new to cb, have a few issues

[patton]

I am new to this site, as to CB. I searched for answers on here, but didnt find what I was looking for. I have a Jeep Cherokee that I need to set up for off and on-road alike. I am aiming for the best range possible. I have a Uniden PC68LTW.

I need to know the best antenna to put up (wilson 5000 trucker is what I was thinking of) and what type of cable to run from it to the radio.

I also have a handheld Maxon HCB-30A. I am sure i need to ditch the antenna it came with, but not sure what to replace it with. It says I need to run a mobile antenna to it if being used in a vehicle. Will it work okay outside of the vehicle with a better antenna?

Thanks

 

[southerntrucker]

you dont really need a 5000 unless your gonna be runnin a big amp. and 2000 will do just as well. and id prefer the grey mini8 coax like at the polit. thats what u use in all my mobiles. they dont carode as easily like the see-threw grey or see-threw gold goax. but as far as mounting it, iv see most people either put them on the rear bumper around here. hope this helps.

Southerntrucker

 

[W5LZ]

The biggest handicap you will have is that 'off road' use. The antenna you select will have to withstand the abuse you put it through, so that's a factor to keep in mind. Then you can start with also keeping in mind that for the usual mobile antenna, longer is going to be better. There are definite limits to that, but it's true in most cases dealing with performance/range. The typical limit to that length thingy is around 8 - 9 feet. From there it get's very impractical for most people (on or off road).
The same thing applies to that hand held radio too, except the 'unreasonable' comes a lot sooner than with a mobile antenna. One 'trick' that can work is to add the 'other half' of that antenna to it. A hand-held radio uses the radio's chassis and the person holding it for it's 'other half' of the antenna. So, try providing a better 'other half', as in an 8 - 9 foot length of wire connected to the chassis of hte radio, or in some cases, to the base of the present antenna if you can. It's just a matter of where you can make that connection. Don't expect huge increases in that 'better' thingy, but it'll probably make some difference. After that, it's a matter of what you think you can conveniently carry, as in just how big an antenna is practical for you, you know?
The "best" is always determined by the circumstances...
- 'Doc

 

[patton]

Thanks from SC, much appreciated!

 

[southerntrucker]

Id just run a 102inch whip and be done with it. Mont in on the bumberf with a spring and be done with it. lol. That way you can just tie it to the front bumper when ur goin off road.

 

[Needle Bender]

Get a strong $30 quick-disconnect Hustler antenna stud from a nearby truck-stop, they're usually only $15 from a truck-stop without the Hustler name on the package. DON'T GET THE CHEAP ONES - I've tried them all and they just split along the slice and lose the antenna somewhere in the dirt!

Use a liberal amount of NOALOX to keep the dirt and water out of the guts of the quick-disconnect.

Get a Radio Shack base loaded antenna (which is good for at least 300w since I have been using a Texas Star 350 on it) and is almost all whip (about 4 1/2') with a small base loaded piece of 8" fiberglass wrapped with about 35 turns of wire. You can't hurt it, it just flexes out of the way of anything you hit.
It performs real well, as good as my Wilson 1000.

You can use any strong 3/8 x 24 mount. Here's a good site with a picture of the quick disconnect mounted.

I put mine on my Subaru Brat on the roll bar on a 1" diameter 4" tall spring and then used a Larson super-slinky 4' whip and I can go through the thickest brush and branches and all it does it flex and snap right back, plus it performs a hella-lot better than something like an 18" Firestick, the single most popular off-road antenna I see in the dirt around these hills.
Now get it done and get your ass out there and eat some dust!

 

[office888]

Id just run a 102inch whip and be done with it. Mont in on the bumberf with a spring and be done with it. lol. That way you can just tie it to the front bumper when ur goin off road.

This.

102" whip can withstand a lot of abuse, since it's one continuous piece of metal with no coils to break or anything.

It'll be as strong as your mount is.

 

[Needle Bender]

This.

102" whip can withstand a lot of abuse, since it's one continuous piece of metal with no coils to break or anything.

It'll be as strong as your mount is.

Seen more than one got hooked in the branches and torn off, taking sheet metal with it. :sad:

 

[office888]

Seen more than one got hooked in the branches and torn off, taking sheet metal with it. :sad:

It'll be as strong as your mount is.

