Clean VHF/CB radio installs

Just ragging on ya chief, your install looks awesome. Nicely done.

 

Awesome, thank you sir!

 

Mobile ham shack done - I fabricated a canopy cupboard for my Alu Cab, wired it for a dual band Kenwood TMV71 for voice and Yaesu FTM 3100 for full time APRS using Mobilinkd TNC. Put a 10 inch android tablet for maps, music and APRS when in camp. The cupboard is bolted to the adjacent cupboard for easy access to wiring and removal. Fun project.

 

Ok, where Mr-Paul mounted the CB is great place. However, on the 2018 Tacoma's there is a smartphone charger there and small dome light above. So, I have a 2018 Tacoma and want to mount it in the ceiling. Got any ideas how to do this? I was thinking putting two carriage bolts through the roof and sealing them and then inside mount the CB bracket to the two carriage. That could be a bad idea too.

 

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Not sure if you have a radio yet, but I don't think that I would go through the roof. I mounted mine on the side. The picture shows the Cobra 75 that I had, since then I've changed out to a Uniden 520 or something like that. I don't have a picture, but it's a definitely a little bigger, but not much. If you go this route just make sure that the knee airbag can deploy if your in a wreck. The Uniden that I have now works, but I wouldn't go much bigger. By the way welcome to TW!

 

Where is the control unit located?

 

There's a small gap behind the center council that I put it in. The gap works well to run wires through also.

 

Okay,
I am seeking some advice on installing a CB and will post some links up on the products that I am considering. So, if you don't see links to my parts right away, just give me some time to update my post. its a work in progress.

I am a new to the whole CB thing, but want to mount one in my 2017 Tacoma. I have been looking and have decided on a President "Andy", though I may try and replace the mic down the road.

I was considering using a firestik II 4 foot antenna (black) with a spring on the bottom. Hope this antenna will work with the President "Andy". I was going to mount the firestik II on a mount near the A pillar/hood/drivers side. I also have a set of A pillar lights on my Tacoma...So, I will need to push the antenna mount forward a bit, but not far.

I want to mount my CB box on one of the molle center console panels made by fenderbrace.com

So, here is a list of parts I am considering..........but have no idea if there is a better combination of parts or if I am making the right decision.

CB: President model "Andy"
https://www.president-electronics.us/CB-Radios/AM-transceivers/ANDY-USA-ASC

Antenna: Firestik II - FS4-Black
https://www.amazon.com/FireStik-FS4...?ie=UTF8&qid=1523109828&sr=8-1&keywords=fs4-b

Antenna spring: Firestik SS-3h heavy spring. I wish there was a way to black this out, as my truck is all blacked out (no chrome)
http://www.firestik.com/Catalog/SS-3M.htm

Antenna mount: Considering one of these, not sure which one would fit best. I wish there was a way to black this out, as my truck is all blacked out (no chrome)
Firestik - SS-174
http://www.firestik.com/Catalog/SS-174.htm
Firestik - SS-274 or SS-274a (not sure the difference or which one I would need)
http://www.firestik.com/Catalog/SS-274.htm

Mounting my CB on one of these center console panels made by Fenderbraces.com
https://fenderbraces.com/products/3...2-pieces-e86d8106-9c3b-44ce-8664-f9d4ece6aa6a

So, I have no idea which CB cable I would want to use to connect the CB to the Antenna, but I am sure I would go ahead with one of the ones made by Firestik to keep it sort of matching.

Advice...........suggestions............experience?
Please help me out.

Thanks

 

The setup looks fine to me. Here is some advice on How to Ground a CB Antenna. https://www.wearecb.com/testing-cb-antenna-ground.html from CB World and Equipment Recommended For Toyota Tacoma from Right Channel Radios https://www.rightchannelradios.com/collections/equipment-by-vehicle/toyota+tacoma And, from all my readings it is best to connect the power (positive and negative) directly to the battery with an in-line fuse to eliminate engine noise. Also, you can compare prices at CB World (tons of parts) and Right Channel Radios (I got lots of help from them aka support) when I had questions.

 

Looks like you have most of what you would need. The only thing other than a coax cable is the stud to attach the antenna to the mount.

$11 FireStik K4 Antenna Stud Mounts

https://www.amazon.com/FireStik-K4-...rd_wg=ZAMgd&psc=1&refRID=2BDR6Z4C82MBRMYRFPN6

For the coax cable some thing like this would work fine.
https://www.amazon.com/BELDEN-RADIO...qid=1523113728&sr=1-28&keywords=cb+coax+cable
Firestick also has a cable called fire ring. I'm running that right now and it works fairly good. If you get the fire ring just make sure the PL-259 (the part that plugs into the back of the radio) isn't already attached so you can get the cable through the fire wall easier. The down side with that is you will need to be able to solder the PL-259 connection.

