SilicaRich's Overland TJ Rubicon Build

[SilicaRich]

When I wired up my Cobra 75wx I didn't have enough wire to reach my battery also. I just used more of the same gauge wire and connected directly to the battery. I am currently adding a lot of aux lighting (rock lights, rear backup lights, fog and spot lights) and cleaning up my wiring by installing a Switch-Pros switch system. I would highly suggest that system if you ever add anymore lights to your rig.

Yeah I'm about to head out and buy more wire regardless but I'm favoring the direct hook up to the battery over everything else. It might be the lengthier route, but i don't trust myself trying to splice into another source. Now I have to figure out the best way to run the wires and retain a "clean" look. The wire is like 12-14 gauge right?

I aired mine to the fuse box behind the glove box. I put it in the radio fuse that way it works on either accessory or on but I can't accidentally leave it on and kill my battery. If your cb automatically reverts to ch19 like mine does, it's kinda a pain to keep reseting the channel every time you turn the engine off but it works well for me. You could also wire it to a hot fuse (dome light or horn maybe?), but just be sure to turn your radio off. Wording it to the battery works too, my lights go to the battery. If you don't have a heat gun use the crimp connectors to lengthen the wires. Way better than twisting and electrical taping haha

I think buying more wire and connecting to the battery is my best option. Just eliminates the chance of me screwing up the wiring of more than just the CB.

Thanks for the responses!

 

[piratenation90]

Yeah I'm about to head out and buy more wire regardless but I'm favoring the direct hook up to the battery over everything else. It might be the lengthier route, but i don't trust myself trying to splice into another source. Now I have to figure out the best way to run the wires and retain a "clean" look. The wire is like 12-14 gauge right?

I think buying more wire and connecting to the battery is my best option. Just eliminates the chance of me screwing up the wiring of more than just the CB.

Thanks for the responses!

Are you still planning on installing it in the overhead console? If so you should be able to run the wire behind the windshield trim over to the driver side and take it down the pillar trim piece and then through the firewall right behind the brake pedal. The trim piece between the sun visors will pull right off but the pillar trim piece will have to be taken off with star bits I believe.

 

[SilicaRich]

Are you still planning on installing it in the overhead console? If so you should be able to run the wire behind the windshield trim over to the driver side and take it down the pillar trim piece and then through the firewall right behind the brake pedal. The trim piece between the sun visors will pull right off but the pillar trim piece will have to be taken off with star bits I believe.

Yes that's where I intended to install the CB. That's something I was wondering about keeping it "clean" looking, wasn't sure what could come easily and such. I'll have to take take a look and see what's easy to pull off and such. I plan to pre run the wires through the firewall before doing the connections that way I can cut any excess wire that I don't need.

 

[SilicaRich]

Something I would also like to add is me potentially waiting on the Tuffy Center Console, again it's already in my possession. Reason be, I'm thinking about installing some sound proofing while the OEM center console is out to cut down on road and transmission noise. Yes, I know it's a Jeep but finding little opportunities to add comfort to the Jeep should be taken advantage of

*But since I don't plan to install any electronics yet in the center console, I can always install it, wait a little longer, uninstall, install soundproofing, and then reinstall the console.

 

[SilicaRich]

Just a little updating from late work last night. Currently installing the CB now, just got done presetting the wires and coax cable. After that, need to situate the CB into its cubby and set up my antenna.



Took advise from piratenation90 and ran the wires through the windshield trim and then behind the side of the dash. You can barely see the red positive

 

[SilicaRich]

Well I didn't finish. The CB itself is wired up, but not properly mounted I need longer bolts for its mount. Antenna is in a similar situation. Because I planned to mount the antenna on the passenger side rack bar using the 3 way antenna mount, I had already pre-planned and bought longer bolts. Well I apparently bought them too long and since they are not threaded all the way through they will not work.

So here's the plan: Buy new bolts for antenna mount and CB mount, install, hook up wire ends to the battery, test radio, and tune.

Just a quick review so far of the Tuffy Overhead Console. So far it seems pretty solid and worth the pretty penny. However, Tuffy really needs to sit down and rewrite their instructions. They are absolutely terrible. Because installation differs across all years of the TJ, the instructions bounce all over the place and are extremely difficult to follow. Also, steps were skipped numerous times. Not doubting the quality of Tuffy, but if anyone finds themselves interested in this particular console really inspect the parts before trying to look through what I would call "de-structions".

