CB Antennae Mount.... $36 for Everything...
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Cool, CA
CB Antennae Mount.... $36 for Everything...
I didn't like the idea of paying $80 for an antennae, cable, and mount. Especially, when the antennae costs $17, the cable costs $17, and you don't need a mount. Besides, putting it on the plastic licenseplate mount on the side is just begging for a tree, or a rock, to rip it off...
So this is where I mounted mine, after buying the antennae and cable for about $36... The tire carrier is made of aluminum and drills out fairly easy. This way the antennae is protected from most trail-hazzards. It fits nicely on the flat surface that looks like it was designed just for this... There's even an extra rubber plug on the passenger side of the swing-gate to feed the cable through....
So this is where I mounted mine, after buying the antennae and cable for about $36... The tire carrier is made of aluminum and drills out fairly easy. This way the antennae is protected from most trail-hazzards. It fits nicely on the flat surface that looks like it was designed just for this... There's even an extra rubber plug on the passenger side of the swing-gate to feed the cable through....
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Cool, CA
The antennae is a 3ft Firestik Firefly (with the tunable-tip); The cable is 18ft of Firestik Firewire that comes with a low-profile coaxial ring and stud-mount. The wire is really skinny and fits anywhere, because it comes with the end off so you can thread it through really small places. It's very easy to solder the end onto the wire when you're done routing the cable.
This is the highest rated antennae and cable you can buy...
This is the highest rated antennae and cable you can buy...
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: .
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: ray city, ga
posted on another thread:
Mine didnt const me anything either. made it out of a peice of scrap I had laying around about 4 years ago for a minivan we had. I removed it when we sold the van. I always keep crap.
Check it out guys.
If you are crafty (most of us who have been Jeepin are) then you can fab your own.
From what I gather, Rubidozer ran his straight through the lobes on the top of the spare tire mount. Make sure you have a antenna mount that has a longenough stud though....
or...
Go to a local truck stop, CB shop or (last option) Radio Shack and purchase a standard 3/8 CB mount and antenna of your choice. Purchase a cable long enough... if you have the Unlimited, go ahead and get the 20' cable.. I only had about 2 feet left over on mine.
Go to either a local machine shop or hardware store. You can find a peice of flat stock.. again, of your choice. 11ga sheet metal will work fine. You can also buy some that is 1.5" wide strips in 2-4ft lengths. Cut to fit your desired length. Drill a hole for the mount, and then drill 2 or 3 holes for it to attach to the spare tire mount.
I remembered about 3 weeks ago that I had this laying in my shop and installed it. works awesome.
Mine didnt const me anything either. made it out of a peice of scrap I had laying around about 4 years ago for a minivan we had. I removed it when we sold the van. I always keep crap.
Check it out guys.
If you are crafty (most of us who have been Jeepin are) then you can fab your own.
From what I gather, Rubidozer ran his straight through the lobes on the top of the spare tire mount. Make sure you have a antenna mount that has a longenough stud though....
or...
Go to a local truck stop, CB shop or (last option) Radio Shack and purchase a standard 3/8 CB mount and antenna of your choice. Purchase a cable long enough... if you have the Unlimited, go ahead and get the 20' cable.. I only had about 2 feet left over on mine.
Go to either a local machine shop or hardware store. You can find a peice of flat stock.. again, of your choice. 11ga sheet metal will work fine. You can also buy some that is 1.5" wide strips in 2-4ft lengths. Cut to fit your desired length. Drill a hole for the mount, and then drill 2 or 3 holes for it to attach to the spare tire mount.
I remembered about 3 weeks ago that I had this laying in my shop and installed it. works awesome.
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 274
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From: ray city, ga
also... a side note.
If you are not familiar, ask a HAM radio guy. Companites like Diamond Antenna and Comet Antenna make some nice trunk lip mounts that are fully adjustable and real strong. They come in 3/8 style mounts for CB antennas... "UHF" mounts and NMO (motorola) mounts.
You can mount them to anything with a smooth lip on it. Havent checked the JK Hood, but some ZJ owners have used em.... I have a NMO trunklip mount (flat) on the hood of my ZJ for a scanner... and I also have a trunk lip mounted on the upper part of my gate. I intend on using one of these for the Ham radio I have on the way.
