lets see them CB Antenna Mounts

[dade73]

I'll apologize before hand for partially derailing this thread with this post...

So, it hasn't been fully tidy'd up as of yet (I still need to cut/fab a cover over the radio bodies and a better "holder" for the mics when not in use); but here's a few quick pics of the setup:

Radios: Midland MXT275 for GMRS | Uniden CMX760 for CB
Antenna Mounts: Tram 1246-B Trunk Lip NMO
Antennas: GMRS Daily - Browning BR-2445 | GMRS Trails - Browning BR-1713-B-S | CB Trails - Browning BR-140-B

Both antenna coax come in on the passenger side firewall grommet, across under the dash and down the center tunnel. A small (1/2") hole was drilled in the bottom of the center console cubby for all the wires to come in and the little piece of carpet at the bottom was trimmed to match. Radios are jointly powered off of the 12v outlet in the center console, each with CAT6 extensions so their remote mics plug in at the side of the center tunnel (GMRS on drivers side, CB on passengers side, aligning with their antenna sides). I still need to secure the radio bodies into place, currently they are just held in by friction/space constraints. And I still want to make a little cover over them.

The remote microphones have Magnetic Mic adapters on them and there is a Scosche Magic Mount on the center tunnel behind the shifter to hold whichever one is in use. I'm a huge fan of the whole line of Schosche Magic Mounts and use them for all sorts of things.

Carefully inspection will notice that the center cubby is the generic storage spot for all sorts of communication stuff... It holds the smaller GMRS antenna and the cap for the CB side when the larger antennas are in use; it also holds my Uniden BCD396XT scanner (as well as it's 800Mhz antenna and 12v adapter), my Garmin inReach Explorer+ (plus it's magnetic mount, backpack mount, and USB charge cable), and my Motorola Minitor V pager.

My Baofeng UV-5R lives in the cubby sometimes, and just laying in my drivers side door the rest; it is programmed with all the FRS/GMRS frequencies (yes yes, technically this isn't "legal" use) and has a remote speaker mic and super short Diamond UHF antenna on it. The 12v battery adapter, full size VHF/UHF antenna, and adapters to connect either it or the scanner to the NMO mounts lives in one of the bags in the cargo area.

Anand: Thank you! This is what I was looking for. Helps a lot with my comm ideas. I ordered the same GMRS and CB the other day. Now I will need antennas.
I think the UV-5R(version 2 and 3) have been FCC approved if you have the proper license.

 

[jhguth]

Anand: Thank you! This is what I was looking for. Helps a lot with my comm ideas. I ordered the same GMRS and CB the other day. Now I will need antennas.

I think the UV-5R(version 2 and 3) have been FCC approved if you have the proper license.

Per the FCC's 9/24 notice they are claiming that any radio that had the capability to transmit outside of the amateur bands (which the UV-5R is) is illegal to use even by ham
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-18-980A1.pdf


This is contrary to general understanding (lots of ham radios are technically able to operate outside of ham bands) and the ARRL agrees the FCC is overstepping with the notice
ARRL, FCC Discussing Issue of Uncertified Imported VHF/UHF Transceivers

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[stephan07]

Then I decided to eliminate CB and just use my HAM radio in which case I used a Diamond mount attached to my rack that I can just twist the knob and lay it down on the rack and go thru the car wash or whatever when I want. When you fold it down you tighten the knob so its not flopping around its solid whether its standing up or laying down.

Well, thats a good thing...As beautiful as the Rago Mount is, you will get no "ground" with it...even if you "ground" it to the frame. There is no dispersion.....Looks great, functionality stinks unfortunately. I got it to work some with an SWR, but it really sucked. .....I did the same as you. Keep a portable Ham and Port CB and use the HAM for GMRS/FRS on the trail, and yes licensed.

 

[dade73]

I went with the same setup as Anand. NMO trunk lid mounts. not need to worry about grounding.

 

[DreadgodT4R]

4th gen 4runner cb antenna mount

I’ve been looking for a CB antenna mount for the rear of my 2004 4Runner. Rago Fabrication makes very nice Mounts for 3rd and 5th Gens, So I’ve been bugging them to make one for us 4th gen owners. They are happy to make one, However they don’t have a mock up truck to work with in order to fabricate. I’m in CA, they’re in Kerrville TEXAS. You see my dilemma.

Anyone near Kerrville Texas with a 4th gen 4runner, please stop by or give them a call! You’d be my hero!

They probably just need to take measurements and pics so they wouldn’t have your vehicle very long.

Nobody else makes one to my knowledge, but if you know something I don’t please educate me. My current set up is bending the metal on my hatch. Not cool.

 

[KWSRStorm]

Did a rear jamb kit for cb. Ground strap off the back of the bracket to inside near where the light is. Swr is about 2:1.

