Where to put a CB with console

[JuniorDiesel]

Just as the subject says, trying to figure out where to put a CB with a center console. Curious if anyone has any ideas. Pictures would be appreciated.

Was thinking inside the console. Anybody know if the sides of the console are double walled?


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[kinnisoj]

Good luck. Ive been wanting to install my cobra for a while and have yet to find a good spot. Curious to see what u come up with.

[USMC2001PSD7.3]

I mounted mine on the front of the center console. There is a small lip on the front of the console (at least in my 2001 there is) that I drilled two holes into and hard mounted the CB and it holds great. Its the perfect spot to adjust it if you are on the move. I will find a picture when I get home and post

[JuniorDiesel]

When I say center console, I mean the kind the stretches to the dash and has four cup holders.

I just saw a YouTube video of a guy that has his inside the console mounted to one side.


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[Larryw1]

I had trouble doing mine. the only thing I came up with was this.It works and really doesn't look too bad.

[USMC2001PSD7.3]

O yea you guys are talking about in the new trucks. Good luck fellas I havent spent too much time in a new one but doesn't look like too many places

[JuniorDiesel]

Going to measure the inside and see if it will for in the arm rest on the side.


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[JuniorDiesel]

Originally Posted by Larryw1

I had trouble doing mine. the only thing I came up with was this.It works and really doesn't look too bad.

Looks good, how did you run the antenna wire? Curious what happens if they have to lift the cab for engine work. Hopefully they don't just start cutting wires.


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[Larryw1]

Originally Posted by JuniorDiesel

Looks good, how did you run the antenna wire? Curious what happens if they have to lift the cab for engine work. Hopefully they don't just start cutting wires.


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I mounted the Ant on the side of my tool box.
then I ran the coax through thr rubber oval on the frt panel of the bed.Under the cab along the frame up by the steering column and into the cab at the main harness boot (fire wall) to the left of the brake pedal.
note: I spray the boot with silicone spray and pop it out of the firewall hole. this allows me to run all my wires, every time I add an electrical do-dad I end up pulling the boot. fish the wire or coax then spray and reinstall the boot. Very easy!!!



All the wires and coax going to the cb are run through a hole in the center console (I drilled) then when I installed the coax onto the back of the radio I had to drill another hole for the coax connector at the back of the radio to drop down into. Yes I know one more hole than I wanted. but with the radio in. it all looks clean.







Oh Yeah! the sound is great! in fact the wife asks me to turn it down somtimes. "LOL"

[mugwump]

I my case I placed a VHF/UHF dual band radio in the same pocket as the CB is in. I ran my dual power (pos and neg) lines through the firewall grommet that is right under the drivers foot. My antenna is a 60" Diamond mounted to my rail running my antenna wire along the frame rail to the same grommet point and to the radio. I ran the wires and then soldered the connectors onto the antenna and power wires. I put split wrap on all the wires. I had to cut a hole into the inside of my bed to be able to hook up my antenna. The rail is hollow all the way to the bottom of the bed so you can run wires without cutting another hole in the bed. I am in the process of installing a Kenwood HF radio and have mounted the antenna mount that will hold a Lil' tarheel HF/6m antenna. That requires both signal and power to the antenna since it is a screwdriver. The power for the Kenwood requires a much larger power source so I will run a 6g wire through the firewall on the passenger side connected to a powerblock which will provide power to the kenwood and my antenna actuator. I will mount the radio in the accessory tray under the rear seat and connect my operating head and microphone from the dash. Fortunately the connection is all digital and only requires a R47 phone plug. I'll send picts when I get it done.

The biggest problem in transmitting a signal into an antenna that operate SSB or full AM like in a CB, is imperative that you have a good ground for the antenna, not just a ground but a ground plane. A ground plane actually radiates the signal up into the air but the plane has to be seen by the antenna. The best position for a HF antenna, which is what CB's are, is to connect the shortest braided strap you can get away with from the antenna mount to a point that has had the paint removed on your trucks bed. When I was into CB I had a peaked and tuned Cobra 40ch/ssb that put out 35watts into a Wilson 5000 mounted on my F150's roof and I was able to talk to ssb signals all the way to the east cost and down into South America. That is why I got into ham radio since the range is so much greater. SSB/CB's is a much quieter way of conversing, but the person on the other end has to have a SSB receiver as well.