Jeep Cherokee CB Radio placement

[SWbySWesty]

Hi everyone with CB radios!

I've been reading up in the section on CB's and to make this pertinent to the Jeep section, I was wondering the favorite placement of CB antennas on the Jeep Cherokees for all of you! Got photos?

What setup (ie: model/antenna) did you use and where do the wires run, etc?

spare no detail! :wings:

[FrenchieXJ]

I run the K-40 base loaded mag mount. I place it about 1' back from the windshield on the roof. It sits in front of the RTT. I like it as I get a 1 to 1.2 match on all of the channels or better. I run the wire back to the passenger door and tuck it wire behind the molding. It goes inside at the bottom and under the front passenger seat to the radio mounted to the side of the trans. hump, passenger side. I have been using this setup since 1998 with great success.

[99wj]

i have a grand Cherokee, but the principle is relatively the same. for the antenna i just use a 3 foot "firestik" antenna. for the mount i used a flat piece of thin steel (about 4 inches by 1 inch) with a hole on each end. it slips in between the tail light and the body. (see the pic for more detail) one hole screws right into the body and the other hole holds the antenna. i see alot of cherokee and grand cherokee guys doing this and it works very well. i will post up more detailed pics, when i get a chance to go outside...

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5610/image030c.jpg (http://img171.imageshack.us/i/image030c.jpg/)

[GTABurnout]

I can take pics later but I have the CB mounted under the glove box. Wite runs along the passenger side behind the molding and out thry the rear tail light then on to the rear tire cairrer where I have a 4' fire stick mounted to a headyduty spring base.

[BIGdaddy]

I personally like a good, solid bull bar mount. Gets it out in the open, but low down enough not to hit parking garages. I'm going to mount a CB and 2m antenna up front there when I get it all gathered.

[Maximus Ram]

No pics, but i hace a Cobra 75wx and the antenna is mounted on the rack.
The Cobra has a box that can be mounted almost anywhere and then the radio/mike can be removed for theft deterent.

[SWbySWesty]

nice to hear someone has the one i'm looking at:

http://www.rightchannelradios.com/jeep-offroad-cb-radio-106/jeep-off-road-cb-kit-cobra-75-wx-st-419.html

it's a whole "get started" kit. What do you think? Do you use an external speaker with the 75wx or is the corded mic enough?

[Maximus Ram]

Dang, they give you quite a selection of antenna mounts in that kit.
I have found no need for an external speaker.

[SWbySWesty]

yea, I'll probably get the universal hood mount since that'll work perfect on the XJ. Great to know about the speaker...

[JChatary]

I use the Uniden Pro520 XL....mounted to the passenger side of the console where my shifter is...and I have my antenna magnet-mounted to the rear on the roof. No pics...but I'd be happy to take some!

[SWbySWesty]

yea, see, I'm not sure I like the idea of having everything be in the handheld unit. I had a hard enough time keeping track of my cell phone back in the day where you could use it while driving.

Grrr, what would you guys do? I'm thinking of the package deal and then maybe upgrading the radio to a better unit...although the Cobra unit seems pretty legit.

[hugh]

based on an idea I got from the naxja site I mounted my cb overheard between the sun visors. A small strip of metal between the plastic clips that the visors clip into and done. Plus the speaker is right overhead so its pretty easy to hear.

[Exrunner]

Heres my install...

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17845

I guess its been just over a year since I installed it and its as solid as the day I put it up there.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c37/6lug/DSCF0021-1.jpg
Heres a pic of my generic CB antenna with magnetic base.

Reasons for its location:

Center of the vehicle keeps it out of reach out of branches.
Lower mounting position on hood to keep it low for clearance.
Mounting it on a flat surface = better reception.
(I can still open the hood just fine)

I ran the cable into the door jam and then up the front pillar under the trim piece to keep it stealthy, under the pass. side visor then hooked it up. Inside the vehicle, you cant even see the cable. Works good for me. Hope this helped.

[OverlandZJ]

I have an old Midland Weather-Max CB mounted under the glovebox/dash, nice thin design and is out of the way for passengers. Have the ant mounted on rear of my roofrack, it's roughly 30" steel whip.

My CB is a bottom mount speaker and i had issues hearing it clearly so i added an external speaker to my dash. Works great.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d24/ExpeditionXJ/crossbasket7.jpg

[bobDog]

Kinda on topic....I have mine mounted on the usual stainless steel mount crewed to the front fender (moving it to the brush guard).......BUT does anyone know how to set swr (srw?) w/o a meter? Is that possible???

