CB antenna location with camper shell ???

Ordered up a Cobra 75 and 4' firestik and was wondering where folks with a fiberglass camper shell are installing their antennas. Rear bumper? Would it work mounted between the truck cab and the camper shell with a couple feet sticking out above?

I looked through some of the installs but didnt see anyone with a camper....

Suggestions welcomed. Thanks!

 

Best place is on the roof. But, if you drive in a garage, you have to take off the antenna.

Second best would be on the front fender, driver's side. The same place that the factory AM/FM antenna is mounted, but on the driver's side.

The rear bumper is a decent third choice.

I'm having trouble visualizing a mount between the cab and the shell. It doesn't seem like there would be enough room.

Mounting it on a non-metal shell won't work well.

Mounting it on a metal shell might work pretty well if the shell is well bonded to the metal truck body.

 

X10000, This guy knows his stuff. I had mine mounted on the drivers side fender with a hood lip mount, No visible screws, and i had a really good reach.

 

By far the best reception will be with a magnetic mount in the center of the roof. You just have to be willing to remove it when going into the garage.

 

If you read the directions for the firestick, you will need to run at least 2/3's of the antenna above the roof line (regardless of whether it uses a ground plane or not). So you could mount a non-ground plane antenna on a fiberglass shell if you used a thru hole mount.

If you use a 2' antenna on a hood mount, performance may suffer because the cab blocks a good portion of the antenna's radiation pattern.

FWIW, I just received the same combo (with an NGP antenna). I am considering putting the antenna box (or whatever you call it) within the center console somewhere--there are specific directions to avoid the heater motor though so maybe under the dash somewhere. I was thinking about the front bumper for the antenna...now I'm not so sure so it might go on the roof.

 

x2 This setup works well for me

 

Best bet would be to get a Larson base load 10 meter antenna an tune it to 11 Mtrs. And use an NMO UHF mount in the center of the roof. Check it out at Ham Radio Outlet( HRO) The wipe is black ss steel and flexible.

 

Based on some more research I decided to cancel the firestik order and got a Wilson Lil Wil coming. I will figure out a way to run the coax line to the back and out the slider. I only plan on using it when wheeling so I can either leave the antenna stowed in the back somewhere or in the garage.

Thanks!

 

Diamond antenna makes a mount that has verv thin coax and a3 and 5/8 thread . Then you get a quick disconnect . The coax will go through the door and not crimp.

 

i welded a mount directly to my bumper that i made.

wherever you mount it remember you dont need a ground. it has to be a ground plane. so trying to ground the mount with wire will rarely work, it has to be a mag mount which uses magnetic flux to create a ground plane connection or mounting it solid. You can sometimes get away with making a connection to a ground plane by creating an electrical ground but the wire should be at least 8 gauge and no more than 2' long or you will have trouble with getting your standing wave ratios to an acceptable level.

 

how do you like the wilson lil will antenna? looking into a CB set-up

 

I am currently fabbing up a mount for my taco that will go between the cab anc camper shell on the drivers side, it will mount bhing the bed rail and slip under the camper shell and just poke out at the corner between the cab and shell on the drivers side. I will try to remeber to post pics and maybe make 2 at the same time so someone else can utilize it.

 

I want one! Thought about a fabbed mount that sounds like your idea.

 

I have a Bestop Supertop, mounted mine at the passenger side on my All Pro bumper:

 

I went with a Relentless Fab hood hinge mount. To use one you have to go with a stud-type connector like this or this for the coax due to the lack of space underneath the mount.

I originally tried a 3' Wilson Flex, but it didn't clear the roofline enough to tune well so switched to a 4' WF. I park in my garage so went with a Firestik Quick Disconnect. I tried a folding mount first, but didn't care for the way it wobbled around. I have an AC and when I pull the antenna, it sits perfectly across the top edge of the jumpseat backs. Easy to grab and out of harm's way.

Also, for anyone hooking up their first CB, Right Channel has gobs of great tech info.

 

Close up of mount, it goes under the cap and then behind the bed rail, so it's solid. The big washer is there to offset the prior mounts greater thickness. I will replace it with a properly sized one this weekend.

Pic of Antenna from the side. No rubbing even during heavy swaying, in fact it doesn't even knock against anything. I am very happy with how well it turned out. and it didn't cost me a dime, I just had scrap material hanging around.

 

As did I.

 

Was your set up successful?

 

The "Right Channel" as noted by Bobbb is really super for information and packages. They have a NGP (No Ground Plane) installation like that used on fiberglass RVs.