CB antenna screwed into undercover?

Has anybody tried this?

I'm trying to get a CB mounted that works with my undercover tonneau on. I don't really like the look of the hood lip mount or rear tailgate mount, and I don't want them to scratch the paint either.

I'm thinking that I'll just drill a hole in one of the thinner parts of the cover (where the load bracing is not), put the roof mount in, and wire up ground and coax inside. - I'm aware I'll have to run a ground wire up from the frame to the mount, this is OK.

I figured I'll run ground and coax through that useless side-pocket, and make them quick-disconnect, so I can just disconnect them and stuff them in that pocket when I take the cover off.

Lastly, I'll put the CB antenna into the mount using a quick disconnect or maybe a fold-down mount (although reviews of these have been ... poor.)

Any thoughts?

 

If you're a nerd you could drill a hole in the middle of your engine hood for your antennae like I saw a Ham operator do to his Tacoma...and it looked like shit..... Just a thought you might really like it.....

 

Hah, well, trying to avoid the truck looking like shit. I think it would look about like having it mounted along the bed rails or on a toolbox, my only concerns are reception and making sure I seal the cover so it doesn't leak. Nobody has tried this? Adventure, then I guess!

 

I'm assuming the tonneau is not metal? If so, make sure you get a NGP (no-ground-plane) antenna.

 

Well, I was going to run a ground wire to the frame, like I said.

 

did you ever figure out how you were going to mount it? im in the same boat, and dont want to put a hole in my cover. I was thinking about something that would go between the cover and the bed in the front of the truck bed. I know it might be close to the cab, but I would be ok with that. Let me know.

 

I ran the cable out the back of the cab and through the side wall of the bed....I pulled up the plastic rail (bedliner) that sits on topside of the bed...I drilled a hole through it right where it sits on top of one of the bedstake openings. I connected my cable to a small NMO mount (for VHF/UHF radio)...the top part of the mount---where you screw the antenna in---I pushed through the small hole in the plastic bed rail and the rest is hidden underneath and sits in the bedstake opening..without an antenna it looks like a small metal receptacle is coming up through plastic...I just screwed the antenna on and it looks like the antenna rests on top of the plastic rail but is fully secure....

I'm sure my write-up is confusing, I'll take a picture of it in the morning and throw it up here..

 

I think you can enjoy radios but don't want to advertise they're there. I know for me I love my little UHF/VHF radio but hate the look of the antenna...but anyway, to each their own....Here's some photos to give you an idea of what I did...

 

I made a custom mount for the lip of the hood...I didnt have to drill any holes, and its symetrical with the radio antenna...only the CB antenna is slightly larger but I think it looks good. I've had it for 2 years with no problems and I have amazing reception. I'll post pics on my lunch break when I get a chance to go down and snap a few pics

 

Doesn't matter. A ground wire does not make a ground plane.

 

fhlsh that is a great mount job you did. I believe I will take your idea when and if I ever get another tacoma....