[jwtrapper]

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h61/jwtrapper/console.jpg
This is what I have now.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h61/jwtrapper/switches.jpg

This is what I had in my last xj

I will have to take a picture of my cb antenna mount. I made a bracket that fits behind the tail light that holds the antenna. I like it.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h61/jwtrapper/jeepmay045.jpg

Again this is my last XJ, and I used a ball mount on the rear drivers side.

I like the one I have now better.

[StumpXJ]

I made a center overhead console and mounted it up top. I have a K40 antenna mounted on my front bumper. The whole combo works great for me.

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n257/topfuel443/Jeep%20pics/DSCN0870.jpg

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n257/topfuel443/Jeep%20pics/DSCN0876.jpg

~James

[ExpoMike]

Kinda on topic....I have mine mounted on the usual stainless steel mount crewed to the front fender (moving it to the brush guard).......BUT does anyone know how to set swr (srw?) w/o a meter? Is that possible???

No, you have to use a SWR meter to set the SWR.

[XXXpedition]

right in the middle in front of the windshield - a very save spot!
http://www.xxxpedition.com/2006-DownUnder/4x4gallery/LandCruiser/IMG_0579.JPG

[SWbySWesty]

Those of you with middle mounted in front of the windshield, is that a mag mount?

[Exrunner]

mine has a magnetic base.

[Stumpalump]

One half of a CB electrically speaking is the ground or whats called the ground plane. The center of the roof is the best ground plane if best CB performance is the goal. I use a spring and a cheap truck stop K-40 whip antenna so if and when I break it then I just screw a new one on. For me great communication is important because I run in large groups and we get spread out in the mountains so performance and inside location is also important. My rig is only used on days that I trail ride so the factory radio location was the ideal spot for me. I shed a few pounds by ditching the radio and associated wiring and speakers. Those rear roof speakers are heavy and located at the highest center of gravity anyway. I've been in 3 rollovers (long story).
I buy my CB radio equipment from Sparkys. He peaks and tweaks them for free and has all the mounts and antenna stuff you will need. I run a General lee. It has a super clean receiver and puts out 25 watts on low and 55 on high. Just enough for clean communications but not so hot it's noticed other than people say I sound great.http://www.sparkyscbshack.com/Saleitems.html

[bobDog]

That is a K40? Hmmm boy am I mixed up. I thought a K40 had a stainless whip w/ a big black cylinder at the base......also thought that the roof was only if you wanted as close to 360o as you could get? Oh and what is the heavy speaker thing about? I just have one aux in front.

[Bodo]

I made a center overhead console and mounted it up top. I have a K40 antenna mounted on my front bumper. The whole combo works great for me.



~James

That's really neat. Did you ever write that up? What was involved in making it?

[bobDog]

I'd be happy to see that write up too!.....console....yes

[Stumpalump]

That is a K40? Hmmm boy am I mixed up. I thought a K40 had a stainless whip w/ a big black cylinder at the base......also thought that the roof was only if you wanted as close to 360o as you could get? Oh and what is the heavy speaker thing about? I just have one aux in front.

K40 makes a stainless whip as you described and also a super nice magnetic base for it. I had one and it lasted many years. Trees took a toll on it so on my XJ I went to a solid mount with a spring. K40 also make whips like a fire stick or typical truckers antenna. I like them because they seem to flex better than other fiberglass whips. The 360 degree coverage is the best for off road because trails twist and you use it while in all positions while waiting ,winching and just getting all twisted up off road compared to a freeway. The speakers I was referring to are the four factory radio speakers. I don't jam while in my rig so I ditched the factory AM/FM. One idea I was going to do was use the unused door speakers as axillary CB speakers but the CB converted General Lee sounds great in the dash. All they do is pull a jumper or something inside and it's an instant 40 channel CB but with a 10 meter radio amp in it. You still keep the 10 meter capability but thats FCC license channel and I stay off it. It's the best bang for the buck in a CB and is probably the most popular radio with truckers next to a Cobra. I did leave air space for cooling and that happened to let the sound out very well. Link to the K40 Whips:http://www.das-roadpro.com/k40/fiberglass.asp

[bobDog]

thanks....that clears up a few things....does the 180o action mean you don't need a spring?:sombrero:

[Stumpalump]

Nope. You can still snap them.

[StumpXJ]

I have the firestick style K40 and it works like a champ.

Sorry guys, I dont have a write up on the console. It was just something I whipped up a while back. Basically made out of 1/4" birch on the sides, thinner stuff on the bottom side, and a scrap piece of carbon fiber in front of the CB just because I had it laying around. I used cardboard to make the roof line pattern. I mounted it to the old Dome light on the back side, and the lock remote thing between the sunvisors. It was pretty straight forward though. There is plenty of room for switches and all kinds of other crap, but I have places for those already.

I used (4) 20 watt 12 volt bulbs, two pointing towards the front, and two towards the rear.

~James