Thinking about a CB Radio!?

Thought I'd update on my setup here as well. Went through the car wash for the first time after getting the rack and radio. Apparently running the cable in through the rear door seal is good for rain, but no match for the high pressure car wash. Not too wet, but definitely needs some attention.

I'm looking forward to your install in place of the fin antenna iDRiVaT4R. That would be perfect since I don't use the xm. Is the fin easy to take out?

Also a. Update on the quick release I used, it's made by Firestik so I thought it would be nice, but not so much. The antenna came loose and the QR doesn't have a 'nut' section to tighten on. Long story short I torqued it and the pin fell out and is lost in the grass somewhere. So hurry up with the install step-by-step ;)
 
I installed the Wilson 1000 in the location that the shark fin was at on Thursday. I installed he Cobra 75 in the same manner that Ryan_S did his, in the center console.
I measured the SWR in the middle of the parking lot on Friday at work and I was getting a reading of 1.3 on channel 1 and a reading of 1.1 on channel 40.

In order to get the reading closer matched, I would need to raise the antenna more, but that was already maxed out.

I did this in Paint, haha basically to show everyone what I had to do to get the Wilson mounted in the Shark Fin location. I have yet to test it in rain or in a car wash, but I did go ahead a put some form a gasket aka silicon in the roof holes to help seal out the elements. As you can see, the opening was only about a 1/2" so I had to dremel out some material to make the opening 3/4 of an inch. I canceled XM radio, so I just disconnected the antenna in the roof. If I ever get Satellite radio again it will be Sirius Radio.

My digital camera battery charger stopped working on me a couple weeks ago so I'll post some pics later. I'm waiting on a warranty replacement since I've only had it for a month and a half. :crybaby:

Wilson1000install.png~original
 
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Camera is still out of commission so decided to take an iPhone pic.
As you can see, I placed it where the xm Shark fin was originally, I have yet to wash my truck since I installed it; :sobbing:

f88fc292.jpg~original
 
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That looks great! I'm a little nervous about making holes in the roof larger, but I nay have to give this a try.

Is that a mag mount? I would be concerned about it leaking, we get snow and ice here and if I started cutting holes in the roof I would want a permanent solution.
 
Good job there iDRiVaT4R! That's the perfect location to mount an HF antenna for HAM radio use as well! :wink2:

Mike :artist:
 
Ryan_S said:
That looks great! I'm a little nervous about making holes in the roof larger, but I nay have to give this a try.

Is that a mag mount? I would be concerned about it leaking, we get snow and ice here and if I started cutting holes in the roof I would want a permanent solution.
Click to expand...

The Wilson 1000 Coil based antenna comes in a couple versions, the roof mount and the magnetic mount. I installed the roof mount, which is considered a permanent solution. Here is a diagram of the parts. This particular diagram doesn't show the part that goes on top of the roof first. It's a rubber piece that the plastic standoff sits in. The only thing under the roof is that mount body, I was hoping to use a large spacer, but that mount body piece has little bent up teeth that grip the sheet metal roof to ground it out and to prevent spinning when screwing on and off the coil.

Pparts2e.gif~original


Regarding the bigger hole in the roof, I was hoping that the OEM sharkfin hole was big enough but it wasn't so I as mentioned before I did dremel it out some. I put a bunch of silicon under the rubber base and in the OEM holes so hopefully, when we get a downpour in so-Cal or more likely go through a car wash, it shouldn't leak. The shark fin will still fit if I ever decide to put that back in for any reason and the enlarged hole I created will be covered and protected.
 
massive whip?

how's the massive whip antenna working out? have you gone down any overgrown trails that the antenna will hit on? I love how the Wilson base fits on there, but I'm not a fan of the massive whip.

does the whip have much "spring" to it? if you were to bend it way down by hand would it fly back and smash the sunroof?
 
I used it my last off road trip and there was a lot of overgrown branches and shrubbery that the antenna would hit. I could hear it hit the branches every time but not once did it slam back and hit the truck. It is a whip antenna but it gets thicker as it goes down to the base so I don't think there would be any way it would bend enough to hit the roof rack or the sunroof for that matter. If your going under something really low and it would hit the antenna near the bottom, it would prob be a safe bet to quickly remove it just so you don't rip out the roof.
 
harper7 said:
Ryan_S has a write-up here.....http://www.toyota-4runner.org/audio-electronics/69401-cobra-75-wxst-install-5th-gen.html

Definitely be nice to have on the trails!!I bought the same Cobra 75 WX ST but hav'nt installed it yet. Alot of people running the Cobra 75's and get great reviews and are pretty inexpensive.

I hav'nt decided on how I'm going to mount a permanant antenna yet but want to put one on the rear bumper.You can always just get a magnetic one for the roof and run the wire thru the sunroof just when your wheelin and need it.
Click to expand...

Write up is really useful. I'm having a hard time working out how to remove the center console around the gearshift. I would like to put the control box under there somewhere and then have the mic socket where Ryan put it in the center storage. Can anyone give me some pointers?
 
If I remember correctly it just snaps in. So first unscrew the shift knob/s. Remove the front cup holder by gripping it and pulling up. Then Grip the rear cup holder and pull up the rest of the console cover.
 
iDRiVaT4R said:
If I remember correctly it just snaps in. So first unscrew the shift knob/s. Remove the front cup holder by gripping it and pulling up. Then Grip the rear cup holder and pull up the rest of the console cover.
Click to expand...

That did it!!.....I was just being a little cautious and wasn't pulling hard enough. Did put a small nick in the plastic where I started to lever the front up ;-(.....but only I will know its there.

Thanks for the quick reply.
 
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How has the Wilson 1000 held up? Any leaks? I am looking at various options to mount a CB antenna and this looks like a great idea.
 
No leaks, Ive used the antenna portion twice now. I've gone through through the car wash about 4 times since installing it and its been pouring rain most of this year. No issues whatsoever.
 
Hands down, best CB Radio I've ever used. No need to mount a big, clunky box on your rig either. I usually just keep it in the cup-holder on my travels. Has an optional battery setup for hikes, and/or hard-wire accessory to mate right up to your 12v plug & Firestik on the rig.

https://www.amazon.com/Midland-75-8...&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=Midland+CB+Radio&psc=1

Having a CB is a great way to ensure your always reachable and/or able to reach out if in need. I think they are essential for anyone going off the beaten path..
 
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