Not the best pic of it, but it is mounted on the ZJ below. The best places would either be the side of the hood on the JK (either side) or on the passenger side of the back gate. Many of these come with a cable that has a small (RG/U88 i think) cable as a pass-thru to slip through seals with no trouble. I have had one on my ZJ for the past 5 years with ZERO problems.
edit:
LINK
maybe that will help and get some of your brains turning.
If you are not familiar, ask a HAM radio guy. Companites like Diamond Antenna and Comet Antenna make some nice trunk lip mounts that are fully adjustable and real strong. They come in 3/8 style mounts for CB antennas... "UHF" mounts and NMO (motorola) mounts.
You can mount them to anything with a smooth lip on it. Havent checked the JK Hood, but some ZJ owners have used em.... I have a NMO trunklip mount (flat) on the hood of my ZJ for a scanner... and I also have a trunk lip mounted on the upper part of my gate. I intend on using one of these for the Ham radio I have on the way.
Not the best pic of it, but it is mounted on the ZJ below. The best places would either be the side of the hood on the JK (either side) or on the passenger side of the back gate. Many of these come with a cable that has a small (RG/U88 i think) cable as a pass-thru to slip through seals with no trouble. I have had one on my ZJ for the past 5 years with ZERO problems.
edit:
LINK
maybe that will help and get some of your brains turning.
Last edited by b1pig; Apr 6, 2007 at 05:37 AM.
JK Junkie
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Pottstown, PA
The antennae is a 3ft Firestik Firefly (with the tunable-tip); The cable is 18ft of Firestik Firewire that comes with a low-profile coaxial ring and stud-mount. The wire is really skinny and fits anywhere, because it comes with the end off so you can thread it through really small places. It's very easy to solder the end onto the wire when you're done routing the cable.
This is the highest rated antennae and cable you can buy...
This is the highest rated antennae and cable you can buy...
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: Cool, CA
Rubidozer,
A historical problem of mounting antennas to hinged surfaces (such as the JK's tailgate/tire carrier) is that you will typically have an unreliable ground source. While it may test out good at rest - or even for a period of time, sooner or later the lack of a good ground may cause significant performance problems for your CB. The problem is that the engineers try to get the hinged tailgate to glide on teflon (non conducting) bushings. As an example, if you look at the hinged tailgate of any TJ, you will notice a TWO conductor contact plate that Jeep used to light the third brake light. The point is that it is a TWO conductor connector (power & ground) because Jeep knows that the ground is not reliable. A relatively simple cure is to add a grounding strap between the tailgate and the body. It may be a bit challenging to find a suitable (non painted surface) on both the body and the tailgate, while also keeping in mind aesthetics.
Also, as you have written up, CB-intended coax lengths are typically sold in multiples of 9' to be most compatible with the wavelength of the CB operating frequency. 18' is a very common length. With a rear center antenna mounting location, it may be a challenge to route to the front of 4-door JK and then get to a common CB mounting location.
A historical problem of mounting antennas to hinged surfaces (such as the JK's tailgate/tire carrier) is that you will typically have an unreliable ground source. While it may test out good at rest - or even for a period of time, sooner or later the lack of a good ground may cause significant performance problems for your CB. The problem is that the engineers try to get the hinged tailgate to glide on teflon (non conducting) bushings. As an example, if you look at the hinged tailgate of any TJ, you will notice a TWO conductor contact plate that Jeep used to light the third brake light. The point is that it is a TWO conductor connector (power & ground) because Jeep knows that the ground is not reliable. A relatively simple cure is to add a grounding strap between the tailgate and the body. It may be a bit challenging to find a suitable (non painted surface) on both the body and the tailgate, while also keeping in mind aesthetics.
Also, as you have written up, CB-intended coax lengths are typically sold in multiples of 9' to be most compatible with the wavelength of the CB operating frequency. 18' is a very common length. With a rear center antenna mounting location, it may be a challenge to route to the front of 4-door JK and then get to a common CB mounting location.
As far as the grounding, when the tailgate is closed the antennae is grounded through the door-striker. I have checked the mount for continuity and ground, as well as all the connection points and ground points. I've been a mechanic for many years and am now a certified electrician and builder. This stuff isn't new to me... The grounding works perfectly.
People have been mounting their antennae this way for many years, because it works for many years...
And as far as the cable lengths, look at the Firestik website under FAQs and you'll learn that 18ft of cable is the recommended length...
Last edited by Rubidozer; Apr 6, 2007 at 03:27 PM.