Hustler ball on top of some 1/4" plate, mounted off a rollbar or bumper is probably the most ideal mount.

 

[southerntrucker]

Seen more than one got hooked in the branches and torn off, taking sheet metal with it. :sad:

Damn. Lol. That had to suck.

 

[Needle Bender]

Damn. Lol. That had to suck.

K5 Blazer, Motorola police cruiser ball mount left over from when his dad was a cop in the '80s, mounted lower passenger side rear fender. Ripped out the ball mount and left torn sheet metal behind.

 

[patton]

Yall offer much for me to consider! Very helpful, most help I've gotten on this site so far. There is a guy on my cherokee forum that makes mounts that fit between the frame and back tail lights, everyone seems happy with them, pretty thick and I believe I'm going to weld them to the frame for a little extra peace of mind after reading some of these stories.

Lots to look at, thanks to all!!!!!

@Needle Bender...

If I had a dollar for every time I got stuck sitting in those black plastic seats in the back of my friends BRAT leaving the lake I would be eating steak every day!

thx all!

 

[Mudfoot]

I have a 2000 XJ. I use a Wilson 1000 Roof Mount antenna. I removed the dome light to expose the center on of the roof, used a 5/8" hole punch to install the base. I then fished the coax under the headliner out between the visors. I have a 2950DX mounted there between the visors. There is metal reinforcement that lets you use half inch sheet metal screws that WILL NOT penetrate the exterior roof.

The roof mount antenna will unscrew at the base for easy removal and comes with a little screw cap with an "O" ring. When I go off road I just take the antenna off and put the dust/rain cap on and go for it. There are many options and the North American XJ Association forum has plenty off install pics and writes ups concerning CB and HAM installs on Cherokees.

I also used to own a 1978 Suburu Brat. Man, that thing would go places and was a chick magnet with the rear facing seats. I used to run up and down South Padre Island on the dunes and beach with some hot chicks, fun times.

 

[RonL]

I am new to this site, as to CB. I searched for answers on here, but didnt find what I was looking for. I have a Jeep Cherokee that I need to set up for off and on-road alike. I am aiming for the best range possible. I have a Uniden PC68LTW.

I need to know the best antenna to put up (wilson 5000 trucker is what I was thinking of) and what type of cable to run from it to the radio.

I also have a handheld Maxon HCB-30A. I am sure i need to ditch the antenna it came with, but not sure what to replace it with. It says I need to run a mobile antenna to it if being used in a vehicle. Will it work okay outside of the vehicle with a better antenna?

Thanks

Well, I can tell you that K40 sticks will break at the base doing off roading! Standard K40 baseload antennas will develop high vswr after a couple of years from a crimp connection that goes bad in the middle of the loading coil.

Off roading the best solution is to tie it down!!! Whatever you use it will need to tied down for at least two reasons. Trees and the physical abuse that the violent movements the truck will go through. All the rest is a piece of cake!

P.S. Make sure you have a locking rear or a posi diff. I got stuck on flat ground in two holes that lifted my FR and RL tires off the ground. I could not move. Needed to jack the truck up and push it off! Could not push it, called my buddy on the CB for help.

 

[hotrod]

I have a 2000 XJ. I use a Wilson 1000 Roof Mount antenna. I removed the dome light to expose the center on of the roof, used a 5/8" hole punch to install the base. I then fished the coax under the headliner out between the visors. I have a 2950DX mounted there between the visors. There is metal reinforcement that lets you use half inch sheet metal screws that WILL NOT penetrate the exterior roof.

The roof mount antenna will unscrew at the base for easy removal and comes with a little screw cap with an "O" ring. When I go off road I just take the antenna off and put the dust/rain cap on and go for it. There are many options and the North American XJ Association forum has plenty off install pics and writes ups concerning CB and HAM installs on Cherokees.

I also used to own a 1978 Suburu Brat. Man, that thing would go places and was a chick magnet with the rear facing seats. I used to run up and down South Padre Island on the dunes and beach with some hot chicks, fun times.

i agree this would be sweet and have great range an swr,ect