CB install, anyone have it yet?

slj2008 · January 26, 2016

The mount is drilled into the black fender bracket. Remove the plastic cowl piece on the end (that the antenna goes through) and you'll see the fender bracket. It's VERY TIGHT in there. I used a Firestick mount. Their better quality one. It's a compact design (diameter). Once you drill the hole, you have to sand the under-side of the bracket to get a good ground. Then I assembled the coax to the mount. Ran a tie-wire up through the hole which then pulled some string I had tied to the mount (with the coax installed) and pulled it up through the hole. This is the tricky part. You have to install the nylon washer and top nut now. Remove string. Final tighten it up. Drill a hole in the plastic piece of the cowl to allow the antenna to go through it. Done. I need to snap some pics of the engine bay side showing the coax running into the firewall by the brake boosters. I used the high quality mini x wire. I believe it was Wilson wire. It's the small diameter, clear jacket, shielded wire. The mount is super strong. I could easily run a 4' antenna, but if I did.... I'd use a spring. Again, for the purpose of my setup or until further testing.... I'm sticking with the 3' antenna. My only gripe is the Firestik antenna is a bit "thick" in diameter. So I hear some wind noise from it. Not terrible, but it's there. Later on I might look at a new antenna that is skinnier such as the Wilson's. I've run those in the past and loved them. But for now I'm curious to test out the 3' firestik.

Last night I was in my driveway playing with the radio. Reception is unreal. I was hearing people from all over. I heard some skip from Virginia. Nobody could hear me.... they all had base stations and such. They were miles and miles away. I've run a lot of CB radio setups since the early 2000's and I will say that this new Cobra 29 LX radio has the best reception of any radio I've used. Hands down. Unreal tuner. I'm not a fan of the LCD display as it washes out and it's hard to see at an angle but that's my only gripe on the radio.

photo's of mount if you have some ?????

Beer Belly · January 26, 2016

I could of sworn I saw a mount that bolts under the Cowl, near the Hood Hinge that would allow a CB Antenna to stick out thru the Cowl opposite the Radio Antenna, I thought I saw it here on GM-Trucks but have had zero luck on tracking it down. Would definetly like to see pics

DevOps · January 26, 2016

Finally figured it out.

I went the same route but removed that door (since im not using it) and mounted it directly onto the trim piece.

A Cobra 29LTD BT seems to fit right in - using 2 bolts on top to hold it.

The bottom is held by mounting to the two mount points.

DevOps · January 27, 2016

I need to take better pics, but I like how flush it is this way, no bracket currently.

FL335i · January 27, 2016

Reminder lot of you guys have non-center console trucks. I have buckets with the console. Makes it a bit harder. But I will look into the Francis antennas and Wilson's. At 70mph + it's quiet. Noise is around 35-60.

Beer Belly- That mount you are talking about is a bracket that sticks through the crack and the wire and everything is outside. My mount is concealed by the cowl plastic. I wanted something that looks OEM.

Ran the radio all day today as I had a meeting in Orlando. I had a few good radio checks. One confirmed 4-5 mile range with great audio. I have noticed that a lot of the CB traffic is on base stations and those guys are broadcasting 30+ miles and there is no way they can hear me. It's been about 5-6yrs since I've had a CB up and running. I notice less "driver" or mobile talking and A LOT more base station chatting. I can't understand half the words they say. It's so over modulated and then they talk funny on top of it.... WTH man.

slj2008 · January 27, 2016

I need to take better pics, but I like how flush it is this way, no bracket currently.

mounted_01.png

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good job. clean installed

DevOps · January 27, 2016

Reminder lot of you guys have non-center console trucks. I have buckets with the console. Makes it a bit harder. But I will look into the Francis antennas and Wilson's. At 70mph + it's quiet. Noise is around 35-60.

True, I previously had the console and swapped it for then imp seat. My CB was mounted inside the large storage, with the Mic cable ran under and out of the bottom of the driver side map pocket. This way the cable can store in there when not being used.

Thanks for the details on the radio checks you've received. Haven't used mine since I was a kid (road trips with family to go camping).

SkippyG4 · January 27, 2016

Anyone know if this bracket works on the 2014+ trucks? right channel radios says yes but I am not sold it does.

http://www.rightchannelradios.com/collections/equipment-by-vehicle/products/chevy-gmc-cb-antenna-hood-mount-2010

FL335i · January 28, 2016

^ that's the bracket I did not want to use...

I got another decent radio check today on the way home. I will say it again, this Cobra 29 LX receive is unreal. However I am not very happy with my transmit range. I believe it has a lot to do with the 3' antenna. I can't seem to get out more than 3-4 miles. So I hear all this talk, feel like I am running a full whip on the receive. Then I go to transmit and am reminded that I have a 3' antenna. It's better at listening than transmitting for sure. I looked at antennas last night. My plan B antenna is the 4' Wilson silver-load. 1/4" diameter vs the firestik 3/8" to help with wind noise. And it's 1' taller to help with transmit range. I ran that exact Wilson for years on my 4runner and it worked very well. It's also very flexible compare to the firesticks. So off-road it was my friend. I used to wheel pretty hard core in rock quarries in N FL back in the brush. I saw jeeps flip over, axles breaking. Ah yeah... the good times. But on my 4runner crawler I either ran a full whip on the RR bumper corner or swapped it out for the 4' wilson so it only stuck over the roof like 18". Depending on what spots we wheeled I'd pick the antenna. The whip, with a Fity-wizat-bizox would get out like no tomorrow. I would talk 15-20 miles like nothing. I can see a 4' wilson in my near future. I think the 3' is geared for local chit chat and car pooling etc. Would work fine on a club off-road trip for sure, but not really a good get out and talk antenna size.

SkippyG4 · January 28, 2016

we have settled on the Midland 75-822, firestick II 3ft antenna and the bed stake mount.

mike5511 · January 28, 2016

When I get to it, this is my rig. Sits just perfect on the hump. I've got a Wilson 1000 mag mount and will probably drill a hole and mount it in the center of the roof at some point. First I need to run some power off the battery into the cab.

slj2008 · January 28, 2016

need photo's of install ?????

FL335i · January 29, 2016

Last night I was talking to a base station about 10 miles out. Crystal clear. Granted, if i was trying to talk to another 3' mobile setup, our range would probably be about 3-4 miles. Someone has to have the antenna in the conversation. But after that chat last night, proves my setup works. Guy was a hobbyist with basically his own radio station. His audio came in like it was HD Stereo. He did say my setup had clean audio and sounded good. I will probably look at getting the 4' Wilson silver load 1/4" antenna down the road just so I can talk more and it's more flexible off road and I would not need a spring... and hopefully help with that darn wind noise the firestick makes. Maybe I'll put the firestick on the K5 Blazer on the rear.

slj2008 · January 29, 2016

How many people used CB's now days ???? NOT like the "70's" .

FL335i · January 30, 2016

^you'd be surprised. Lot of traffic on it. It's not really a must have item for road travels to be honest. Cell coverage is so good now. But it is nice having added info in situations where the hwy is a parking lot. You can get specifics, which lane to be in, when does it clear up etc. Or you are board and chit chatting, asking about fuel prices. Off road clubs is where I used mine the most. Convoys of 6-30 trucks/jeeps/4runners etc running in area where even cell coverage is sketchy. Lead vehicle can give good info for the trucks behind. IE - "Keep to the right in that water crossing, it's very deep to the left, there is a hole in" etc. Which trail do we want to hit next... keeps the club together. It is very useful for offroad club outings. I look at the CB as a radar detector. I don't need it to drive. But it gives me more info. It's a tool and toy.