 

[SilicaRich]

CB Finished!

And the CB is officially installed! Everything is clean and super stout, no rattles! Even utilized factory holes in the console to install the mic mount included with my radio. Only thing that is slightly a red flag, reception quality. It's fairly crackly but when at the right volume it's decently clear. I don't know if that's a ground issue or maybe I just need to tune the antenna. Any thoughts?

And pics to make yall happy:sombrero:

 

[AgentOrange76]

Really clean install, looks great. Must be nice to have the radio somewhere you can actually hear it haha. 5 ft antenna?

I wish I could help ya with the antenna. I even bought an SWR meter to tune it and still can't get it below 2.5. We tuned it by ear once and cranked over 5 miles in terrain with it so it's not the ground. I'm about ready to say screw it all and get a 102" and never have to fool with it again. Anyways....

Keep in mind CBs function on more of an AM band so it's going to be a little fuzzy (as opposed to hams which are like FM......correct me if I'm wrong) and the static could be so many things it could be very hard to track down. Even if your setup is perfect but your buddy's is junk, you're gonna get all that interference when he transmits. Fiddling with squelch and RF gain will also help, as well as other noise cancelling settings like analog. Hope this helps!

 

[SilicaRich]

Really clean install, looks great. Must be nice to have the radio somewhere you can actually hear it haha. 5 ft antenna?

I wish I could help ya with the antenna. I even bought an SWR meter to tune it and still can't get it below 2.5. We tuned it by ear once and cranked over 5 miles in terrain with it so it's not the ground. I'm about ready to say screw it all and get a 102" and never have to fool with it again. Anyways....

Keep in mind CBs function on more of an AM band so it's going to be a little fuzzy (as opposed to hams which are like FM......correct me if I'm wrong) and the static could be so many things it could be very hard to track down. Even if your setup is perfect but your buddy's is junk, you're gonna get all that interference when he transmits. Fiddling with squelch and RF gain will also help, as well as other noise cancelling settings like analog. Hope this helps!

4 foot. I kind of wanted a 5 foot but was afraid it would stick up too high and they also didn't offer a kit in 5 foot.

Truthfully I know nothing about radios so I'm just gonna trust whatever you say haha. I think I'm gong to fiddle with the tuning tip of the antenna tomorrow just to see if it even helps. I have no way test the SWR of my radio unless I'm reading the bar thing incorrect on my radio. There's an SRF meter thing on my radio and it says to get that as high up as possible in my manual. Most of my channels sit at 2 to 3 bars so I think tuning the antenna a bit might help that.

 

[AgentOrange76]

You want the SWR of your radio to be as low as possible with 1 being ideal. Anything above that and your radio is not operating as efficiently as it could be. A reading of one is virtually impossible without a 102" whip. The reason those are so efficient is because that is the length of the wavelength CBs operate on. In general if you can bet below 1.5 you're a beast and anything under 3 is acceptable. Obviously the lower the number is the better your range and clarity will be. Without a meter (I don't believe yours has one built in) you can tune it another way. I don't know how many people do this or if it's an acceptable practice but we've done it with pretty good success. You'll need 2 buddies. One will listen to their cb and another will talk on yours while you fiddle with the tip. Go real slow, and have the buddy listening holler when the reception is really clear. Keep in mind it's real sensitive and even your hand will affect it, so take your time. When the reception between rigs is as good as it's gonna get leave the tuning there. The radio's may not be tuned at all but they'll be tuned to each other, so you'll crank the range between your buddies rigs.

http://www.rightchannelradios.com/blogs/installation-guides/18428275-understanding-swr

Right channel radios has a lot of information that's not rednecked up, unlike mine. There's a good starting point, there's a link on how to tune it right on there too.

Is it the 4ft firefly? That's what i should've goten, my 5 footer is HEAVY

Lemme know if you've got any questions, I don't know much (as evidenced by my setup being junk) but I've been yappin in the radio for more than 3 years now every time I go to school , or anywhere for that matter, and I'll be glad to help if I can.

