I have a 2006 FX4 with a DZ crossover toolbox bolted in using the J-hooks (not screwed in). I have a Wilson antenna on a mount bolted to the side of the box.

Anyone have any suggestions on the best way to ground the aluminum toolbox to lowere the CB/amature radio antennas SWR?


Thanks!

 

Two obvious choices:

-run a ground wire from the steel of the mount to a good ground under the bed (of course, if it's an aluminium bracket like most, you're screwed)

-get a ground plane antenna and cable similar to what is used on fiberglass boats. Since my flareside has a plastic (composite, whatever) bed, I used this and am very happy with reception and SWR. This type of antenna runs a ground wire within the cable and grounds the antenna directly to the radio. While *maybe* not as good a ground as metal grounding point at the ant. mount, I am getting 5-7 miles reception on a plain ol' Cobra 25

 

Take a piece of RG-8 coax (the thick stuff like you'd use on a base station). Carefully split the outer, black insulation and slide the copper braid off the inner white foam insulation. Take a 10 ga. crimp-on terminal and crimp one on each end (better yet, solder them). Get some self-tapping screws, small star washers, and a small drill bit. Drill a hole in the toolbox (preferably out of sight) and fasten one end of the braid using a self-tapping screw and a star washer between the terminal and box. Drill a hole in some unobtrusive bed part like the stake pocket and sand/scrape off a little paint. Run a screw through the other end of the braid (through the terminal) and fasten to the stake pocket sheet metal using another star washer.

 

Aluminum conducts 60% as well as copper 80% as well as steel IIRC.... I have a wilson mirror mount drilled into the side of the box. Taking ga_cruiser's method do you think attatching one end to one of the bolts to the mount and the other to the frame do it or would I be better off grounding the Box seperate from the mount.


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our beds are fiberglass? lol.... This is another idea but I already bought and wired everything up....


Thanks for the info.