jadocs
Senior Member
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2014
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- 689
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- Ram Year
- 2014
- Engine
- 6.7
So I've been wanting to install a CB on this new truck but have been met with some limitations as far as availability of antenna mounts, space restrictions due to full center console, and not really wanting to drill a hole in my roof, but still wanting the best performance.
Here were my considerations and decisions.
Antenna mounts - initially I was looking for a fender mount that secures under the hood, but the only one I could find that they make for the 2014+ year is a NMO model. This meant I would have to use an adapter if I wanted to run a Wilson 2000T. Since the Wilson also has a load on it, I thought it would look goofy and I was concerned about the stress on the mount at highway speeds. The mount could be reinforced with an extra screw, but the performance would not be as good if the antenna was on the roof (1/3. 2/3 rule on antenna length).
Decision Wilson 1000 magnetic roof mount with some creative coax routing.
With a third break light that has a camera, you are not getting the coax in it due to the fact that it is not surrounded by an external rubber gasket. You would have to grind the surround to create space for the cable, and I wasn't going to do that. The coax was routed behind the weather strip on the rear window., and I secured the cable around the third break light with two pieces of high strength Velcro to clean up the way it looks.
Radio - I wanted a full size for the features and performance. I have had the all in one hand helds (cobra 75WX) in the past, but the performance was terrible. Full size radios create some issues in terms of mounting location if you want a clean install with a full center console. You either have to mount it on the dash or cut into the console bin for a custom fit. Mounting it on the dash creates possible issues with theft since it is easily visible, and you may have issues with passing a state inspection unless it is removed. I wasn't about to cut into my center console, so that left mounting it to the side of the console. In my opinion the radio controls have to be accessible while driving if you are set on a full featured CB, otherwise why have one? Having said that, mounting a full sized CB to the side of the console is not feasible due to the fact that it would get in the way of the driver or the passenger. The ideal location to me would be on the drivers side, because reaching over to the passenger side while driving to make adjustments is not ideal.
Decision - Cobra 25 LX Mid sized radio (peaked and tuned) that maintains the same performance as it's full sized brother. The radio is small enough to be mounted on the drivers side of the center console, totally out of the way and easily accessible to make adjustments while driving.
Radio Mount - As you can tell by now, I did not want to drill holes into my center console. A local shop put together a mount that would slide into the magazine pocket, and with the seat against it, it's rock solid.
So there it is. SWR is 1.1 and 1.3
Here were my considerations and decisions.
Antenna mounts - initially I was looking for a fender mount that secures under the hood, but the only one I could find that they make for the 2014+ year is a NMO model. This meant I would have to use an adapter if I wanted to run a Wilson 2000T. Since the Wilson also has a load on it, I thought it would look goofy and I was concerned about the stress on the mount at highway speeds. The mount could be reinforced with an extra screw, but the performance would not be as good if the antenna was on the roof (1/3. 2/3 rule on antenna length).
Decision Wilson 1000 magnetic roof mount with some creative coax routing.
With a third break light that has a camera, you are not getting the coax in it due to the fact that it is not surrounded by an external rubber gasket. You would have to grind the surround to create space for the cable, and I wasn't going to do that. The coax was routed behind the weather strip on the rear window., and I secured the cable around the third break light with two pieces of high strength Velcro to clean up the way it looks.
Radio - I wanted a full size for the features and performance. I have had the all in one hand helds (cobra 75WX) in the past, but the performance was terrible. Full size radios create some issues in terms of mounting location if you want a clean install with a full center console. You either have to mount it on the dash or cut into the console bin for a custom fit. Mounting it on the dash creates possible issues with theft since it is easily visible, and you may have issues with passing a state inspection unless it is removed. I wasn't about to cut into my center console, so that left mounting it to the side of the console. In my opinion the radio controls have to be accessible while driving if you are set on a full featured CB, otherwise why have one? Having said that, mounting a full sized CB to the side of the console is not feasible due to the fact that it would get in the way of the driver or the passenger. The ideal location to me would be on the drivers side, because reaching over to the passenger side while driving to make adjustments is not ideal.
Decision - Cobra 25 LX Mid sized radio (peaked and tuned) that maintains the same performance as it's full sized brother. The radio is small enough to be mounted on the drivers side of the center console, totally out of the way and easily accessible to make adjustments while driving.
Radio Mount - As you can tell by now, I did not want to drill holes into my center console. A local shop put together a mount that would slide into the magazine pocket, and with the seat against it, it's rock solid.
So there it is. SWR is 1.1 and 1.3
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