WabdaQ
New member
Honestly I think changing the OEM antenna out is the best route. I did it and love it.
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lets see them CB Antenna Mounts
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PeoplecallmeIan
New member
Honestly I think changing the OEM antenna out is the best route. I did it and love it.
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I don't have an OEM antenna. Mine is a shark fin in the back.
Can you please be so kind and post what is needed to swap out the OEM part? Any tips/tricks?
WabdaQ
New member
I'll do a write up on it tomorrow or Friday. I'm at the hospital right now waiting for this kid to pop out. For now here are some pictures of what I took off and used: Pic1 - OEM antenna mount in driver side fender. Pic2 - threaded rod cut down to height, took a couple trimmings to get correct (factor in that you need enough thread exposed for the antenna spring to screw onto. Pic3 - this is a temporary fix untill I redo the setup this weekend (installing new fender and snorkel), this has been installed for a few months now though and has been on plenty of 4x4 trips with zero issues.
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Much appreciated especially during this time of a new child. Family first. Congratulations BTW!!!
3wbdriver
New member
Firestick antenna on a trucker's mirror mount that bolted right over my Baja Rack tubing. No ground run, but it works fine for the distances we use off road. No complaints from other drivers.
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Thanks for the picture. I can't really tell, but did you purposelessly rub off the powder coating where the clamp sits? I am wondering if that is how you are getting your ground. I had read that you needed a ground to get good reception, but you have proved that wrong.
I am still deciding which route I want to take, but if I do it like you, I was going to run a RF ground to the mounting bolt that attaches the rack bracket to the roof. I tested those bolts and it appears they are grounded.
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PeoplecallmeIan
New member
So grounding the antenna is only for getting better reception? I'm pretty sure the distances from the other rigs can be done one 2 ways. I just didn't know what the reason for grounding the antenna was for.
3wbdriver
New member
I'm actually running one of these now. The one pictured above moved around the tubing too much and caused the powder coat to peel.
https://www.amazon.com/MIRROR-MOUNT...2&sr=8-2&keywords=cb+antenna+mounting+bracket
This one can be tightened better but you should still expect some damage to the powder coat unless you run something soft between the mount and the tube. A ground is still a good idea and one I had eventually planned to do, but the CB has worked better than I expected on our group runs. So I just never got to it. Your roof rack bolts will go into steel threaded sleeves in the roof so a ground like you describe should work. I have transferred the antenna to an all aluminum SSO roof rack now and only use the 90 degree side of that bracket bolted to a crossbar. Still no ground. During a recent trip to Oklahoma we spread our convoy out to see how everybody radios did. They told me my transmissions started getting a little fuzzy at around 1/2 mile from the nearest vehicle. I'm sure it could do better, but again I only use it in groups and that distance is acceptable to me.
One thing I would recommend if you go with a roof mount is a spring at the base of the antenna. It's going to see a lot more hits higher up. Several people in my group get quite entertained watching mine flopping all over the place in our dense woods.
https://www.ragofabrication.com/products/ham-radio-hood-mount
Has anyone run this hood antenna mount? Will it work for a CB mount?
Has anyone run this hood antenna mount? Will it work for a CB mount?
e60ral
Banned
it looks like an NMO mount, so you would use an NMO CB antenna or get an NMO adapter. It looks like you probably also need an NMO mount (that's the part that screws into the hole that connects your antenna and the antenna cable http://a.co/9K2NwAr), you'll need to confirm it's not included.
i'm using something similar (attaches directly to hood) with this antenna:
http://a.co/80xiuBV
i had to trim a good amount to tune the whip, but i have a ~1.25 SWR
i also tried this adapter: http://a.co/2wysWXy with a CB antenna I already had but strongly preferred the NMO whip antenna
(this is the mount I'm using for CB and Ham: http://a.co/dfRuWJo)
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Hmm so my firestik wouldnt work? Or I would need something like this?
https://www.amazon.com/Tram-TRAM1295-8-24-Antenna-Adapter/dp/B00YT6MGHG
How do you attach to CB cable to it?
Edit: ah got it, it uses a totally different type of connector on mount side. How is the grounding on those lip mount antenna brackets?
