anyone use the stock antenna for a cb radio?

or if you just happen to know that it will work. i dont need ridiculous range. maybe half mile to a full mile.

 

No, I can't see how it could...you would need a dedicated antenna, made for CBs that you can tune to the best possible SWR of 1:1. You can just google SWR tuning and it will give you all sorts of links like: http://www.rightchannelradios.com/pages/cb-antenna-tuning-and-swr-explained-pv-c0-58.html

For $25, you could simply get a magnet mount antenna. I have two Wilson Little Wil's and they are great, and may be removed at will. I have driven with them and have never had one move on me under a variety of conditions.

 

is a cb antenna normally longer than the stock antenna? maybe i could mount it to run parallel next to the antenna. i want something i can leave on that is as invisible as possible.

 

My recommendation is to mount an antenna opposite of your stock antenna using a hood mount. You can search this forum for examples of folks who've used them. Placing a CB antenna next to a stock antenna will probably generate some moderate interference, although, I have never tried it. They also make window-mount Cb antennas that look like the old cellular antennas too that you may find will blend into the truck better.

As far as length goes, yes, they make antennas similar size and appearance of our stock FM antennas.

If I were you, I would use the search function on TW and read up on different installs. Some of these guys are true experts and you can PM them for advice that is far more technically sound than mine. I am a hack when it comes to CB info... i just got lucky with my installs but I did follow advice posted on TW.

Good luck with your endeavor.

 

If your antenna is too long or too short your swr will be off and you can literally damage your cb. There are small antennas that look like a cell antenna as said that have a preload in them. You can also get fold down antennas, or quick detachable antennas.

 

you could probably make your stock antenna work if you wrapped wrapped a wire extension around it to get it tuned and than...you could use plasti-dip to make it look stock again.

 

how about the little window mount antennas?

 

CBs, radio, and cell phones all operate at different frequencies. You're best bet (unless you have an electrical engineering degree) is to stick with what the manufacturer provides.

Saw this set up on TW, looks pretty cool. Super low profile, and the antenna is easily removable when not in use.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/5744/cat/500

 

Radio antenna is a receive only transmission. CB antenna is a receive/transmit. It is not possible to use a stock antenna for a CB. It is however possible to use a CB antenna for a radio. There is a splitter available to be able to run radio and CB off of one antenna. One guy on here has a write up on how to mount a CB antenna in the stock location. It looks really good.

 

From everything that I have read, the window mount (cell phone look) antenna is not reliable. Alot of people on here run the Lil Wilson magnet mount and swear by it.

 

Very bad idea. Factory radio antenna is not designed for CB frequencies, and not designed for transmitting.

 

well, i dont mind buying a cb antenna and using that for my radio. is that difficult?

 

No.

But I have thought about removing my stock antenna and mounting the CB antenna there. I haven't used the FM/AM radio in years.

 

you need an antenna that is at least half of the frequency of the wavelength that you are trying to receive... f.m. and a.m. radio wavelengths are a lot shorter than those used for c.b.'s hence the size difference unless a booster is used. and that is just receiving. the stock antenna will transmit very poorly. Why not just replace the stock one with a stubby c.b. antenna?

 

would this screw up my radio? i still use fm.

 

There you go... problem solved! get a CB antenna that looks half way stock, and run both threw it in the factory location.

 

you guys are awesome, thanks!

 

"lil wil" by wilson