When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I would love to go with the 25 NW or even the 29 NW if room wasn't a concern. But with having three passengers I just know its going to be a knee buster for the person in the middle so I rather just avoid that avenue due to foreshadowing.
Ill look into the left side of the column and see, I know my wiper delay module and some ground wires are mounted to the dash frame on this side. But I have some measurements that I can take and gauge how well it will work here.
Well at work since its still dead slow I took a look at the truck, cant mount anything to the left of the column as I forgot my hood release is there. I could mount it directly below the column but that would also put the CB directly above the brake pedal and could possibly get kicked as I lift my foot from the gas to the brake.
I looked again to the right of the column, theres a cut out in the plastic dash that shows the metal frame which is where the cruise control bolts to. I can mount a CB there and just relocate my switch for my driving lights to the left side of the column. Thing is though I looked at some CB radios from Cobra and got some dimensions.
I can in theory fit a 7 1/4" wide CB in this location. Not sure how I would mount it as it would put the mount bracket over the bolts for the cruise control module. If I was able to figure something out I could make it work here.
I looked at the 29 LX as I do like the thought of being able to put the screen to blue color to match my interior dash lights. Down side is theres two forms of dimensions for this radio on the website. Under specs it says its 2.49"H x 7.60"W x 8.60"D. On the PDF file it says the radio is 2.25"H x 7.25"W x 9.25"D. The 7.25" wide I can swing, the 2.25" height I can swing as well. But 9.25" depth is too much, the location where it would be mounted is right where the firewall curves inwards and to get clearance between the firewall and the radio for antenna and wires it would potentially put the radio in kicking distance of the person riding in the middle. If it was 8.60" that could be possible if I can figure out how to mount it in this location with the plastic being cut out in the middle of where the mount would go.
The 18 WX ST II I could use for sure. Theres two dimensions listed for this one as well, under specs it says 1.90"H x 6.75"W x 6.90"D and on the PDF file it states specs are 1.875"H x 7"W x 7"D. If the second specs are to be trusted that means this radio would be 1/4" narrower than the 29 LX but a full 2 1/4" shallower. I need to really find out what the true depth of these radios are just so I know what I am working with.
If I end up getting the 29 LX or even the 18 WX ST II I think I will invest a little money in it and find a reputable radio shop here that can peak it and tune the radio up some to improve its performance.
But that is where I am at right now. The wiring wouldn't be a problem I can fish the CB wire through the speedometer cable grommet in the firewall and run the cable under the truck along the frame to the antenna. If I went with the other radio I had planned to run it through the rocker panel plug in the cab corner. But my biggest concern is mounting how ever. I think I could possibly swing the 29 LX model but I want to be sure considering the LX model is a higher price than the 18 model.
Only real reason I could see going with the 29 LX model over the 18 is that the 29 LX has a feature that will notify you of bad weather in your area even if the radio is off. The 18 WX doesn't offer this notification.
I made a template in the dimensions of the Cobra 29LX. If i mount it slightly more towards the coulmn it will fit fine and if i relocate my driving light switch to the left of the coulumn i can mount the radio further to the right closer to the ashtray. Either position should be out of the way of the passenger in the middle. Only concern would be the coiled mic cable falling down to the floor off the trans hump and getting under foot of the throttle. But i can work something out on that.
But with one decision down now i have two more. First one is im trying to locate a good fair radio shop local that i can ha e this radio tuned and peaked before mounting. Second is i was advised against mounting the two antennas atop my aluminum camper as it would be a horrible ground plane. Has me wondering now as firestiks site claims dual antennas use each other as a ground plane cor bad ground plane mounting.
So if anyone knows of any good cb tuner shops in Houston let me know. Like wise id be open to hearing more about the ground plane on single vs dual and roof mounted vs aluminum bed camper mount.
can you take a pic of the current setup and then use ms paint to draw where the antennas will go ?
I might have some ideas
Sure im at qork right now but i have some photos of the truck and i can draw where the antennas i had planned on mounting the duals. I should be home in half an hour or so and will have it drawn up.
Ok this is what I had planned on doing might be a little hard to see, but I found some clamp style mounts from Firestik that uses two plates to squeeze a flat mouting surface, this would work great on clamping onto the horizontal pieces of the ladder rack. Down the road when I do the roll bar and get rid of the camper I will relocate them to the light bar mount that would be atop the single tube roll bar.
trying to get the other photo to upload to photobucket, I would attach it here via my computer but it doesn't work for me on this site anymore for some reason.
