Ok, so I have a radio and a mag mount antenna, and right now they are both ghetto rigged. I'm hoping to mount my Radio nicely and run a better antenna in my bed. But alas, I am a total, complete n00b when it comes to these kind of things, so I come here asking for you assistance. Here come the questions:

1. Ok, lets start simple. What is the best way to get power to the radio? I've never wired anything before in my life, and don't want my truck to burn down...lol.

2. I'm pretty sure I want to mount it on top of the dash (in the dash tray area). How to I remove the "tray" so that I can bolt the Radio to it?

3. What is the best way of running the coax from the bed into the cab?

4. What is the best way to mount a PA speaker and run the cable into the cab?

5. anything else that I should do/know when I attempt this so that I don't do anything stupid?

Thanks for all the help guys, I REALLY appreciate it!

 

1.I tapped power to my CB from the cigarette lighter wire behind the console.

2.The tray can be removed when you take the trim off from around the radio. You'll need to remove that trim anyways to get to the lighter wires. You'll see 1 screws holding the tray in place.

3. You'll need at least a 17 foot cable just route the coax from the tray area inside the dash and down under the door kick panels. (that's the black ones that you step on getting in and out of the truck.) Then go to the back wall of the truck and push the cable through the pressure relief vents behind the seat out the cab then up to the top.

4.plenty of holes in the fire wall. Just use that big one under the steering wheel. not sure where you'd mount your PA speaker just get under the truck and start looking around.

5. You'll want to get some sort of noise blocker if your CB don't have one built in. otherwise all you'll hear is noise consisting of buzzing, whistles and beeps.

Here's a pic of my old CB in the dash. Got a better CB now.

 

Thanks for the reply! More questions: Does anyone have any suggestions for good antenna's? Also anyone have a Uniden PC68LTW? I'm thinking I might go with a whole new setup... I think there should be a CB section on the site. There is a lot of info on here on the topic, but I'm finding it hard to find specific info.

 

ok, last questions before I go to bed...lol. What is the best way to ground the antenna. Also, what would be the best height antenna to get if I'm planning on mounting it on the side of the bed? Thanks again!

 

I have a 4 foot firestick firefly on a firestick magnet mount on my roof. I'll be moving it to my safari rack in a few weeks I heard wilson makes some great antennas too. There's like a million places online to get them. I think I got mine here.

You don't always have to ground a antenna. When you put the antenna on the mounting kit it will generally have a ground though metal to metal contact. If it's not good enough you can get a grounding strap and connect that in to the antenna or get a NGP antenna. No ground plane antennas are grounded internally and don't require external ground to perfom. here are some good ones I'm partial to firestik. You'll want an antenna that is taller that whats around it so if your mounting it on the bed I would think a 4 foot would work good.

 

ok what you do is run the coax down the dash under the carpet threw the kick panels threw the pre drilled holes in the back of your cab to your bed,

i mounted my pa behind my air filter using the screw that holds the washer fluid tank bracket down that way it looked like it was some what suspose to be there also there is a pre drilled hole in your fire wall on your drivers side. i have pics but its on another computer give me awhile and ill post them

 

My $0.02

A magnetic antenna very rarely needs to be grounded. They usually work on a floating ground. My suggestion on a magnetic mount would be the "lil' will" by Wilson. Or for a little bigger one the willson 1000 comes in a magnetic mount. I have no personal experience with the 1000 but the lil' will has great reception and transmission.

If you mount an antenna that does need a ground you can just run a wire from the mount to the frame. Easy to hide and works like a charm.

ditto on the firewall. Lots of little plugs there.

I ran a large guage wire to the positive terminal on the battery and grounded it to the firewall on the engine side. If you make sure the wire has a good fuse on it there should be next to no fire damage. imho shunting a lot of power through other parts overloads the fuse. Especially if it's peaked and tuned pushing more power. I've had problems with that in the past although they have been few. I normally run all of my electronics this way. It's the only way I've had that gave me no problems.

Also just my personal oppinion that I don't want my radio to be subject to the insane amount of heat the top of the dash gets and I don't like the look of the back of the radio from the outside of the truck (purly cosmetic). I really like them under the dash and have no complaints about mine. You can see a picture in my profile.

g'luck

 

I edited what coax length I used on my magnetic mount in my first post. It came with 17 foot of coax and it fit in my supercrew. Finding different lengths pemade is sort of a pain with out making the cable yourself.

 

#1. Depends on if you are going to permanently mount the CB or have a removable mount. Assuming permanent mount, pop the little cover the cigarette lighter is attached to off, and tap your power there. IF you are running legal power this is no problem. 4w AM, and 12W SSB will NOT overtax that fuse.

#2. Pop the cigarette lighter panel out, then the radio trim panel, unscrew the tray, and run your screws, drill any needed holes...

#3. Best way? In 8.5 foot lengths. Citizens Band operates in the 11 meter wavelength. Roughly 34 feet. 34/4 = 8.5 for 1/4 wave. You want equal divisions of the wavelength if you can get them for best SWR. (Standing Wave Ratio, or the resistance of the antenna system to transmission). If you are going to drill any holes in the dash, make CERTAIN is in a replaceable item like the lighter panel, and dash tray... There are LOTS of holes the kick panels and firewall with rubber plugs specifically to route wires, and cables and... Pick one, and keep the cable away from moving parts and the exhaust.

#4. With screws, I would pick the passengers side just behind the grille. Route the wires high, and tie them up out of the way. Route them through the firewall plugs on the drivers side and to the radio.

#5. Get an SWR meter, and a GOOD quality antenna. If you want a mag mount, go with a Wilson 1000. The Lil Wil is nice, but the 1000 is a serious antenna that is renowned for its performance. I have personally had the 1000 roof mounted on an old Toyota years ago. That was a real screamer of an antenna. If you can find someone that knows how to set one up, a Stainless Steel 102" whip is a pain in parking garages and on tree lined streets, but makes for an unbeatable antenna. Just hard to mount without punching holes in the truck. Firestiks are popular, but I wouldn't have one. They don't perform well compared to the other options out there. (I've owned a Firestik, A Radio Shack Stainless 102", a Wilson 1000, a Predator 10K, and a Radio Shack mag mount, my fave by far is the 102").

 

Hey Jolly Green Giant, do you have any knee clearance problems with that Cobra 25? And how old is that? The only 25s I have heard of are the 25LTD Nightwatch radios...

I am planning on mounting EITHER a 148 GTL, or a Realistic TRC-465 in that same location. I currently have the 465 that I velcro into place on the center seat. I want a 148 with a power mic REALLY bad...

 

Mounting problem solved ;-)

 

Not really. That kills the center seat for us split bench guys...

But yeah, that IS tempting...

How wide of a radio can you fit in there?

 

Havis shield makes mounts for damn near everything. They will probably have a face plate for your CB