Help With Mag Mount Antenna!

[FurthurOnTheFly]

I have a Wilson Lil Wil mag mount for my CB that I've been running on the 4Runner for the last month or so. I originally purchased a Firestik set-up similar to what we run on the FJ, but it would have ended up mounting so low to the rear hatch I decided to give the mag mount a try.

It has worked great and was easy to tune. However I'm now running into two problems:

#1 the screw that holds the antenna to the base keeps backing out. Not a huge deal, but I've already lost one...luckily not the antenna along with it! I bought some extras and just keep my eye on it. I was just wondering if anyone else was having the same problem.

#2 is my larger issue...the mount and cable are starting to wear marks into the paint. I do my best to clean off these spots before putting it on the roof, but this is AZ and the truck gets dusty just driving down the street. I don't want it to get any worse so I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to what I can do to prevent this. I know there are some of you out there running this mag mount on non-white vehicles!

I've found the cb antenna mounting options on the 4Runner kind of suck, but if I have to go back to the original Firestik plan to keep the paint on my roof then I will. Any suggestions welcome and appreciated!!

 

[1leglance]

On the screw thing maybe some lock-tite or something to keep it from backing out....
On the scratches...well maybe some felt glued to the bottom of the mount.
Or Drill a couple of holes in your roof, 1 for cb & the other for ham
If you don't like that then there are the mounts that go on the fender lip under the hood, about 1/2 way between the front & windshield

 

[TheAlmightySam]

For the scratches, get a sheet of that clear vinyl film they use to make clear auto bras out of. It's really thin and completely transparent. Just stick on a piece big enough to cover the area the base usually sits on.

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

On the screw thing maybe some lock-tite or something to keep it from backing out....
On the scratches...well maybe some felt glued to the bottom of the mount.
Or Drill a couple of holes in your roof, 1 for cb & the other for ham
If you don't like that then there are the mounts that go on the fender lip under the hood, about 1/2 way between the front & windshield

Ya probably not going to be drilling anytime soon...I'd like to keep it on the roof for that whole better reception thing, but maybe once I get a front bumper I'll switch to there.

For the scratches, get a sheet of that clear vinyl film they use to make clear auto bras out of. It's really thin and completely transparent. Just stick on a piece big enough to cover the area the base usually sits on.

Now this is an innovative idea! Where could one come across such an item??

 

[flyingwil]

Like lance said issue 1 - thread lock, if you don't have that the pvc tape for plumbing works too.

Issue 2 - there is a 3M clear sticker that they use on doors and fromt ends to prevent scratches, put a 1/2" larger circle one on you roof and your good to go, and no loss in magnetic cling.

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

Yes but where do I get the stickers? Auto Zone or something??

 

[Cypher]

I have that exact antenna on both the Frontier and the FJ. Really good antenna.

About the set screw... I went out and bought a longer set screw that has a deeper socket. This way I can really crank down on it without the worry of striping it. If you use thread lock make sure you get the "weakest" one otherwise it will not work well for removing it if you ever need to. That being said, I'd also try giving Wilson a call. They are REALLY good about just send you and new antenna if there seems to be something wrong with yours. You are the first that I have heard having this problem.

About the scratches... If I were you, first of just mount the magnet and leave it in one spot. Remove the steel whip when not in use and toss in the back, not the magnet. Before mounting the magnet clean the roof really well with soap and water. Make sure it is dry before installing. I have not seen too much wear on the paint of my Frontier since I keep the cable pulled tight and held in place with suction cups. There are suction cups off a shower organizer at Walmart that work PEFECTLY for this, not sure if you saw them on the Frontier. The vinyl is a great idea. I have seen it at a few of the auto store and you can definitely getting some really cheap from any of the places that do vinyl auto wraps. In fact I wouldn't doubt if you could convince them to give/sell cheap some scraps that they have in the trash can.

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

I have that exact antenna on both the Frontier and the FJ. Really good antenna.

About the set screw... I went out and bought a longer set screw that has a deeper socket. This way I can really crank down on it without the worry of striping it. If you use thread lock make sure you get the "weakest" one otherwise it will not work well for removing it if you ever need to. That being said, I'd also try giving Wilson a call. They are REALLY good about just send you and new antenna if there seems to be something wrong with yours. You are the first that I have heard having this problem.

About the scratches... If I were you, first of just mount the magnet and leave it in one spot. Remove the steel whip when not in use and toss in the back, not the magnet. Before mounting the magnet clean the roof really well with soap and water. Make sure it is dry before installing. I have not seen too much wear on the paint of my Frontier since I keep the cable pulled tight and held in place with suction cups. There are suction cups off a shower organizer at Walmart that work PEFECTLY for this, not sure if you saw them on the Frontier. The vinyl is a great idea. I have seen it at a few of the auto store and you can definitely getting some really cheap from any of the places that do vinyl auto wraps. In fact I wouldn't doubt if you could convince them to give/sell cheap some scraps that they have in the trash can.

Well my original plan was to just remove the antenna part but I was told that it would effect the tuning so I've just been pulling the whole thing off. If you don't have any problems with it then thats what I'll do from now on.

I do try to keep the cable held tight but it stills seems to have rubbed in a few spots. I don't really think there is anywhere I could use the suction cups that would work, but I will either try the vinyl or maybe just some silicone to keep it attached from the bottom.

Thanks Laurence!

 

[Cypher]

You're welcome! :sombrero:

The steel whip needs to be bottomed out in the magnet mount base each time for everything to work correctly. So, as long as you tuned the antenna this way then you just need to make sure you bottom out the steel whip each time and you are good to go. That is another reason I love the steel whips... Now, technically not having the magnet mount in the exact location that it was when you tuned it can have effects on the tuning, which again is why it is important to keep the magnet in one spot. As large as the roof is on your 4runner though, an inch this way or that way in relation to the location when tuned is not going to effect it all that much.

 

[FurthurOnTheFly]

Heh...well luckily all the dirt leaves a nice circle so I can remember where to put it! :elkgrin:

 

[Cypher]

Yea, I promise you the cleanest and only spot on my truck with out scratches is under that magnet HAHA! I installed the CB and the antenna like a week after I got the truck. The antenna mount has only moved once, when I decided to see what it looked like under there.

 

[Travelmore]

My first thought was that the vinyl would prevent the antenna from using the roof as a ground plane. Have any of you that are using this vinyl had any loss in your tuning numbers due to the vinyl?

 

[Cypher]

My first thought was that the vinyl would prevent the antenna from using the roof as a ground plane. Have any of you that are using this vinyl had any loss in your tuning numbers due to the vinyl?

Good point. The vinyl should only be used between the cable and roof and not between the magnet and the roof. The magnet already has a vinyl covering preventing metal to metal contact. If only a strip were used to cover the area prone to wear from the cable, I can't imagine it would effect the ground plane much if any at all.