 

[SilicaRich]

Little Offroad Trip Before Heading Back to College

Headed out for a little day wheeling trip at Hidden Falls Adventure Park outside of Marble Falls, TX on Saturday with 8 or 9 other Jeeps. Had an absolute blast testing out the new suspension and meeting new people. I have photos but I'm waiting on an email with a folder full of many more so I won't post photos just yet, but I will leave you with a few teasers





Details: The new OME suspension performed exceptionally well and as you can see, articulation was awesome disconnected. JKS discos were very easy to use, 2 minutes to disconnect and 2 minutes to reconnect. CB worked but poorly, I could barely communicate half a mile away so I need to get that sorted out. Not sure if I need to tune it or what. I will likely take it to a specialist to get looked at and may pay to have it professionally tuned. Other thing I think is due to change is my brake rotors. They were very noisy offroad and sounded like they were at the end of their life span. Not too big of a deal, I can replace all 4 with OEM rotors for around $200. May consider upgrading to higher performance rotors, still deciding. Something that I was also impressed with was the BFG KMs. Before the trip, I was hating the KMs more and more on pavement, but that's because I was spoiled by the pavement manners of my old KOs. However, offroad they were awesome and far more superior than my old KOs, but that's to be expected when comparing a MT vs. AT. In situations with my old KOs going up on ledges without my lockers, the KOs normally would slip but eventually get up. The KMs had zero slip and walked right up, even in hairy situations where I would normally need lockers with the KOs. Comparing the two tires, KOs and KMs, has given me a pretty good idea of what I want out of my next set of tires and is making me lean towards Cooper ST Pros more and more. However, I'm still afraid the Pros maybe still a little too aggressive on the pavement for me. I'll continue to do my research and ask around

Other than that, I'm heading out this Friday back to Arkansas to get moved into my house.

 

[GetOutThere]

You have to tune your radio. CBs aren't plug and play.

SWR meters are like $30, and a worthy purchase.

That being said, I used my radio guru buddy's SWR meter to tune my CB, and I still could only get my swr to 1.8 at best on my JK.

 

[piratenation90]

One thing that I just found out about CB's while my LJ was being re-geared at Southeast Overland last week is the there should be a plastic washer that has a "lip" to it that holds the stud in place, not sure where in the sequence of parts it goes (still trying to figure that out). My firestick doesn't have it either.

 

[Zeep]

When my LJR needed new brakes, I sourced them here;http://www.blackmagicbrakes.com/
They are very highly reguarded on the Jeep forums, and have performed flawlessly for me.

 

[SilicaRich]

You have to tune your radio. CBs aren't plug and play.

SWR meters are like $30, and a worthy purchase.

That being said, I used my radio guru buddy's SWR meter to tune my CB, and I still could only get my swr to 1.8 at best on my JK.

That's what I figured, they say if you want it perfect buy a whip and call it good. That being said, I figure I'll pay the $20-$30 to have it tuned by a professional.

One thing that I just found out about CB's while my LJ was being re-geared at Southeast Overland last week is the there should be a plastic washer that has a "lip" to it that holds the stud in place, not sure where in the sequence of parts it goes (still trying to figure that out). My firestick doesn't have it either.

Are you talking about the polywasher looking deal? On my 3 way mount, it's installed "on top" of the mounting surface. Maybe it should be under, thought I installed it correctly based on what information was provided with the antenna.

When my LJR needed new brakes, I sourced them here;http://www.blackmagicbrakes.com/
They are very highly reguarded on the Jeep forums, and have performed flawlessly for me.

Do they just sell factory replacement rotors or only entire brake kit upgrades? I thought I checked their website once but didn't see any direct factory replacement parts. I understand Black Magic has a good reputation among TJ/LJ owners as a top tier choice when picking a BBK for 35" tires or bigger but I'm in no position of wanting or needing a BBK in my Jeep's current state.

Sorry for the long absence. I've been getting things together and have moved into my new house up in Arkansas. Since being here I've run into a minor issue but the issue does leave me as a road hazard therefore it is being sorted out ASAP. Today, while on my way to purchase textbooks I was informed by a courteous driver that my brake lights were not functioning. Having blown my brake fuse back during my trip to Hidden Falls, I figured this was likely the same issue but raised a red flag considering how quickly the issue reemerged. I went ahead and replaced the fuse and watched, and listened, closely as my brand new fuse popped the second I applied the brakes. Since I don't have much time and need my vehicle next week to get to school I took the Jeep to a reputable shop around town and left it over night so it could be looked at first thing in the morning. I understand that the issue is likely very minor and probably cheap but I currently don't have the time to be chasing a possible bad ground or pinched wire. Hooray for likely overpaying for simple services