I finally got around to installing my CB. It's a Cobra 29 WX NW ST paired up with a 7' Firestik. I also have my scanner hooked in with a T-connector so I can use the Firestik for receiving the signals (the handheld antenna isn't so good inside the truck).

Here are the pics:
https://www.f150online.com/forums/me...4450-cb-2.html
https://www.f150online.com/forums/me...4449-cb-1.html
https://www.f150online.com/forums/me...4451-cb-3.html

Routing the coax cable was so easy. The clips that secure the fuel line to the frame rail have space to hold the coax. The clips are the PERFECT size for this. Just ran the cable up from the rear bumper to the driver side and came in through the floor where there was already a hole. From there I ran it under the carpet and poked a small hole in the carpet and brought it up to where I wanted it.

 

pics of the antenna on the bumper? I have a 4' firefly on my roof and that thing gets amazing reception. I looked at doing a bumper mount, but I am all about things being even side to side. I guess I am picky because I can't have one window down and one up, they must be the same Just like the antenna I was either going to do the 1 in the middle of the roof (which i did) or the one on the rear bumper on the driver's side. I do like the magnent mount I have now it has NEVER come off even when the antenna has slammed into some big branches I do have a quick disconnect so it easily just pops off too if I need to have a lower clearance for something.

 

Ok CRF250rider1000, here are a couple pictures of the antenna mounted to the center of my bumper. Just as you are conscientious of symmetry, I am as well. I secured a stainless steel plate to the bumper with a couple of self tappers (had to pre-drill the SS plate first). Painted it black so it would look better. I used the hole in the bumper where a ball would go...just drilled a 3/4" hole in the plastic covering for the antenna connector.

The only problem with this setup is that if I need to access the bed by dropping the tailgate I have to take the antenna off. This is a very minor issue and have done it about a dozen times in the last couple days. Usually I just hand tighten the antenna into the connector. If I know I'm not going to take it off for a while I will secure it using a couple of open-end wrenches. I just make sure that I take the wrenches with me all the time now. I stow them in the pocket of the driver side rear door.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/me...antenna-1.html
https://www.f150online.com/forums/me...antenna-2.html

 

By the way, the Cobra 29 looks GREAT at night with the face illuminated. I'll have to try and get a picture of that when I think of it.

 

You know a SS quick disconnect is like 5 or 10 bucks and you just quickly turn it a 1/2 turn to the left and pull up. works awesome for me and it would solve your issues
here is mine plus a spring

 

I'm not at all unhappy with the minor inconvenience of having to take the antenna off from time to time. My biggest concern is when I'm driving 70 down the road the antenna sure has a lot of flex from the wind. Will a SS quick disconnect be strong enough?

I've tried the magnetic mount on top of the truck before with mixed results at best. Once again, driving at highway speeds posed a problem. Several times I had to pull off the highway and either put the magnetic mount inside the truck or re-secure it to the roof because it blew off. This is the reason I went with the SS plate at the bumper. I know with 100% certainty that it isn't going to pop off. This is especially problematic for me when I hit 70 and drive into the wind.

All in all, the current setup is working for me. I'm quite satisfied. It only takes about 5 seconds to remove...with or without wrenches.

 

I have the firestick magnet mount with the 4' firefly and i have hit trees pretty hard and have NEVER had an issue. Speed is also never an issue for it. I've been over 70 with it raining and it stays put. The spring helps with the magnet mount a lot. I would ALWAYS make sure you use a spring with a magnet mount. As for the quick disconnect it is VERY strong and is perfect for your application.

 

can you show me pics of the mount u made for the cb?

 

Were you asking for my pics? If so my first post in this thread has those pics. The third one has the best picture of the mount I fabricated.

 

You should never use a transmitting antenna to simultaneously recieve and transmit by utilizing a splitter with both a transmitter and receiver (scanner) attached to it.

Why?

You are shoving 4 watts of RF directly into the scanner, not to mention you are putting a LOT of loss by having the scanner and the splitter.

Heck, I burnt up a brand new Sony home theater system because I'm running a 2 meter base HAM station that I've got a 150 watt Mirage 2m amp hooked up to it, and my antenna is about 100 ft away from the house. I can only imagine what would happen if I had it hooked directly up to the antenna input on the home theater system connected to my 150 watt Mirage amp... probably a nice fire.

RF can do a lot of damage... like probably giving me cancer with my 65 watt Yaesu FT2800m with my Firestick 2m antenna sitting less than 2 feet from my body. Nice lethal dose of RF.. haha

 

Hmmmm, I'll have to change my setup. I don't use the scanner much any more right now.

 

In my '05 Lariat, the center console runs all the way up to the dash. Is there a good place to install a CB? I have a Cobra 29 Ltd, and I had it in my old Nissan p/u with an 8' whip passenger side rear bumper. I just wanna run it to a magnet antenna on the roof, but without a good place to mount the radio, the antenna doesn't really matter. Any ideas where to put it?

 

With your configuration I'm not certain there will be a great location for the CB. One thing I can suggest is getting a Cobra 75WXST. All of the display/functions are located on the mic. The "box" can be mounted anywhere out of sight. I had done this on my '04 and '06 F-150 before I got my Cobra 29.

 

Right here where I put mine. That's a DIN size radio adapter that is ever so slightly modified to allow the larger than DIN sized CB to fit in there. It's a tight, very tight fit. The bottom of the adapter was one of those cubby hole types. I cut the bottom of the hole out and secured it to the top of what was left. It's very solid since it's such a tight fit.

 

I like that setup! Looks nice man!

Just got a question though...

Where did you get that dash rug!? It looks awesome!