CB Radio powering tips?

[Moist]

For those who have a CB radio, how did you power them?

I'm trying to run it through the Cigarette lighter fuse with a fuse tap and everything but the radio is working.
I did have to cut off the crimp connector to the fuse tap because it broke when i crimped it. So I tied the two cables together. (Radio Hotwire and the tap wire)
Otherwise I have the ground wire taped to the door panel.
I'm using a 19 DX IV with a 3 foot antenna mounted to the roof

 

[DAW89446]

Don’t have a CB in my T4R, but did have one in my ‘02 Tacoma TRD.

Due to lack of easy under-dash accessibility, I simply spliced a 12v male outlet plug from an old non-working item to the CB’s power wires and plugged it into one of the two outlets in the lower dash. Worked just fine for years.

 

[ArthurKotb]

For those who have a CB radio, how did you power them?

I'm trying to run it through the Cigarette lighter fuse with a fuse tap and everything but the radio is working.

I used an Add-a-Tap to my fuse panel for my Sirius head unit and that seems to be working fine.

How are you mounting the CB? I've never figured out how to mount one in my T4R without having something bolted to the console. Pics?

 

[Moist]

Don’t have a CB in my T4R, but did have one in my ‘02 Tacoma TRD.

Due to lack of easy under-dash accessibility, I simply spliced a 12v male outlet plug from an old non-working item to the CB’s power wires and plugged it into one of the two outlets in the lower dash. Worked just fine for years.

How did you ground it?

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[Moist]

I used an Add-a-Tap to my fuse panel for my Sirius head unit and that seems to be working fine.



How are you mounting the CB? I've never figured out how to mount one in my T4R without having something bolted to the console. Pics?

Its wedged in between the seat and the center console. I'm using the ashtray to hold the mic

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[ArthurKotb]

Its wedged in between the seat and the center console. I'm using the ashtray to hold the mic

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

Now I see why you want to tap into the cigar lighter

There is plenty of metal below the console. You can remove the top portion and access it, then drill a hole and use a self tapping screw to connect to ground. It's been a while since I was in there but it's not difficult.The very beginning of this video shows you how
Bluetooth Kit for Toyota 4Runner 2003-2009 by GTA Car Kits - YouTube

 

[Moist]

Now I see why you want to tap into the cigar lighter

There is plenty of metal below the console. You can remove the top portion and access it, then drill a hole and use a self tapping screw to connect to ground. It's been a while since I was in there but it's not difficult.The very beginning of this video shows you how
Bluetooth Kit for Toyota 4Runner 2003-2009 by GTA Car Kits - YouTube

My lower console trim is broken and stuck, so I worked my way around it.
I purchased a wire crimp and a fuse tap and got the hot wire into the accesory fuse, then I grounded it off the computer mounting bracket behind the brake pedal.
I'll get a video in a lil bit
otherwise I routed the Coaxial cable in between the driver's side door and the rear door, then into the lower trim, where it crosses over into the cabin.
This is not a pretty way to do it and there's a metric sh*t ton of duct tape.

 

[ArthurKotb]

I'll get a video in a lil bit
otherwise I routed the Coaxial cable in between the driver's side door and the rear door, then into the lower trim, where it crosses over into the cabin.
This is not a pretty way to do it and there's a metric sh*t ton of duct tape.

I've routed the coax in a bunch of cars, station wagons and a pickup over the years. Quite often I just route it under the vehicle and use zip ties to keep it away for things. I never had a problem doing that. A couple of times I'd just drill a hole big enough for the cable, push it through and then put a new connector on the end. Then I'd use silicone to seal around the cable. Sometimes you can route them under the door trim, through the trunk.

I've got a base and car unit but haven't found any nice way to mount it in the T4R. There's just no space, so it sits on the shelf.

 

[DAW89446]

How did you ground it?

I don’t recall that I ever did. Wouldn’t the 12v outlets be grounded, and a standard 12v plug provide for ground?

I mounted the CB atop the dash on its mounting bracket, using “industrial strength” Velcro. It stayed put, even over the worse washboards, never fell off, and was difficult to pull off. I ran the wire down the dash front to the right of the center stack using clips to keep it in place. It was a simple and quick install and worked for years.

 

[ArthurKotb]

This goes back to the 70s when CB was really popular, but the radio case should be grounded to the body of the car as well as the antenna should have a good ground on the body too. It makes for better send/receive. You can get an SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) meter to check the level of reflected signal of the antenna.

My CB was held by thumb screws in a metal bracket that was screwed into the metal under the dashboard. If you check the SWR and it's low then you probably don't have to have a separate ground.