My Yaesu Ft-2700R (a 2 meter/440 MHZ ham rig) will fit underneath the dash between the ashtray & glove-box IF I put a 1" spacer between the mount & the bottom of the dashboard & NOT be in the way.
("Your mileage may vary".)
I verified with a cardboard cutout that I made in all three dimensions, height, width, and depth. This one will fit but I just cant decide to pull the trigger. Ive still had people tell me where I want to mount my antenna will not work properly, and all have said to mount on the roof. That's fine and all but I refuse to cut or drill holes in the roof so I would have to go with a magnetic mount. Then I have a new problem of having to pull the mount from time to time to clean under it otherwise rust will eventually start to form.
Then I have to figure out how to route the CB coax so it doesn't just drape across the back window as that would bug me.
I also was told on a CB forum to drop the dual antenna and go with a single antenna and to drop the 3ft and go for a 4ft. Ive seen mixed reviews on the dual vs single and ive seen some claim they have to be 9 feet apart to work properly and ive seen others state that while 9 feet is ideal it doesn't mean you cant have them closer just wont work at peak efficiency.
Now with all this in mind, I am just thinking about saying screw it and do a camper mount like I had planned and hope for the best. Down side is I just cant decide as I found out that Cobra made at one time a 29 WX NW ST radio that has the classic analog look. They are not made anymore but I can purchase them from a third party seller on amazon that's been refurbished for $65. Not sure if I want to trust this but this older style radio would fit my truck a lot better than this newer LX digital one I am looking at right now.
I just don't know why Cobra stopped making the classic 29 with weather and went to this digital only one. Ive seen lots of people talk bad about theses and some claim they had only two colors out of the four as two went bad and couldn't even get cobra to warranty it out, they claimed that since it wasn't purchased through them, you have to warranty it through the seller. Guy said he tried that but Amazon told him to warranty it through the manufacturer.
So needless to say I have not purchased the radio yet and I have done nothing but pulled my hair out this weekend trying to make a decision that keeps getting stepped on for one reason or another.
~Update~
Well I was advised to go with a Wilson 1000 antenna and while it is taller than I would like at 62 1/2" it is a whip antenna which means it is more flexible than a fiberglass one and will be more forgiving if it contacts tree branches.
This means instead of spending $105.09 for dual antenna I can get the Wilson 1000 magnetic mount for $80.00 with free shipping. Then throw in another $100 for the Cobra 29 LX radio unless I decide to take a chance on the refurbished Cobra 29 WX NW ST one for $65.
32. Some people believe that co-phased antennas must be separated by a minimum of nine (9) feet. We have successfully used co-phase antenna systems with spacing as little as four (4) feet. Space alters the pattern and not always negatively. Each vehicle will be different.
As for the mag-mounts I would recommend a Wilson 5000 or a K-40, As I have know lots of people that have ran them from 5W up to 300W
you can get a piece of felt to place on the bottom to protect the paint job
I would shop around more if you decide on that route.
the great thing about them is they both unscrew from the base, makes life easier when parking in the home garage or in a getto
have you thought about mirror mounts ?
I would recommend adding a ground wire to the mount or going with a ground plane antenna like the K40 or wilsons
I'm still undecided which route I want to go. I'm a big fan of the 102" whips.
I may do a flat plate under the canopy or a ball mount to the bed or cab.
I don't mind drilling a new hole or three, as long and it looks like it belongs.
and with a spring I can bent the antennas back and clip them to something if I ever have to park in the garage.
I cant look at the mirror mounts as my '82 has the small single point mount car style mirrors. If I had the larger trucker style mirrors I would just mount them on the mirrors and be done.
I will check out the K40 and the Wilson 5000. I was really liking the Wilson 1000 as it is magnetic and it has the screw off coil so you don't have to constantly remove the magnetic base.
On the down side I have to figure out what I can put on the magnet that will allow it to still clamp down to the cab but create a seal to keep water out as I don't want to have to constantly be pulling it off to dry the mount to prevent rust.
With all this rain we had and where I will be moving to, there were large sections of roads completely under. Industry for instance was cut off only way to get in or out was through Columbus which I think was also expericing high water. So this radio would be a huge benefit for me atleast I could in theory get up to date flood coverage by finding out which roads are flooded.