Also the spring you have chosen isn't strong enough for a 4' antenna or even a 3'. I know it says it's for a 4' antenna, but trust me it's not. The antenna will move around a lot even just going down the hwy. If you want a spring I would go with this https://www.amazon.com/Hustler-New-...=1523112126&sr=8-8&keywords=cb+antenna+spring
https://www.amazon.com/Hustler-New-...=1523112126&sr=8-8&keywords=cb+antenna+spring It's a little more bulky, but a lot stronger. You can also go with out a spring if you put the antenna up by the cab. I have a Firestik II also with out a spring and it's amazing what they will go through. In 20 years of working in the woods I've broken one.

You mentioned having an A pillar lights, is that the same as ditch lights? If it is you could mount your antenna using that. You might need to fab up and extension if the lights are in the way. Nothing to much just a piece of metal to push the antenna away from the lights.



The spot you want to mount the CB is fine, that's where I and few others have it mounted. Just be mindful there is a knee airbag under the dash and the air bag needs to be able to deploy. Not sure on the dementions of your radio, but I would double cheack before ordering the radio. I have a Uniden 520 and it just barley clears.

 

There is a lot of good information right here

What I can add is, wire with Belden connectors or Fire Ring we'll save you a lot of space on the bottom of the bracket, whichever bracket you choose to use. There were some complaints about firing corroding ( try to seal the connections so moisture doesn't get in there).
I tried to use SS-174 but because it's 2" wide, I was having hard time finding proper location for it because of curvature of a side of the hood. I was afraid the antenna shake with flex the bracket and would paint on the edge of the hood. So if you do have ditch light brackets, see if you can get an extension and mount your antenna on it, or experiment with narrower brackets...

I gave up on my fiberglass antenna project, an installed NMO trunk lip bracket on edge on my hood, added a ground strap, and got myself a Browning NMO antenna (black).

BROWNING 26.5-30 MHz NMO CB Antenna

$35 Tram-Browning BR-140-B CB Antenna, 26.5MHz–30MHz, NMO Mounting, Black

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013PXD0J6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_m5oYAb64CVCDG
Tram 1247-B MUHF Black Trunk Radio Mount + Mini UHF connector with 17 feet or RG-58 cable

$33 Tram 1247-B MUHF Black Trunk Radio Mount Mini UHF NMO Mobile Radios GM300 Radius M120 M130 Maxtrac SM50 SM120 CM200 CM300 PM400 CDM750 CDM1250 CDM1550LS+ Mini UHF connector with 17 feet or RG-58 cable

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NP7EYYS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_.5oYAb2F2E72W
DHT Electronics RF coaxial coax adapter UHF male PL259 PL-259 to mini UHF female

$7 DHT Electronics RF coaxial Coax Adapter UHF Male PL259 PL-259 to Mini UHF Female Pack of 2

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GN94FOE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_n7oYAbQEAKY5H
Tram 1290 Nmo Rain Cap

$8 Tram 1290 Rain Cap

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00474A1M2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_37oYAb45CT529
There is also an adapter for standard cb antennas, if you choose to still run a 4' firestik
Tram TRAM1295 3/8-24 Antenna Adapter

$13 Tram TRAM1295 3/8-24 Antenna Adapter

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YT6MGHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_98oYAbGK78Q7A


Sorry for derailing your shopping list a bit, depending on what you really want to do, those might be a good alternative.

 

Regarding Chrome spring and ss bracket, you could always plastidip them...

 

Lack of space is why I went with the fire ring. I've had it a year and a half and so far seams to be holding up. You wondering as to whether a bracket along the hood would flex and damage the paint is a valid concern and something @raccoonrough should think about. That's where I've mount most of my antennas and every truck was fine except the last one. The tolerance of the gap was to good (never thought you would hear someone say that did you) and it ended up chipping the paint. Not sure how it is on the Tacoma because I went with a ditch light bracket.

 

Not real sure what the point of that console brace is for a CB application. You're still going to be drilling holes in the console to mount the brace it looks like, you may as well just drill the holes in and mount the CB.

?

 

Selling a Uniden and President CB and all the stuff for a complete setup, going a different direction with comms. Smoking deal on both CBs, 3 antennas, SWR meter and shipping; enough stuff to have two complete mobile setups and spares:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...esident-johnny-antennas-swr-meter-etc.543609/

 

Thank you very much for sharing the links. I have been very busy with work and unable to get back to you before now. But, I really do appreciate all the help and advice. I may have some more questions of course........lol

 

Thanks, this is some great info to consider. I may just not worry about an antenna spring for now.
A-Pillar lights are the same as ditch lights. I will post some pictures hopefully tomorrow.........so you guys can see what I am talking about.

I think trying to find a way to mount the antenna off from my already mounted ditch lights might be the way to go. So, now I will have to look for someone that can make me a bracket to attach to my bracket......lol.

I will get and compare the measurements between the President Andy and the Uniden 520. To see if it will mount there without impeding the airbag. Thanks!

 

Yea, I had thought about that. Just wasnt sure if it would effect the antenna in any way?

 

The console bracket goes on both sides and it has other uses other than just mounting my CB onto. I will be mounting a couple of other things.....like a flashlight and backup handgun. Possibly even a breacher scabbard for my new 12 Ga. Shockwave........lol.

I am aware that these brackets will have to be mounted by drilling holes..........