I was thinking that a grounding strap might be hard to find and why wouldn't a wire with ring connector work?? I could make one for Free out of odds and ends I have at the house?

I have extra ring connectors and wire around so could this be used instead of a grounding strap to ground the tailgate for a CB antenna?

What pros and cons are there to using a wire with ring connectors for this instead of a ground strap... one pro is I can do it for free. any cons? or other pros?

 

Firestick just recommends running a 12 guage or heavier black wire to the chassis as a dedicated ground, so that's all I did. I ran it from the swingaway tire carrier to the taillight bezel. After performing my continuity checks (aren't you proud of me SDMF? ), my SWR came in at 1.0:1, and so far everything works fine.

 

I used a grounding strap, but it was not nearly as big as some of the ones I've seen here. I was able to run it through the fabric strap at the tailgate along with the existing factory wiring.
Made it very tidy but still more durable than just a wire.

It was similar to this:
http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...n=Ground+Strap

 

technically, it is impossible to get all the way down to 1:1. there will always be some amount of loss.

 

A flexible stranded wire will work fine. Your not trying to carry 100s of amps like a battery grounding strap.

 

Sounds good I was planning on using 12 gauge... Let see some pics of those Wire Grounding straps. Is grounding to one of the bolts on the Subwoofer that attaches it to the floor good enough?

I'm planning on hooking up a Wilson 3ft Fiberglass antenna it has a separate lead grounding wire coming directly off the antenna the instructions say that I need to hook up the lead only after I first check the SWR and then hook it up only if I have a high reading.

Here is what the Wilson website says: "18 gauge silver plated wire to reduce resistive losses"

Anyone else running Wilson Antennas.

 

I will eventually go with a Wilson antenna. My employer has a full time radio maintenance shop and I talked to the fellas that work (if you want to call it that) there. They said Wilson antennas are one of the best.

After talking with SDMF, I am going to use an old school whip antenna until I get my Wilson.

 

It's not the antenna so much (unless you're using an NGP antenna) as the surface you mount it on. If you mount it on an aftermarket swingaway tire carrier, it's very difficult to obtain a proper reliable ground without running a separate ground wire/strap because of the powder coating, nylon bushings, etc.

 

I know that it isn't the antenna... just wanted to see who all has Wilson antenna.

 

i swap between a Wilson 2000, a b rowning, and a Francis depending on the trail and run. Wilson 2000 or 5000 is a very good antenna.