Guide: CB Install + Wiring in a 3rd Gen

Hey guys, I've been poking around the forum for a bit looking for info on how to best accomplish this and through some good advice from WileECoyote and 2016BBP, I was able to get the job done pretty quick and easy.

Here's the rub:

I'll start with saying this is a pretty casual setup. Whatever gear you choose will obviously have an impact on your results. For me I'm really only interested in highway chatter and nearby communication with buddies, so it's effectively the mall crawler of CB configurations. The antenna placement for me was a matter of preference because I don't want it to be too tall as I'm frequently in and out of a parking garage, and also a matter of aesthetics.

My CB of choice is a Uniden Pro 505XL, and the antenna is a 3' FireStik.

As WileECoyote was helpful in pointing out, there is a correct way to arrange all the base pieces of the antenna on the mount:



The first thing I wanted to do was identify an access point into the cab through which I could run my cabling. Drilling holes in my brand new 3rd gen isn't appealing, but luckily there are a few options already setup. The grommet I choose came at the advice of 2016BBP which was just about perfect in terms of placement and size. It's a few inches directly behind the front passenger seat's rear-right bolt. Take a look under the cab and you'll spot the grommet.



Assuming you've got floor mats, when all is said and done you can hide the entirety of the cabling by using this one. So, on to the next step: remove the grommet and punch a hole!



Do your best to make the hole no bigger than you have to. It should be a tight fit but enough for you to be able to get the cable head through.



Once that's done, you'll need to cut the opening in the grommet. Best to do this with a knife in a cross pattern. No larger than the inner circle of the grommet. It'll be tough to get it through there, but you want only just enough of a puncture to be able to fit the head through. Be very careful with how you're forcing it through the rubber. You want to make sure the head of the cable is what you're pressing on and not the cable itself. You don't want to bend and break the cable just behind the connector.



At this point run the cable through and begin running it along the frame. This is a matter of preference really, so if you can do it using zip ties or any other method you prefer so long as the cable is clear of any moving parts. I chose to run it through the frame as to add tension and keep it clear without having to depend on any other pieces.



The tension is important for this next part because the cable then runs up behind the wheel well plastics. This is arguably the biggest pain in the ass of the whole process because you have to stretch the inside of the wheel well to get it down through the opening toward the fender.



Once you've gotten it through, run it behind all the plastics and make sure the cable tension is good leading all the way back into the cab.



If you choose to mount the antenna in the same place I did, be sure to use one of the inner fender flare bolts as they are metal to metal (grounding) and have the length to accommodate a secure and strong mounting. Be mindful of the washer as you loosen the bolt as it will pull on the fender flare. You'll want to bend it to the side to clear it as not to snap anything. Once you've fit the bolt through the antenna mount, tighten it to the point where it's firm and doesn't have much give, but don't be a jackass and over-torque the bolt.

Now that both ends of the cable are connected, pull any slack you have on the outside back into the cab and reinstall the grommet. Get yourself some silicone to seal the hole you created to run the cable.



The remaining cable slack and easily be concealed under the center console and tucked away for a clean install. I'd advise against just stashing it under the seats as you want as much of this as possible to be clear of moving parts.



And finally, the finished product:

 

Thank you for the install guide. This will be of great help to many.
Maybe you could cut down the size of the pics a little though?

 

Done, thanks for the input!

 

I have to ask...

1. Why punch a hole thru the carpet and not run it underneath instead of just covering with floor mats?
2. WTF made you decide on that antenna location?

 

Props for doing it but you're gonna have to move that antenna. First time you stuff the rear tires that's gonna get destroyed. Maybe look for a shorter antenna and mount it in the bed. Maybe Just remove the antenna or fold it down.

 

Carpet is a quick and dirty way of doing it, sure. But to get far enough under the carpet to be able to do so requires unbolting the seats, removing some staples and ultimately dragging up the insulation. Effort involved in all of that seemed a bit excessive for the same result aesthetically.

As for the antenna, again a matter of preference. Punching a hole in carpet is one thing but drilling holes in the body is another. I've got the tonneau cover which basically limits most traditional mounting locations. Is there a benefit to having it somewhere else?

 

ohhh, I see.

*Another tip, using a cable with a removable PL-259 connector makes install mucho better*

 

I'm looking to do the same type of CB mount in the cab and mound the antenna on a hood channel mount. It looks like some of the pictures are gone, could you repost them? I'm curious about the grommet you used. Also, how did you connect your radio to a power source? Thanks!

 

OP i was wondering if you can repost all the pictures i'm about to install my cb next weekend and would love to see how your setup ended up looking.

 

I'd like to see the pictures too

 

All your picture links are broken

 

Where did all the pictures go... Anyone seen a thread with photos describing this?

 

Would like to see the pics up again as I am looking at doing a CB set up soon.

 

I just did a CB install and did this write up with a lot of pictures: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/clean-cb-install-on-my-trd-pro-not-janky-at-all.490998/