jrs_dodge_diesel

Howdy y'all,

I want to put a Cb antenna or two if i have too on my truck. I have a magnetic base antenna that will stick to the roof, but after seeing how it scratched up the roof of my last truck, I would much rather not use a magnetic mount. What options are out there for our trucks?

Commatoze

You have stake pocket mount, direct cab mount, and fender mount using a firestik bracket made expressly for 2nd gen Rams. Forget about phased antennas. There's not enough room between to generate a favorable pattern. You can add a dummy for a balanced look. Do a search on "antenna" and you'll find copious amounts od helpful info.

Lil Dog

I found that with one good antenna (wilson) I had way better luck than with two sticks.

In my 93 trucks, I bolted a mirror mount bracket to the inside of the box on the stake pocket near the driver front of the box. It was out of site and with the window down, you don't get the wind noise from the stick.

I am thinking a fender mount for this 97 as I now have a box cover, now its just finding a good spot for the radio. I was still looking for those special mounts for between the shifter and the seat.

J-eh

BigBlue

I've got 2 3' firesticks mounted on opposite sides of the bed right up next to the cab. They are both professionally tuned. I get great reception with them.

phox_mulder

Best thing I ever did was pay a visit to Firestik.com.

They have a great technical section regarding SWR, antenna choices, cable choices, mounting locations, etc.

Oh, they also sell everything you need.

phox

Of course, I'm not affiliated with them.

crobtex

I put a small piece of cotton bed sheet, just barely larger then the base under my magnetic mount and it never scratched the roof.

My wife wasn't real happy about the rest of the sheet though.

CR

billg

Lil Dog will this help?
http://www.protintnw.com/sa_dodge-acc.htm

Lil Dog

You bet!!

Thanks for the link...

Crimedog

I have a set of Diesel brand antennas. They are 3.5 foot whip style, both mounted right between the bed rails and the cab. They are both live, the trick is to get a good ground. I get an SWR reading of 1.2. I get great reception with them, easily miles away, and that is with a low grade radio I have also heard that Firestiks and Francis are good. Francis is a thinner, lower profile antennae, while Diesel and Firestiks are the full on thick fiberglass. Mine look sweet with my truck, now I just need a set of stacks to go with 'em

on edit: I didn't even need to tune these I threw 'em on and hooked up the meter, and they were dead on. Cost me 50 bucks for high grade cable and antennas.

firestorm

I haven't done it yet, but JC Whitney has a box with an SWR meter built in that turns your AM/FM antenna into an AM/FM/CB. I am mounting another OEM am/fm antenna on the drivers fender, and hooking it into the box. They call it the Secret CB Antenna, and it's like $25.

matthopp

Would the bedrails/bed slot connector work with an over-the-rail toolbox? I have been thinking how to mount an antenna and would like to get one mounted to the bedrails, but my toolbox is there and i dont like the ones that are drill into the tool box.

Crimedog

Here is how mine are set up, it is just a piece of 1" flat stock, about 4-5 inches long. Make sure and use at least 1/4 inch, or it will bounce a lot.

on edit: I have painted my sheetmetal screws silver, so now you can't see them