CB atenas & any ideas on how to mount them

Hello,

I'd like to see if anyone on here has a 2nd Gen. Tacoma with a cb antenna ? And if so where did you mount the antenna in the bed... ??

 

Just make your girlfriend ride in the bed and hold it.

 

Welcome to TW.

 

Welcome!


Here's mine:



My old one:

 

if you go to an electronics dealer who has a good cb section, they'll have abotu 15 different mounts. it's fun to get creative. personally i have taillight guards, and i used a tube style clamp to mount right onto the side of one of those. i don't have pictures, but if you'd like, i can take some.

 

Thanks...

 

I have mine in the same spot as oakley (except on the opposite side). I used the Firestik NGP mount. I'll take a pic when I get off work.

 

I have a pretty cheep/ghetto mount, It was going to be temporary but it seems fine to me

 

Not a CB but you get the idea.


















I've changed some things up since these pictures but mostly the same.
The antenna bracket is something I made with my Dad's help.

 

For those of you who mount your antennas in the bed, how do you ground the antenna since the bed isnt conductive?

 

i mounted mine on the back driver side corner of the bed where the metal support is so no need worry about grounding

 

Mine is for a VHF/UHF radio but mounting could work the same way....I ran the cable out the cab and through the interior of the bed. I routed the cable up the bed rail and out the first opening near the cab. The mount itself fits inside the rail opening. I drilled a small hole in the plastic bed rail cap and the part of the mount which you screw your antenna into comes out. Below are some photos...have had the antenna on for about 8 months now and haven't had any problems.

 

Now i have a toolbox with a regular l-style mount and a spring with about an 8 and a half foot whip

 

I simply used a Firestik "No Ground Plane" antenna. I was wondering the exact same thing you were since the bed isn't made out of metal. You typically use the surrounding metal on the vehicle to act as the grounding plane, but our Tacomas don't let you do that if you mount it in the bed.
This is from their Website:

The FGX-648 (where X = antenna length in feet) series, 'No ground plane" (NGP) CB antenna kits were specifically designed to solve the problems associated with the lack of ground plane (counterpoise). This normally occurs on vehicles constructed of plastic, fiberglass, wood or aluminum. This includes, but is not limited to, motorhomes, boats, automobiles and 18-wheeler trucks. Ground plane problems typically show up in the form of high standing wave ratio (SWR) and poor performance. The isolated ground plane that is built into the FGX-648 series kits can also eliminate problems on metal base vehicles that lack the sufficient ground plane for proper operation. This could be due to the size of available ground plane (ATV, bicycle, motorcycle, wheelchair, etc.), or because the operator chooses to mount the antenna in a location that is unable too properly take advantage of available ground plane. The versatility of these kits goes way beyond the normal expected uses of a typical mobile antenna kit. Aside from vehicular installations, these kits can be mounted on a pack frame for hunting or Search and Rescue operations. Apartment dwellers can mount them on a balcony railing, or a temporary base station can set up in the forest using a tree for a tower.

 

Doesn't that mark the paint on your cab when you spring it back with a tree branch or low garage door?

 

don't know how much you all know about cb's and antennas but the prime location for antenna mounts is on the fender, opposite of the stereo antenna. Mounting here, with the antenna positioned over the hood of your truck gives maximum reception.

Talk to someone at a local cb specific shop and i'm sure they'll tell you the same!!!

 

It does hit the garage door...but it bends a bit at the top not from the base.....maybe three inches of it rubs....it's never hit the cab...no marks at all...a more flexible antenna might or one that has springs at the bottom...

For my purposes (VHF/UHF) there is really one ideal location and that's mounted dead center on top of the cab....You need the metal ground plane for transmitting and you'd want the antenna mounted as high as possible for reception...the other area is center of the hood....for the same reason....Great coverage wasn't worth drilling those holes or using a mag mount which would eventually scratch the paint...and my personal opinion is that antennas are ugly so I also wanted mine to blend in as much as possible...

I mounted in this location figuring I'd get a bit of ground plane from the cab although I realize it probably makes my antenna more directional than I'd like...

Don't know much about the cb antennas and why the fender makes more sense but I defer to those that have experience...

Prerunner Seth made a nice mount for the hood area...

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/audio-video/78821-custom-ham-radio-antenna-bracket-mount.html

 

fhlashsf, very true about mounting the antenna centered on your roof, this would give the best reception, but for all practical mounting locations the fender is the best in my opinion (and the opinion of a wise old man who owns a commercial Cobra CB distribution and installation business near my house) because like you say the hood will help as a ground for transmitting signals. my previous vehicle was a Jeep TJ and this wise old man almost wouldn't sell me any antenna mount other than a hood mount, i was originally planning on mounting on the rear of the jeep (bumper or spare tire) but am glad i took his advice. Just my experience and opinion. I'd be interested in hearing what another CB professional had to say about this.

 

Has anybody strung there attena this way?