For all the CB users...

97Chevyguy · June 15, 2002

At the moment I got a 5 foot whip antenna on the roof of my truck. After a couple of months I saw folks with the antennas mounted on the bumper and I said to myself, "wow, that looks pretty good". I could change it if I wanted to, luck would have it I have a magnetic mount but I had to drill a little hole in the door to get the coax cable in the truck. Question 1, for people that have magnetic mounts, would the actual antenna part still be useable on the bumper mount, all i'd have to do is screw it on or does that whole antenna become useless when switching? Question 2, more of a opinion that I want to hear, do I keep my 5 foot whip on the roof or do I get a bumper mount and live with a small drill hole in the door? What kind of setup does everyone else use?

WEFs99 · June 15, 2002

The roof mount is the most efficient but if you really like the looks of it on the bumper, it should be a unit designed for the bumper. A fiberglass model can be painted to match.

SilveradoWV · June 15, 2002

Fiberglass is the way to go on the bumper IMO! All you use it for is transmit, the metal on your truck becomes your recieve. When using a bumper setup I always used a thing I called a "One Shot" , drill one hole for this to go in and then screw your antenna on it. Make sure it is metal to metal with the bumper and then your whole truck becomes the outer part of your coax. Not sure if I explained this correct or not, if you have any questions about what I said let me know and I'll try to explain it a different way!

Tobes · June 15, 2002

you should not have to drill into the door of the truck. There are a couple of drain plugs that have rubber plugs in them under the cab of the truck (if I remember correctly)

You have a 5' magnetic mount ant.? I would not have thought that would stay on the truck. ???

97Chevyguy · June 15, 2002

You have a 5' magnetic mount ant.? I would not have thought that would stay on the truck. ???

I've only had trouble with it once. Going down my driveway we got a lot of low branches hanging off trees. I smacked one so hard that it knocked the mount off the roof and banged the passenger side widow. After cutting the branches off I don't have any problem going down my driveway. It's a Wilson 1000 and the box claims it can stand something up to 90 mph winds...having never been in 90 mph winds I wouldn't know though.

ClawSS · June 17, 2002

I bet if you pushed down a bit more on that long pedal on the right you could test their claim.

jgriffin · June 17, 2002

Roof mount is far better from an efficiency standpoint as the roof provides the best ground plane for your antenna system. That said, I use a fender mount for my amateur radio antennas as I didn't want to drill holes in the roof (or use a mag mount). You will get some different lobing effects with this type of setup. It all depends on your priorities: maximum efficiency or appearance.

Posted June 17, 2002 · June 17, 2002

I have a 4 ft magnetic mount Cobra. I run the cable through the back, passenger door. The cable has a very slight crimp, but nothing major and it has not affected my vswr.

I don't want to drill a hole in my truck, that's why it's the way it is. Also, my wife thinks the antenna is too "redneck looking". I don't know what she's worried about, she drives a 1 ton, crew cab 4x4 to work at Home Depot. What else does she need to say "North Florida Redneck"?

BTW, that antenna stayed on while doing 85-90 down I-10 a few weeks ago. Gas mileage sucked, though...