Clean VHF/CB radio installs

Finished my install before heading out to Shuswap this past weekend. 90km of logging road into my cabin so needed it done. Lost my external speaker somewhere so that is the only missing piece now.

 

I'm digging that fender mount, where'd ya find that?

 

At my local radio shop. I dug around through their mounts and found one that was close to what I needed then slightly modified it to fit. It's stainless steel so it's solid and will never rust.

 

You fix the main unit on the floor ?

 

Yes I just used self tappers through the floor pan. Made sure I didn't go through the air ducts or any wiring underneath.

 

I went through the gas tank doing that once on a Suburban.

 

That is a super clean install! I'd like to do this! Can you show me where your ran the Coax into cab?

I have a tonnea cover, I plan on using a fold over adapter so i can tuck the antenna under the cover. I plan on making a bracket to attach the antenna to the side rails, but for clearance under the tonnea, the antenna will sit about 6" or more in the bed especially if i add a heavy duty spring. Will this cause an reception issues?

I plan on running a firestik II, should I get a 4' or 3'? What else will i need to complete the installation? I already have my President McKinley ready to go!

 

This is the type of bracket I plan on making and flipping it 180° to sink the antenna base into the truck bed. I'm thinking a 4' firestik should be fine. Would there be reception issues with doing this?

 

Haven't wired it yet- but love how the icom 7100 controller fits right in here like a glove:

 

Where'd you get that antenna mount?

 

Run the coax into the cab through the ac drain grommet directly under the glove box, you'll have to pull back some carpet to see it. You can just tuck the wires under the trim for that panel. I wouldn't think you'd have any reception issues being 6" in the bed, but go with the 4' firestik because with being inside the bed 6" you won't get much reception. Also in that location you will have swr problems, you'll need to run a ground strap on radio mount bolt to your frame to bring your swr down or you will destroy your radio. I'll post some pics of mine. Also wouldn't putting a bracket on the frame interfere with the bed cover mounting? I honestly don't know, I've never had a cover but I always thought they've used the whole bed rail. You could throw the antenna on a ditch light mount too and just not have to worry about that whole mess. To get the coax and ground wire run I guess you could either just go under the cover depending on how flexible whatever you got is, or you could drill a small hole in your bed like I've seen a few other people do.

 

I don't see any problems with doing that, might as well just flip a k24 mount though. They have different layers (inner and outer) metals on cb mounts, so your swr will thank you if you just go with a normal firestik mount. Some people that I know have had luck making their own mounts, some people haven't had so much luck. Also you'll need a ground strap one like the one I posted a couple posts above this

 

Thanks for the reply! I can't wait to get this set up!! Your set up is what I am looking for so I don't have to drill holes.

The radio will sit in my center console storage/armrest, it has a 12v power adapter already in there. I didn't see in your original post that you ran the coax under the glove box, thank you!!! I was thinking the same thing regarding reception issues, so I did get the 4' antenna, I will also run a ground wire. I'll run it similarly to yours, thank you for also showing that!
I plan on making an L bracket similar the one you have, just a little longer and flipping it 180° so it will sit in the bed. The tonnea is secured on all 4 corners of the truck bed using the bed rail, the rest of the rail is unused. The bracket will have to sit lower in the bed so the tonnea clears the heavy duty spring and quick disconnect I plan on running. I'd put the antenna on a ditch light bracket, but I'm already running 4 ditch lights, 2 on each side of the truck.

I will be using the firestik fire ring non fme coax because of its low profile and because the PL-259 connector can be removed to get into small spaces. I'' probably follow your photos and run the coax from the back to the front using them as a reference.

So far I have a 90° PL-259 connector for the back of the cb because it will be sitting vertically, the fire ring non fme coax, 4' firestik, heavy duty spring and quick disconnect...is there anything else i may need?

Thank you again for your help!!!!

 

You’ll need a swr meter if your radio doesn’t have one built in. And jumper coax for it. Also if you’re making the bracket you’ll need the coax stud with the fire ring connection. I also just noticed you’re a second gen, second gens also have a grommet behind the back of one of the rear seats they can run the coax into the cab through

 

Thanks!
My President McKinley has a built in SWR meter, so I'm good on that. The fire ring I ordered has a stud included, so that's checked too! I actually have a 3rd gen...the 2015 is the one I sold lol...guess I'll have to fix that.

I came across this post, https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/where-to-run-cb-coaxial-cable.181314/#post-16073041 This may be easier to run the coax vs under the truck, through the AC drain, down the center console and into the center console storage box...but I have my doubts I'll be able to thread the coax between the bed and the cab.

 

Nice work!! Does that small pocket/switch panel pop out easily?

 

3rd gens don’t have that plug, that’s why I ran through ac drain grommet under glove box

 

Just a heads up that the 12v power supply is the center console is VERY noisy. I ended up running a direct line from the battery into my cab for my radio.

 

Do you have detailed pics of the mount you made? I am super curious about how it attaches and if you received dimensions from another radio would you want to make more?