CB Antenna on Ford Towing Mirrors
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 428
Likes: 16
From: Northeast PA
I am considering doing it this way as well.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 428
Likes: 16
From: Northeast PA
Hey Guys,
In my searching around the interweb I found this mount made for Ford Superdutys that mounts under the driver side hood bolt
Stainless steel hood/fender mount and coax for Ford F250 & F350's from '99 to '07. This mount kit is designed to be used on the driver's side under the hood and use an existing hood bolt to secure the mount in place.
Link: F2L Ford F250, F350 CB Antenna Mount Kit at WalcottCB.com
Anyone ever see or use one of these?
I'm finding it hard to believe with all the Super Duty towing mirrors out there no one ever found it worthwhile to make a mount for that specific mirror.
I would have thought it would be a decent seller.
In my searching around the interweb I found this mount made for Ford Superdutys that mounts under the driver side hood bolt
Stainless steel hood/fender mount and coax for Ford F250 & F350's from '99 to '07. This mount kit is designed to be used on the driver's side under the hood and use an existing hood bolt to secure the mount in place.
Link: F2L Ford F250, F350 CB Antenna Mount Kit at WalcottCB.com
Anyone ever see or use one of these?
I'm finding it hard to believe with all the Super Duty towing mirrors out there no one ever found it worthwhile to make a mount for that specific mirror.
I would have thought it would be a decent seller.
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,094
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From: Southern California
I know many laugh at the idea of mounting the antenna under the cab off the frame, but it does work! Completely hidden and protected against damage (including human)- although I was running a 100w booster, it performed well.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
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this is how i ran mine and they work great,i know the pic show's the wire broke but it is back together.never had any problems comming loose and ran a ground wire back under the hood.i have 4 foot wilson's on each mirror,and my swr is down to 1 or less.pick up and transmit great. and i just have a stock cobra 29.i just used a off the shelf mirror mount and got longer bolts and washers to hold it in place.http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/100_0442.jpg
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 713
Likes: 5
From: Minneapolis, MN
Amps can never overcome antenna inefficiencies. So we can hear you from a long ways away, but you can only hear others within 50' of you. Sounds like a great plan... 
this is how i ran mine and they work great,i know the pic show's the wire broke but it is back together.never had any problems comming loose and ran a ground wire back under the hood.i have 4 foot wilson's on each mirror,and my swr is down to 1 or less.pick up and transmit great. and i just have a stock cobra 29.i just used a off the shelf mirror mount and got longer bolts and washers to hold it in place.http://i726.photobucket.com/albums/w...r/100_0442.jpg
Jimmypet, that fender mount is similar to what I was referring to earlier. It will work, but the cab will block some of your signal.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 428
Likes: 16
From: Northeast PA
this is how i ran mine and they work great,i know the pic show's the wire broke but it is back together.never had any problems comming loose and ran a ground wire back under the hood.i have 4 foot wilson's on each mirror,and my swr is down to 1 or less.pick up and transmit great. and i just have a stock cobra 29.i just used a off the shelf mirror mount and got longer bolts and washers to hold it in place.
I didnt realise that type would grab the towing mirrors as well as it does.
I just went out and bought one just like yours at the truck stop 5 minutes from my house for under $10.
It really is a decent fit with the longer bolts.
I got longer stainless bolts as you did (2 1/2" is what I bought in case anyone finds this in the archives later on).
I'm going to try this setup like yours, add a hefty ground strap to a fender or hood bolt and if for some odd reason it does not work for me, I will try the fender mount I posted above.
I'll try to post a photo of the complete project.
Thanks FTE!
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 428
Likes: 16
From: Northeast PA
I am going to try the mirror mount as posted above first because it was very easy and convenient.
I am hoping it will work for my needs as posted in post #1 (simple smokey reports, talking in convoy with friends).
By the sounds of your posts, I think you are operating at a much higher level of CB use than I am, thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Cheers
jimmy p
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Joined: Feb 2005
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i think that is what my bolts are too,i just doubled nutted the ground.i used 12 gauge wire the ground.with a good inner fender ground i have my cb down to 1 or below on the swr calabration.if you check wilson antenn's web site it tells you how to check for ground.over the years i have tried alot of different antenna's and have found wilson being the best for me.key to alot of it is to get as close to 9' as you can if running dual's and to get higher than the cab of the truck.if you check wilson's web site it tells you everything you need to know about setting up the antenna's and the cb for peak performance.if the antenna is not tuned properly it could burn up the cb.if you need any help just let me know.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 713
Likes: 5
From: Minneapolis, MN
Thanks Wizard.
I am going to try the mirror mount as posted above first because it was very easy and convenient.
I am hoping it will work for my needs as posted in post #1 (simple smokey reports, talking in convoy with friends).
By the sounds of your posts, I think you are operating at a much higher level of CB use than I am, thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Cheers
jimmy p
I am going to try the mirror mount as posted above first because it was very easy and convenient.
I am hoping it will work for my needs as posted in post #1 (simple smokey reports, talking in convoy with friends).
By the sounds of your posts, I think you are operating at a much higher level of CB use than I am, thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Cheers
jimmy p
Only use a CB on long road trips maybe once or twice a year when I drive out east. Too much trash talk for the little ones in the truck on CB, the ham crowd is a lot more professional due to FCC regs (and self-policing), where they just kind of ignore citizens band any more.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 23,174
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From: Stephensville WI
Get one of these brackets. A lot of companies make them. I think this one is a Larsen.
It installs between the hood and the fender. Mount it on the opposite side of the truck as your radio antenna. You need to drill 3 holes into the fender lip. The bracket sticks above the fender. You can mount any 3/4 inch antenna mount in the hole, such as an NMO style antenna.
It installs between the hood and the fender. Mount it on the opposite side of the truck as your radio antenna. You need to drill 3 holes into the fender lip. The bracket sticks above the fender. You can mount any 3/4 inch antenna mount in the hole, such as an NMO style antenna.
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,331
Likes: 341
From: Breckenridge, TX
Running true duals on a SD will cut your range down quite a bit unless you work on tuning your antennas and bonding the truck, and probably get your radio peaked. I gave up on my 350W footwarmer because it was so much of a pain in my **** chasing down every ground loop and cutting the radio interference out, not to mention getting the radio tuned to the linear. When I need it, I use a mag-mount Lil' Wil and a stock Cobra 25, get's me out about a mile on flat land.
CHOOSING SINGLE OR CO-PHASE ANTENNA SYSTEM
CHOOSING SINGLE OR CO-PHASE ANTENNA SYSTEM
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 428
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From: Northeast PA
No duals for me, just a single antenna mounted to one mirror, stock Uniden 68XL CB radio, no echos, no beeps, no fancy mics, just mainly a listening device.
I would like to get someone to set (tune?) the antenna correctly though.
No CB shop in my area that I can find.
I would like to get someone to set (tune?) the antenna correctly though.
No CB shop in my area that I can find.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
Running true duals on a SD will cut your range down quite a bit unless you work on tuning your antennas and bonding the truck, and probably get your radio peaked. I gave up on my 350W footwarmer because it was so much of a pain in my **** chasing down every ground loop and cutting the radio interference out, not to mention getting the radio tuned to the linear. When I need it, I use a mag-mount Lil' Wil and a stock Cobra 25, get's me out about a mile on flat land.
CHOOSING SINGLE OR CO-PHASE ANTENNA SYSTEM
CHOOSING SINGLE OR CO-PHASE ANTENNA SYSTEM