Antenna and mount options

[linuxgod]

This weekend I was in a parking garage in which I literally had less than 1/2" of clearance between my folding kayak racks and the concrete root supports (near the exit, no less). Thank god for the extra weight of those sliders I just installed!

Since I don't have my HAM license (yeah I know I should get my tech no-code), I'm planning to pick up an inexpensive CB as part of my trail and "recovery" gear.

Combining those two thoughts this morning I started thinking it would be a good idea to mount the CB antenna on the front bumper and position it so I could use the top of it as a guide - if it hits when I'm pulling into a garage, then the clearance is a problem and I need to STOP.

Now to my question - any advice on a CB antenna mount that will mount ok but won't look ridiculous on a stock bumper? Or a better mount and place to put one? When I eventually go to a steel front bumper I'll integrate the mount, but for now that seems like the best place to mount it. My goals are:

• No drilling any sheet metal
• Not too obnoxious looking
• When used with an antenna, needs to be slightly taller than my kayak racks, but not too tall (there are lots of garages in the 6'9-7' range I can use, but with the racks on I'm right around 6'8"). So maybe a 2.5' antenna on a hood mount might work too?

Interested in how you guys would approach this

 

[ntsaint]

Antenna Brackets

 

[indycole]

Antenna Brackets

I use this one and put on an NMO mount where I can mount either my HAM or CB antenna. It's nice because it's not in my line of site. I imagine you could find a CB antenna tall enough to use as a height guide.

 

[4gotalot]

Just finished installing a CB for our local trail rides. My 200 is almost stock except for OME lift and I park it in the garage so fixed mount is a no-go.
I installed a K40 antenna with a magnetic mount and located it on the roof, center and just in front of the aft cross bar of oem roof rack. The base coil and ss 4 foot whip antenna comes off the mag mount with a 1/3 twist and the mag mount stays in place. The mag mount creates its own ground so no ground strap is required. The antenna rides inside the LC until needed, just do not try to xmit with out the antenna installed or you may damage your radio.

 

[kevinfoutch]

Just a quick note about my experience with magnetic mounts. I had Wilson's 'little wil' and it functioned perfectly. However, a few low hanging tree branches knocked it around enough that it scratched the roof. I was able to buff 90% of the scratches out, but it was still annoying for my only slight case of OCD. (I now mount to my ARB bumper)

Maybe I had bad luck, or maybe a little strip of 3m clear bra might help?

 

[4gotalot]

Yes, you are right about the magnet mounts breaking loose from branch strikes. The K40 magnet mount is about 4 !/2 inches across and rated for 120 lbs of pull so you do not want to get your finger under it when installing, yup, I did. If I hit a big branch low enough it will most likely bend the whip or break the base. This will also happen with most fiberglass antennas mounted on the roof and over flexed at the base. I needed a QD for low ceiling, on the roof for the best xmiting and rcvg and no drilling install.

 

[mcgaskins]

I use the K30 magnet mount and it works extremely well. I only put it up for wheeling trips because it doesn't clear parking garages, but it takes 2 minutes to deploy when necessary. I actually store the base under the hood on the passenger side in the big empty spot where the second battery would go and just unscrew the long antenna piece and keep it in the drawers. I pulled the coax through the firewall on the passenger side which works perfect. It's hard to see unless you zoom here but it's on there:

 

[linuxgod]

Thanks, I may try the Gamiviti mount. I realize getting the antenna on the roof is a better location (higher placement, and the metal roof helps deflect energy away from passengers), but being able to serve double duty and use it as a height guide when around town would be ideal. In my case I'd opt to just leave the antenna up, if I can get the height to be only slightly higher than my rear rack. My wife has smacked the kayak racks once (which bent up my Gamiviti rack grid and necessitated kayak rack replacement), and after coming very close this weekend I'd rather not take any chances.

 

[4gotalot]

Don't worry about deflecting energy away from your passengers, thats what the aluminum foil hats are for. Each passenger has one located in the seat pocket in front of them and a life vest under there seat.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Bump, any new antenna solutions I should consider?

 

[LouisianaFJ]

I made one, welded a couple pieces of flat bar at the appropriate angles, little trimming, then sheet metal screws

i want to get a cable with the "flat" portion but I already had this one, works for now

 

[dryrunner]

I bought the Wilson 1000 magnetic mount. I put it on the roof behind the sunroof, and snaked the cable down to a CB radio laying on my passenger seat. That was for the trip to the trailhead, once there I moved it to the hood so branches wouldn't hit the antenna. Very ghetto, but it worked and it will only be used for trail rides. I do like that bracket on the side of the lift gate as shown by LousianaFJ above.

 

[Narkhelek]

I bought the Wilson 1000 magnetic mount. I put it on the roof behind the sunroof, and snaked the cable down to a CB radio laying on my passenger seat. That was for the trip to the trailhead, once there I moved it to the hood so branches wouldn't hit the antenna. Very ghetto, but it worked and it will only be used for trail rides. I do like that bracket on the side of the lift gate as shown by LousianaFJ above.

Using a magnet mount on your roof would give you the optimum range achievable by your particular setup due to having such a large ground plane under the antenna (and of course the antenna height). Not my personal choice only because of the possibility of scratching up the roof. I always used the antenna mount points that come with the ARB bumper on my 4Runner. It's a big steel bumper which makes an OK ground plane and it looks cool in my opinion. Only downside of using the ARB bumper is you may loose some coverage rearward due to the bulk of the vehicle.