CBI Ditch Light Brackets for CB/Ham Antennas

[Jhalko]

OK folks, got started yesterday by mounting the passenger side bracket. I got it bolted up to the hood and taped a couple of pieces of scrap wood to the bottom of the bracket and then heated the firewall shroud with a heat gun. After what seemed like the correct amount of time, I closed the hood and pushed down on the corner. Had to do this twice to get the hood to close without being raised up. This is what the shroud looked like after reforming. I may have to do this once more to get a little more clearance but so far so good. I may have gotten the plastic too warm so will go a bit less aggressively in the future

Have you finished this up? Noticed that CBI has updated their site to be able to purchase individually now.

 

[BettysNephew]

[MENTION=91899]Jhalko[/MENTION]
I have not other than the pix of the bracket mounted. Helping a friend with breast cancer has over ridden a lot of fun stuff for the time being. When I get more time I will update.

 

[cjacob316]

I used this as an antenna mount, but I am getting a high SWR, likely from the powder coating. So it's something to think about when doing this mod. I have to figure something out at this point.

 

[ouscubagrad]

2. Is the end of the bracket where the light mounts large enough in diameter to have a 3/4" NMO mount hole drilled in it?

Did you find out the answer to this?

 

[Gazer]

I'm about to install the passenger side mount on my 2015 TEP to use as a CB antenna mount. Any others that have tips on the heat gun method?

 

[raycie]

I'm about to install the passenger side mount on my 2015 TEP to use as a CB antenna mount. Any others that have tips on the heat gun method?

Install bracket... see where the it contacts the plastic... heat the area, slam the hood shut, repeat...

 

[Jhalko]

Yep, as above, super easy, just watch for the plastic to start to melt and you know it's done cooking! If the first close doesn't do it you can easily do it again.

Also, I had to mount the CB bolt and stud before installing the ditch bracket as there was not enough clearnace for bolt after.

 

[Jono.ful]

you're going to get interference from your LED's no matter where on your rig you mount the antenna, I would think though that mounting the antenna immediately next to the lights would only serve to make this worse. just some food for thought

 

[Jhalko]

you're going to get interference from your LED's no matter where on your rig you mount the antenna, I would think though that mounting the antenna immediately next to the lights would only serve to make this worse. just some food for thought

We are using the bracket for an antenna instead of a ditch light mounted to it, I've had no interference from anything there? Had to run an extra ground strap under the hood but no biggie.

 

[Jono.ful]

We are using the bracket for an antenna instead of a ditch light mounted to it, I've had no interference from anything there? Had to run an extra ground strap under the hood but no biggie.

ah fair enough. basically anything with any sort of electronics is going to cause some degree of interference. for me, the ballasts for my HID's seem to cause the most. grounding the mount isn't really going to help this unfortunately, but will provide you with better counter poise (ground plane)

 

[Gazer]

Thank you

 

[mjacx]

2. Is the end of the bracket where the light mounts large enough in diameter to have a 3/4" NMO mount hole drilled in it?

Any answer yet?

 

[sgvnut]

We are using the bracket for an antenna instead of a ditch light mounted to it, I've had no interference from anything there? Had to run an extra ground strap under the hood but no biggie.

Where exactly do you put the ground strap between? Do you put it on the bottom of the mount or top above the plastic ring? On mine, the bottom connector on the bottom of the mount is grounded but the top part is not. Trying to figure out if the top part is supposed to be or not.

 

[Jhalko]

Where exactly do you put the ground strap between? Do you put it on the bottom of the mount or top above the plastic ring? On mine, the bottom connector on the bottom of the mount is grounded but the top part is not. Trying to figure out if the top part is supposed to be or not.

Mine is attached at the same point of the antenna wire, both are below the bracket. When I first hooked it all up my swr was terrible, I attached the ground strap and it came right down, haven't touched it since.