My CB Installation (in detail)

nice job

 

i like the setup.

there is electrical feedback from braking when the squelch is off. i wired the cb directly to the battery so i am not sure how else i could elliminate that noise. however, when i am on trail runs, i turn the squelch on so that there is no background static and that removes the electrical feedback.

i cant think of anything that i would do differently.

i have been through stream crossings that put the water up to my headlights and i have had zero water leaking into the cab from that grommet. i suppose if i left the truck sit in the stream, water might seep in. i suppose i could put some silicone sealant on it if it became a problem.

 

hey great write up .
helped out when installing my cb .

 

hello, just wanted to throw in my two cents. i am running a galaxy 929 in my truck with a 102" whip mounted to the back side of my truck box and i am able to hear and talk pretty far. i live in Hawaii and i have honestly had conversations with people in Australia, Alaska, California, Washington, Oregan, Arizona, Colorado, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. i have also heard people from Japan and Mexico, but haven't talked to them because i don't speak those languages. from what i learned on CB radio talk forum, its not about how good the radio is but how good the antenna is because all "legal" cb radio outputs is supposed to be only 4 watts. thanks for letting me throw in my two cents. Aloha all

 

dlg, how many watts is your antenna?

 

i'm sorry, what do you mean? i'm not running any boosters or amps if thats what your asking. the cb is a stock 929.

 

i'm not too familiar with cb setups, i thought u were saying legal antennas are 4 watts, so if they are stronger you will get better reception, so i thought u were saying you had more wattage, but im prob just confusing myself more, if you dont know what i'm talkin bout, then it prob doesn't mean anything

 

yea i thought the antenna's were just plugged into the back of the cb radio with a coax?

 

@ nammer, ok, i think i know what your asking. yes, antenna's are just connected to the back of the cb via coax cable. the 4 watts i refered to is the output wattage of the cb radio. the legal limit is 4 watts (atleast here in Hawaii). so in order to get the best possible range you need to set up the best possible antenna you can (the better the setup the further you can talk). yes, putting boosters or amps or pumping up the watts in your cb (if possible) will give you more power to reach further also but i really don't want any federal agencies coming after me.....lol

so in short- expensive radio + bad antenna= short range
cheap radio + good antenna= long range
expensive radio + good antenna= better long range
cheap radio + bad antenna= you talking to your self....lol

 

haha, cool, thanks for the clarification, i appreciate it, yea that explains everything

 

"as recommended, the antenna is at least 2/3rds above the cab"

op, if you can or want to try something to get a little lower SWR reading and a little bit farther range, you may want to try and move you antenna to the rear corner of the bed. my dad has the same antenna and fold over as you and had his mounted like yours. when he added his truck box, he move it the the back corner of the bed and he now can talk farther and, if i remember correctly, his SWR readings dropped to around 1.3:1. just something you may want to try.

oh yeah, my dad has a 2009 (i think) access cab 4x4

 

Man I gotta get those parts

 

Great job with the install, write-up & pics.

 

CQ...CQ....CQDX...Do you copy?

 

sub'd. Looking to do a group ride out in silverado on the 2nd of July and this may come in very handy. Thanks OP!

 

That's badass. I like how the firestik can fold down, I haven't seen that before, i'm sure it comes in quite handy. I'll have to do this when I get the cash. I miss having a loud speaker since Iraq too, had way too much fun with that, may have to do that was well, ooooh I can see the flashing blue and red lights in my rearview now... lol.

 

Good call with the fold-down!

 

that spot for cb would drive me crazy. especially with all the wire showing before it runs under the seat. i mounted mine here:



for a bunch of different reasons.

its screwed to the change holder thing so it can be easily replaced when if i were to get rid of the truck

the fuse box/good ground location is right behind it, and the CB's power is tapped into the ignition fuse so it only comes on when the truck is on, fool proofing it from me killing my battery by leaving it on

wires are all hidden, and very easily hidden, power/ground runs up behind the coin tray the radio is actually mounted to, and coax cable comes in just over the plastic right on top of the kick panel....

also, so i could mount the microphone clip to a switch blank, once again, making it easy to replace if i were to decide i didnt like it there or was getting rid of the truck, youd never know it was there. it was also just a super easy location to put it, out of the way, and noone can really notice youre a nerd with a CB lol.

 

For all you guys out there that are nervous about drilling holes in your dash and resale, these are a few things I try to do/ think about.
Try to drill holes under the dash rather than right in the face. Most dealers will completely miss those when you go to trade and you can always explain to s PP sale why they are there if they are seen.
"Christmas tree" trim plugs are a great way to camo your holes if necessary. Your local body shop will have SEM dyes in rattle cans if you need to color match
LED indicators are a good cover for a dash hole.
Many times, a heat gun can be used to soften the plastic, and close up a small screw hole. Be very careful and do your research before doing this as you can also melt it, or discolor it