 

[DAW89446]

Obviously 1970s. Back then dashboards were metal, open on the bottom for easy access to whatever wires you wanted to tap into, and easy drill and tap to hang brackets. I had CB radios in my vehicles back then too.

Of course, the Tacoma was all plastic and vinyl dash. There was no underdash access unless you had microscopic hands or tore apart the dash. There weren’t any real flat places to mount it, so I chose the dashtop mounting scheme. It worked though. I didn’t have an SWR meter, but a buddy did and it tested fine. In the Tacoma I had a regular communications center - CB, FRS, a 200-channel scanner, and occasionally a borrowed 2M HAM handi-talkie.

 

[ArthurKotb]

Obviously 1970s. Back then dashboards were metal, open on the bottom for easy access to whatever wires you wanted to tap into, and easy drill and tap to hang brackets. I had CB radios in my vehicles back then too.

Of course, the Tacoma was all plastic and vinyl dash. There was no underdash access unless you had microscopic hands or tore apart the dash. There weren’t any real flat places to mount it, so I chose the dashtop mounting scheme. It worked though. I didn’t have an SWR meter, but a buddy did and it tested fine. In the Tacoma I had a regular communications center - CB, FRS, a 200-channel scanner, and occasionally a borrowed 2M HAM handi-talkie.

So you don't run a separate wire for case ground? Interesting.

Yes, 70s. I haven't installed a mobile unit since then. I have had some temporary installations but nothing on the dash. In the pickup I used to have, I think I just put it on the floor or seat. My '04 T4R just doesn't have any good place to install one. Even the brake controller has only one good place and that is close to the right knee. I've thought about making a bracket that fit over the console, grounding to the chassis under that and running wires up to the dash. I installed a Sirius head unit on a bracket that's mounted inside the glove box. I've added an adapter to the radio to allow phone calls and Bluetooth, with a separate USB connection for charging and 3.5 mm mini jack for the Sirius unit. Power line goes out of the glove box to a cigar lighter connection which is connected to the fuse box.

If you remove the center console and radio covers there is a pretty good amount of access to the dash and it's not hard to do. Still, no place to mount a CB.

 

[BearBio]

I merely bought a portable, handheld unit that plugs into the lighter socket. A magnetic antenna and it all fits in a small tackle box under the seat. For those times when we don't have cell coverage but MIGHT have CB coverage.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000K2YR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Moist]

So you don't run a separate wire for case ground? Interesting.

Yes, 70s. I haven't installed a mobile unit since then. I have had some temporary installations but nothing on the dash. In the pickup I used to have, I think I just put it on the floor or seat. My '04 T4R just doesn't have any good place to install one. Even the brake controller has only one good place and that is close to the right knee. I've thought about making a bracket that fit over the console, grounding to the chassis under that and running wires up to the dash. I installed a Sirius head unit on a bracket that's mounted inside the glove box. I've added an adapter to the radio to allow phone calls and Bluetooth, with a separate USB connection for charging and 3.5 mm mini jack for the Sirius unit. Power line goes out of the glove box to a cigar lighter connection which is connected to the fuse box.

If you remove the center console and radio covers there is a pretty good amount of access to the dash and it's not hard to do. Still, no place to mount a CB.

Aside from wedging beside seat, I had seen people remove the little fold out cubby and put a small one in where that used to be.
I think Im going to velcro strip mine to the center of the dashboard (like DAW did). I don't want to drill or cut into the dash because I'm on my third one and I like the stock interior and I dont want to cause problems down the line whenever I do a full resto.

Side note: Also noticing with the 4th gen 4runner that you really should just run it to the battery directly. Lots of engine noise, and the heater creates a huge disturbance.

 

[Ripper238]

I went with a Midland high power GMRS unit. Plugged it into the cigarette lighter behind the passenger seat since i never use that plug.

 

[DAW89446]

I think Im going to velcro strip mine to the center of the dashboard (like DAW did). I don't want to drill or cut into the dash because I'm on my third one and I like the stock interior and I dont want to cause problems down the line whenever I do a full resto.

A note for you, which I found out after I installed it. I placed the unit near the front edge of the dash. With the weight of the cord hanging down, the radio tended to slowly tip forward, as the screws on each side of the bracket couldn’t overcome that tendency, even if cinched with pliers (mic was clipped to the front of the dash).

Place the unit farther back if possible, so that some of the cord can lay atop the dash. Otherwise, you can do what I did - a couple of rubber wedges shoved hard under the radio stopped it from tipping forward. The only side effect was occasionally one or both would work themselves out and fall to the floor, especially on severe washboard.