Looking For Way To Better Mount SUV Antenna Or Other Options

[RBeach]

I have my CB installed in a Nissan Pathfinder. Previously, I had it mounted to a bracket, which ran to the inside part of the lift hatch. Unfortunately, I was getting some bad noise, and it appeared to be stemming from the rear window defroster (at least I think).

I moved it to the right rear passenger door frame, and have the bracket coming out. I have got my SWR down to about 1.5, maybe a little lower.

My problem is, when the door opens, one of the bolts for the mount scrape the door just a hair.

Any ideas? I had considered a magnetic roof mount, but my problem runs into that I park in a parking deck at work ever day.

By the way, the antenna I have on there is a Wilson 1000 (I believe). It is a 3' fiberglass antenna.

According to what I gather, I can get only about 10-12 miles out sitting in my driveway at night (this is through the woods and over the river).

Thanks.

 

[kd-5-bgt]

Hmm I just looked at some pictures of a Pathfinder online.If your Pathfinder has a tire rack on the back ,that would be a spot to mount an antenna of some sort,maybe a 4 foot fiberglass whip type,such as a Firestick 2 for example,or mount a small plate for a base loaded antenna of some kind,a Wilson 3k or 5k for example.

Or maybe if your Pathfinder has the rack on the top you can mount an antenna on it if you can get the mount grounded to the body without much trouble.There are monuts that I have seen in various ham radio catalogs that will swivle around to the point that the antenna will be laying down to allow you to drive low clearance areas.

I am sure there are other options out there,those are what I could come up with off teh top of my head this early in the morning

As far as your range out of a moble goes, that will vary with the antenna type,power you are running if any ,area you are in,if you are on a hill top or down in a hole,city or out of town areas,buildings make a huge difference as to how well you can get out, and conditions on the band (if there is high noise levels ,skip and so forth) as well as the type of set up the person you are trying to contact has( if they are moble,base....so on) SWR isnt an issue on your current set up,1.5:1 isnt anything to be to worried about.

10 to 12 miles moble to moble AM mode,no extra power on avarage isnt to bad but can be better of course.

Also if you could post the type of radio you are running,power output of radio,if you are running extra power,output of that would be nice as well,that would give us a bit more to go on...thanks !!

 

[RBeach]

For the moment, I am running an el cheapo Maxon MCB-45W in there ( got it real cheap). That will change soon. I got my hands on a Cobra 29 LTD Classic and a 29 WXNWST.

Unfortunately, I do not have the tire rack (mine is under the vehicle). I had thought about the rof rack, but can't seem to find a way to mount to it. The two cross bars that are in front and back, I am a little leary. They tighten down with these wheel type things, and worried they might work loose and antenna come off going down the highway.

I am leaning towards the roof top mag mount, possibly.

 

[kd-5-bgt]

There are several base loaded mag mount antennas out there that will give you good performance,Wilson 1000,3000,and 5000 just to name 3,and I am sure there are serveral more out there as well . The magnet mount option will let you remove and reset the antenna for going under low areas easily.

I do know there is a ham radio trunk lip mounted system ( it attaches to the trunk edge just like a CB trunk lip mount antenna) that swivels to almost any setting so the antenna will stand virtical.I think there are mount models that has the 3/8 by 24 threads ( like what the Firestick fiberglass whips have for attaching to a mount) that would work

The Diamond K-400 3/8C mount is one I am thinking of,do a google image search for a pic of the mount

 

[RBeach]

Of those Wilson antennas, will the 39" loaded whip antennas ones work well?

 

[555]

solid mount it on top about a foot from the rear
get a puck mount and a 17 inch shaft Predator 10k Comp coil
213 coax or lmr 240

 

[kd-5-bgt]

Any of the Wilson antennas work great that I mentioned,depends on how much you are willing to spend

 

[hotrod]

roof mounted wilson trucker antenna or predator10k on a quick dicconnect mount

 

[Moleculo]

Check out some of the groove mounts made by Diamond. They mount flush between the door grooves. They're pricey, but they are very strong. You could even run a Wilson trucker style antenna on one of those mounts if you felt like it.

 

[555]

i thought this was his question

Looking For Way To Better Mount SUV Antenna Or Other Options

 

[citywide]

For the moment, I am running an el cheapo Maxon MCB-45W in there ( got it real cheap). That will change soon. I got my hands on a Cobra 29 LTD Classic and a 29 WXNWST.

Unfortunately, I do not have the tire rack (mine is under the vehicle). I had thought about the rof rack, but can't seem to find a way to mount to it. The two cross bars that are in front and back, I am a little leary. They tighten down with these wheel type things, and worried they might work loose and antenna come off going down the highway.

I am leaning towards the roof top mag mount, possibly.

I have my antenna mounted to the rack on top of my Expedition. I have a mount made by Stargun/Tully. I have been up to 90 mph and it did not give one little bit. I ran my ground from the mount to the frame on vehicle. I have tried to post a picture on here but for some reason I can't seem to get it small enough. If you have an e-mail address I can send you a picture, if you like.

 

[RBeach]

I ended up going with a Wilson 1000 mag mount antenna with the 39" short load whip. I got my SWR down to about 1.2 on channels 1 and 40. On channel 20, the needle on my SWR meter barely moves.

Now, when I get the money, the 29 is off to preacherman!

 

[mackmobile43]

I ended up going with a Wilson 1000 mag mount antenna with the 39" short load whip. I got my SWR down to about 1.2 on channels 1 and 40. On channel 20, the needle on my SWR meter barely moves.

Now, when I get the money, the 29 is off to preacherman!

LOL