Edit 2: i should have just read your post more thoroughly.
I already have a firestik antenna (free from a long time ago) if I buy this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NP7D1BA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_kj5YAbKPX7G10
and this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010MAVD6M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_Dg5YAbM5ZQN29
I should be good to go and expect good results?
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e60ral
Banned
the mount I use seems to have good grounding, this rago fab mount should too but since it's powder coated you might need to remove some coating or use a small grounding strap.
yes, but get a spring because those firestik antenna's don't flex much and might cause a problem with that mount if it hits something (this is why my firestik collects dust and I use a whip antenna). if you really want to use a firestik i would consider the rago fab mount since it's so beefy
yes, but get a spring because those firestik antenna's don't flex much and might cause a problem with that mount if it hits something (this is why my firestik collects dust and I use a whip antenna). if you really want to use a firestik i would consider the rago fab mount since it's so beefy
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Can you run a ground strap if needed using the mount you posted?
all4adventure
New member
Picked up the RS-720 from DX Engineering. It’s a clamp that fits perfectly on the side of the rear hatch. I liked it because it wasn’t permanent, no drilling, height and angle adjustable, and lifts with no issues on the gate. Still have yet to wire it up to my CB but I’ve seen the final product from a guy on instagram - [MENTION=141062]sponsoredbywifey[/MENTION] - and it looks great!
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sinks88
New member
Where is your cables running into or around? I believe I am going to get the same one and just curious how you ran yours. THANKS
ScarfaceT4R
New member
So I have seen some pretty creative wiring, & you kind of have to be with this one. As for the ground wire, I drilled a small hole in the bumper above the bracket & just ran that wire to the frame (if you're already drilling 3 holes, why not do a small 4th?). The actual coax got zip tied back up the mount & ran thru the same hole as the ground wire (used a rubber gromet to clean up the appearance & small amount of silicone to ward of unwanted water going in it). Then I ran the coax thru the side panel, via accessing it thru the jack location pannel & then pulled it thru with a wire hanger thru the hole in the panel where the rear seat adjustment bracket thing is. Then just ran it up front under the door kick panels.
Good luck, it's a fun one!
*Edit, don't know why the picture came out sideways...
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Instead of getting that NMO adapter can I just use a washer to size down the hole? Nylon or metal
e60ral
Banned
to mount an NMO antenna? no, because it's how you attach your coax
to mount a 3/8" antenna? you could probably hobble something together but it wouldn't look good or be sturdy. You could just ask them to make you one with a 3/8" hole, but then the thing you need to pay attention to is clearance below and make sure a 3/8" will fit.
Ya to mount a 3/8 antenna. I have a free firestik and already have a pl259 coax laying around so would nice if I didn't have to buy a bunch more stuff.
On having [MENTION=139789]RagoFabrication[/MENTION] drill a 3/8" hole instead of 3/4" NMO in the mount...no go, had to be one of the least informative conversations Ive had with an aftermarket part company.
Me: Can you confirm that the antenna mount doesnt require trimming or cutting?
Rago: Our CB mount video install is posted online you can watch that to find out.
Me: That is the video for the rear mount CB I am talking front hood mount.
Rago: Ill ask...no trimming.
Me: What is the diameter of antenna hole in hood ditch mount?
Rago: Thats patented information we cant give that out.
Me: Can I special order one with a 3/8" hole.
Rago: Due to patents we can not make one with a custom hole size.
Me: Can I order one with out a hole?
Rago: Due to patents we can not ship a product that has been altered.
Then I switched to asking about their regular ditch light bracket thinking it might work just as well as the antenna mount and hole would be closer to or smaller than 3/8 stud...
Me: Can I order just one ditch light bracket?
Rago: No those are only sold in pairs.
Me: For your ditch light brackets can you tell me the width of the slotted hole for the lights.
Rago: Due to patent policy I can not answer that question.
Me: JFC I am calling about a metal f***ing bracket. Im not calling Lockheed asking how they build their F35s
I know most don't care about this but I did want to let Rago know how frustrating it was talking to them about their products.
