Truck with FWC, where to mount a CB antenna?

[ExpoMike]

Hi everyone,

Well I am looking to get a CB setup into my '97 Dodge Ram with a FWC on the back. On my Cherokee I used a mag mount Wilson 1000 and SWR tuned. It has worked great and I would pick up and transmit further than anyone else in the groups I have traveled in. Not having a rack on top, I was able to put in on the roof which gave a great ground plane and not obstructed by anything 360* around it.

With my new rig, the roof on the cab is basically out as the overhang of the FWC won't allow it. The camper itself is not a good point as it's fairly isolated from the truck and being it can be removed from the truck if need, complicates the cable (i.e. additional connections). I have seen the driver fender mount specifically made for these year Ram trucks but that will be much more directional and likely the size of the camper will really block the signal.

Here's a pic of the rig. Any ideas that will maximize my usability for TX/RX signal? Any other thoughts? Thanks.

 

[YukonRob]

I'm by no measure a 'radio guy', but I've seen big rigs with antennas mounted on their mirrors. Would somthing like that work?
Alternatly, could you fab a small tab that would extend the roof forward of the shell and mount the antena there?

 

[Tennmogger]

I have a camper on my truck with similar conflicts. An antenna on top of the camper gets to be quite tall, but top center of the camper would be an ideal antenna location.

I chose a front bumper mount for my main HF antenna, a Hustler antenna setup. Centered on the front bumper the antenna is clear from most limbs and other hazards, and when blown backwards by wind gusts it tilts harmlessly back over the hood. It's not ridiculously high either. The sloping hood keeps metal reasonably far from the antenna mast. BTW, any antenna mounted on a rear bumper extension or trailer hitch will suffer from capacitive coupling to the camper. And, that coupling changes as the antenna swings around.

Performance from my antenna at that location is good, too. I have done a 360 circle in a parking lot while talking to a remote station on HF and they could not hear any significant signal strength changes.

You might consider using larger coax (RG-8 type) because the coax run can be long on a big truck (I used RG-58 and know there are losses).

Another idea: Looks to me like those camper jack tubes would be a perfect place to clamp a vertical mast, even a push-up pole. Put an antenna base on that push pole, low when driving, then raise it when you are parked to clear the camper. There are clamps made to clamp one tube to another. Locating a mast directly behind the jack tube would not add any width to the rig. Maybe put an offset plate on top of the push pole to move the antenna(s) inward several inches?

You have a nice camper setup there!

Bob WB4ETT

 

[acasper708]

Mount it off your front bumper.

 

[Photomike]

I had a piece of metal bent in a 90 degree angle, screwed to the inside of the fender coming up through were the hood closes. Then used a magnetic antenna on it, so far seems great.

 

[poriggity]

Mike, they make antenna mounts for trucks that bolt to the inside of the hood, and stick out between the hood and fender of the truck. They seem to work pretty well. I have a mount that comes off my mirror, but I don't know how thrilled I am with it. I may be looking for other options soon... That is, if I can ever figure out why my CB is not working. Im hoping its something as simple as the antenna needing a tune.

 

[ExpoMike]

Yeah, I have been looking at the fender mount they make for my truck but the big factor on why I haven't jump on it yet is that it will be very directional because the camper will be blocking the right rear or at least that's my understanding of how antennas work.

I really don't want anything mounted to the camper as then I need to make the connection removable in those times I need to remove the camper.

 

[Haggis]

I had the fender mount for my old Ram and it work just fine, even with the cap on. Here's a quick pic that was easy to find of our old ride. For the CB I used a 3' Firestick, coaxial cable with banjo fitting and ran the cable behind the fender and then in to the cab via one of the factory rubber grommets if I remember right. I had a great SWR readings with this set-up and it worked quite well.

I still have the bracket in one of the tool boxes in the garage. It will need a polish but your welcome to it if you want it. Just drop me a PM with your address and I'll send it out. I've got no use for it now.

 

[ExpoMike]

Cool deal Mark. Sent ya a PM.

 

[Photomike]

Mike, they make antenna mounts for trucks that bolt to the inside of the hood, and stick out between the hood and fender of the truck. They seem to work pretty well. I have a mount that comes off my mirror, but I don't know how thrilled I am with it. I may be looking for other options soon... That is, if I can ever figure out why my CB is not working. Im hoping its something as simple as the antenna needing a tune.

My neighbor came over with a pile of old CB's and antennas that he was cleaning out. They were all magnetic mount antenna and I didn't want to spend money on the mounts (yes I am cheap). So I was going to put on the bumper, tried on the truck roof and then came up with the idea of the hood. Funny thing was that I found holes on each side when I looked so someone must have had mounts there before.

I am not sure about the range need to do some testing but when I tuned it came in very low.

 

[ExpoMike]

Funny, I actually thought about the middle of the hood too. My big thing is not just the SWR reading but the range. My basic understanding is CB antenna's work best with a clear 360* view. When objects block this (i.e. camper, buildings, etc.) the range is greatly reduced. I have had great luck with my Cherokee as it's on the roof with nothing around it (no rack). I can reach out way further than anyone else I have traveled with, in all directions. Also helps that the Wilson 1000 antenna is one of the best out there.

Be interested in what your testing shows.