"Wheeler's Anonymous"

If you don't mind a hard mount then the next question really is where? The MOST ideal spot is top-of-cab center, strictly as far as location is concerned! So the next best spot is behind center-cab. Finally, either one of the corners, which, usually, people will pick the left and\or right rear. @digitaLbraVo Denny's left rear mount is very nice and I believe is made by @Shmellmopwho ? If I remember correctly, you have a soft topper with a rack of sorts, so a corner mount is best for you then!!! I've never done a corner mount, but I believe that you are just using the tail-gate lock mount bolts (i.e. the ones near the top)? I don't know what the clearence would be like though???

If you also don't mind mounting a mobile then, for budget setups, I would go with the

$44 Uniden Pro505XL 40-Channel CB Radio. Pro-Series, Compact Design. Public Address (PA) Function. Instant Emergency Channel 9, External Speaker Jack, Large Easy to Read Display. - Black

Uniden Pro505XL. A basic CB radio that gets the job done for the price! @dtaco06 Danny mentioned about the NOAA weather channels, that is a nice to have feature. As far as antenna, just like @1truckdriver said, a 4ft Firestik or there is another one that is a 4ft Francis CB-24 Hot Rod CB (NOTE: apparently now a Francis 300-CB24B), and get the 4ft OR 5ft. A longer antenna will help with a bit more range, just to let you know! I don't recommend any smaller than a 4ft!!! Unless there are certain restrictions get a 4ft antenna!!! Either one works though!!! You can get the antenna off of Amazon as well!

So, price: (NOTE: prices do NOT include tax and shipping)
1x Uniden Pro505XL = $28 from Amazon
1x Francis 300-CB24B 4-foot = $15 (not incl tax and shipping) from Amazon (NOTE: a 4-ft Firestik is more expensive and I will get to that some more)
1x Firestik SS-3H heavy duty spring (NOTE: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO GET A SPRING!!!) = $13 (approx) from Amazon
1x

$12 Firestik K-4A Stud with Screw-On Coaxial Termination for Antenna Mirror Mounts

Firestik K-4A antenna lug\bolt = $7 from Amazon
1x 18ft coax cable with PL-259 connectors = $8-25 (prices tend to widely vary, so figure $14 for now)
NOTE: get 18ft length cable as much as possible!!!
1x CB antenna bracket = $?? (I don't know what that would cost you)

Minus the antenna bracket, you are looking at approx $77.00 (does NOT incl tax and shipping)! Either way, like I said, about $100.00 for a decent CB setup

A couple of last things to mention:
1) the Uniden Pro505XL does not have the NOAA weather in it, but it is NOT a crucial thing, just a VERY NICE TO HAVE for a radio setup
2) the Firestik antenna is much more ruggedly built, but I CAN tell you that the Francis has very good SWR out of box and is very lightweight!!! I have both antennas and my go to is the Francis because of its lightweight! Either antenna is fine as far as getting the job done!!!

Hope this helps a little bit Kevin?

Btw, I got just a slight sun burn on my face, but nothing bad Other than that, been doing well!!!

 

Only if you want to mount an external antenna to your handheld???!!! Other than that, yeah, you don't need them

Having an external antenna setup will most definitely help with TX'ing better though, just to let you know!

 

Just to add an antenna mount is 20 bucks or less.
X2 on the Francis antenna as another option. I use one as a spare on my tractor trailer

 

Yeah, there are so many options out there! I LOVE that Wilson mount!!! VERY NICE looking mount!!!

 

Daniel, sorry for quoting you again, but I have a quick question regarding that mount, will it withstand a 9ft steel whip!

 

I would say it would. I mount a heavy Monkey Made MM9 antenna and it holds fine.

 

VERY NICE! Thank you for the input\response!!!

I have a 9ft, actually, I believe it is 8.5ft, but anyways, thinking about mounting it on the right rear corner and I really like the way that Wilson looks!!!

Happy Wheel'n and hoping to finally wheel with you as well! If the Anza Borrego trip happens in Oct\Nov and\or Dec, would you want to go?

Thanks again for the input!!! I'm gonna look into it now, LOL!!!

 

No problem bro . Happy to help. Your posts has also help me tremendously .
Also , I would be very opened to the Anza Borrego trip if/when it happens. Just as long as I'm off them days.
I rarely do over night trips though. Maybe once a year. I want to do Mojave trail in the fall. That'll be an over nighter. We'll see though..nothing is set in stone

 

Yeah, AB is too far for a one night stand, LOL, because there are just TONS of trails out there!!!

Btw, I found that same mount on Amazon for about $16. It's a Wilson 305-700 Aluminum CB Antenna Mount just in case anyone else is interested?! Told you I was going to look, LOL!!! I'm glad my posts are helpful!!! I MUST apologize to everyone for my posts being lonnnng as I tend to get a bit chatty when it comes to this stuff

Happy Wheel'n people!!!

 

So for clarification that mount must be grounded itself as well as the CB being grounded correct? Otherwise you get a floating ground or something?

 

This helps a bunch! You the man

 

Yes ground the mount (antenna isolated from ground usually by polymer nuts/washers) and ground the CB radio to the frame/batt negative as well..

 

Sorry for the late reply! Yes, what Denny said!

 

Really should have taken more pictures.

Will try to get some of the video up from today on Monday.

 

I'm always glad to be of help for sure! I just don't want to come off as a know-it-all because I am NOT!!! I just like helping in passing things along that I've learned to the next guy/gal!

Btw, to you or anyone else reading this, I'm on a tablet most of the times during the weekends just because it is easier for me to lug around, but my question is:
1) Is it my tablet's "software" that has "auto-word" fill-in or the website that I am on (i.e. TW)? Example, I meant to say "ideal" and didn't catch the "ordeal" that it actually inputted for me!!! I catch these auto-word fill-ins most of the time, but it gets REALLY annoying when it does this.
2) Is it a setting on my tablet, or is it a setting on the TW website?
3) I would imagine it is my tablet, correct? If so, I gotta hunt it down so as to turn that damn thing off finally, LOL!!!

Thanks for any input guys

It's a Nextbook Ares 8 with Lollipop

 

Wow, its so affordable and people here have been running it with no issues? I don't see a reason to cabin mount a unit now unless one needs more range.

 

Very nice Danny. Thank you!!!

 

Check these Fuckers out!

Maybe we need to hit Dumont in the fall! I figured those were airsoft until the end...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC1LX8hqETM

http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/barstow/dumont.html

 

That would be an awesome place to make a camping/wheeling trip out of