Lip nmo for ham. I just have a cheap small antenna for day to day. Have a much larger browning for better range

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[PrettyGoodSam]

following...currently have a magnet mount but am looking for a more permanent style install.

also would love to see how everyone wires theres through/behind the back hatch and through the 4r to the front if anyone has photos or descriptions available!

 

[TerraCrawler]

Well, thats a good thing...As beautiful as the Rago Mount is, you will get no "ground" with it...even if you "ground" it to the frame. There is no dispersion.....Looks great, functionality stinks unfortunately. I got it to work some with an SWR, but it really sucked. .....I did the same as you. Keep a portable Ham and Port CB and use the HAM for GMRS/FRS on the trail, and yes licensed.

The Rago mount sandwiches plastic. You simply run a ground strap from a contact point on the inner or outer bracket, to a solid ground on the vehicle. You shave away any paint at the points of contact, including where the ground portion of any antenna contacts the mount. There is nothing special or specific to any mount, its simply a place to "mount" the antenna, regardless of the mount you must have a ground unless using specific no ground antennas. I don't see how the Rago mount is any different than any other mount in this regard, its just a bracket to secure an antenna to.

 

[AL B.]

Im having a really hard time with my “ground” using the true north fab mount. Reception sucks. May try and sand out the hole for the stud mount and see if it gets a better connection along with the grounding strap that I already made.

 

[Spielightdude]

Wondering if anyone has used a clamp type mirror mount CB antenna mount on a factory cross rail with a ground wire going to one of the roof rack mounting bolts as a ground?

When I had a Jeep Liberty I had one mounted thatcway and it worked quite well.

Also anyone run the antenna cable through the top of the back hatch just closing the hatch on the cable and had any signal or leak issues? Basically open the back hatch run cable through the gap and close the hatch.

I dont go offroad but do a lot of highway travel and looking for good distance.
I habe both a cobra 25 and 29 model cb radios and will probably put the 29 in the 4runner once I get mine.

Trying not to drill any holes if possible into the body and mag mounts although work well scratch the hell out of the roof from my experience.

Thanks

 

[scanny]

Wondering if anyone has used a clamp type mirror mount CB antenna mount on a factory cross rail with a ground wire going to one of the roof rack mounting bolts as a ground?

When I had a Jeep Liberty I had one mounted thatcway and it worked quite well.

Also anyone run the antenna cable through the top of the back hatch just closing the hatch on the cable and had any signal or leak issues? Basically open the back hatch run cable through the gap and close the hatch.

I dont go offroad but do a lot of highway travel and looking for good distance.
I habe both a cobra 25 and 29 model cb radios and will probably put the 29 in the 4runner once I get mine.

Trying not to drill any holes if possible into the body and mag mounts although work well scratch the hell out of the roof from my experience.

Thanks

I run CB antenna cable through back hatch. There one spot in top of back hatch where cable can be pulled free when hatch is closed. Then I route it down the left pillar and cable enters inside the trunk at the bottom, soft hatch seals don't damage the cable.

I have my antenna attached to Thule crossbars and I remove crossbars and antenna during winter so it's on my roof somewhere from April to November. For last 5 years that setup worked good, cable doesn't have any visible damage.

And antenna attached with mirror clamp mount, but I have to use some bending and longer screws since Thule crossbars have not exactly same profile as mirror bars. I think I spent few hours trying to mount antenna the way it's stays in place even after I hit trees with it (I got spring mounted antenna of course). So when I remove crossbars for the winter I keep antenna mounted on crossbar.

But I run my antenna mostly for offroading, and since I didn't want to make any holes I picked no-ground plane Firestik kit. It work well for me on trails and on highways I can hear trucks I don't see, but I would assume that grounded antennas work better.

 

[Spielightdude]

Awesome thank you!

 

[20h4Runner]

Dropbox - Photo 2020-01-04, 2 53 33 PM.png - Simplify your life

Custom made by a local shop. CKautofab

 

[4Fishing]

Here's may DIY mount on a 4th gen.

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[BlackCloud]

Finally got CB antenna on - used Rago under hood mount w/ 4' flexible Firestik

 

[leprechaun311]

Rago mount

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[PrettyGoodSam]

anyone have a mount idea for the side rails of the 2010-13 TE roof racks? I want my cb antenna to be on the roof level, and be able to fold it down when im not using it. i cant tell if the mirror type mount will work or not.

also im looking at ham radios (gonna study for my test during quarantine) and are those little stubby NMO's are all you need antenna wise?

 

[el_kab0ng]

Anyone using antennas on roof racks? (like Bajarack, Yakima, etc)

 

[scanny]

Anyone using antennas on roof racks? (like Bajarack, Yakima, etc)

I attached antenna to Thule square rear crossbar and routed cable through liftgate, but I use no ground plane firestik.

 

[mystiqueskillz]

Finally got CB antenna on - used Rago under hood mount w/ 4' flexible Firestik

Can you share links of where you got everything and all the things needed? Also can you open your hood all the way?