having to drill a hole thru the cab.

One other thing... There are not many places to mount the cb in the truck where it isn't taking up valuable space. This truck is an extended cab, standard tranny.... So mounting it on the hump between the floorboard is out of the question. I thought about mounting it to the back wall of the truck, but that would make it hard to change channels and set the SWR, etc etc.

Am I missing the plugs location? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Randy

 

I dont know much about where to run the wires without drilling however it could be neat to mount inside the console or maybe on the front edge of the middle seat in that little nook in the seat.

 

Thanks for the reply! I have thought about mounting the cb in the nook. Actually that is where I want it but due to the fact that my wife is so short she would have to move the seat every time she drives it and I am afraid she would be constantly pulling wires loose.
You would think there would be a rubber plug located somewhere in the back of the extended cab area just for that purpose. I will admit that I haven't searched for one very much. I am gonna make it a point to do so this weekend.
I think I can find a place to mount the cb where it will be handy for all adjustment *****. But any ideas will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again, tpatten, for the reply!

 

I believe you'll find a plastic plug by looking under the cab on the left rear corner. You just need to make a small "X" cut in it and run the coax cable through it. Then run the cable over to the frame rail and back to your antenna. I put a little silicon sealant around cable where it goes through just to ensure its sealed.

 

Thanks, Rev! I was almost sure there was one but wasn't sure where. I am suffering from a broken leg and getting down there looking around is kinda hard to do, but I have the determination to do it.

People don't understand why I want a cb in it due to having a cell phone. They can't understand that it is a tradition....lol

I sincerely appreciate the reply! I'll let ya know the results.

Take Care,
Thunder

 

In the ’03 there is a plug under the driver’s seat.
Don’t make too large of a hole.

What have you done for the power, you said you had it all set ?

Also, the bed of a truck is not a well grounded part because of dirt in the mounts.
Consider running a ⅜" braided strip from the Antenna mount to the frame; use the silver stuff it is already tinned and there will be less corrosion. Get to bare metal where you mount the braid, use Ring Lugs, external tooth star lock washers and a anti-corrosion paste.

 

Thanks, Scrambler! That is some very useful advice. I had planned to do exactly what you stated. As for the power, I think I will run it straight from the battery with an inline fuse and noise filter.

Let me know what you think about that, please.

Thanks for your help!

 

Also think about running the ground wire back to the battery, sometimes helps AND…

If you run both the red and blk wires to the battery, twist them 10 turns every 12”, this too helps sometimes.

One more thing… an old piece of coax, good grade, can act as a power cable for a std CB. Powr in the center, ground on the braid; ground the brad either to the battery negative post or as close to the battery as possible. Whem you get to the battery just strip back the outer shield and pull the cnter out of the braid.

 

On my ext cab 03 the floor plugs are under the area of the door jamb. You can get to the top of them via the opening for the jump seat.

 

Thanks to all who posted! I appreciate the advice and had planned on putting all of it to use this weekend but it is coming a flood today so I'll have to postpone the installation. Can't afford to get the leg cast wet.

I am happy to know there are still people in this ol' world willing to help!

Thanks,
Thunder

 

i have a 99 ranger extended cab with a cb radio...... theres a rubber boot under the driver's seat you have to punch a hole in the boot but it seals it self. just make it a x cut or you can drill the boot and seal it with silitcone..... i cut an x in mine and i have no problems at all

 

Use something like an Ice Pick, push it through but not too much.
Depending on what you are using for an antenna… Cut the end off the Coax (if it has a Connector on it) and push just the coax through not the connector. The rubber plug should seal up around the coax if the hole isn’t too big.
Use a Mounting Stud that uses Ring Lugs to attach the coax.
Sometimes it is better to use Ring Lugs on the Antenna End of the Coax.
They allow for easier running of the coax through the truck and they are closer to a 50 ohm match when tuning the system, easier to apply additional anti-corrosion paste if needed and easier to replace if anything happens to the coax.

 

i was just letting you now how i did.... i mounted my antenna over 2 years ago on my ranger. i dont have a connector at the end of mine because im using a ball mount on my back bumper.

im reading perfect tunning

 

You should be using ring lugs on the ball mount so good... That's work.

Luck with it !