Are you talking about a whip?
Lots of people put a spring-mount on the base so the antenna doesn't snap off when you hit something. That way it just flops over and bounces back up (reminds me of a clown punching bag toy).
Look down(up?) a few threads to the info on setting up a CB, it has basic tuning instructions.

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07 Liberty Sport, 245x70r16 Goodyear Silent Armor
02 Wrangler Sahara, 31x10.5r15 Goodyear Silent Armor, ARB Bumper, Patriot Rear Bumper w/tire swing

yes i guess i would be tlking about a "whip" is there any negative aspects to those antennas? or would a spring base with a better antenna be a better option?

I understand the whip has a drawback in contacting powerlines, etc. although I cannot testify to the truth of that. (Army uses them, and has all sorts of cautionary language to go with them) Other than that, I don't know anyone currently using one.
I do know of a guy running one of the funny little antennas with the fat blob in the middle of it (truck stop special - gets great range).
A good tunable antenna (basically you lengthen or shorten it as needed) in a good spot with a good ground should get you there... unless you're planning on talking with someone in Nebraska or California or Canada from your driveway.

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07 Liberty Sport, 245x70r16 Goodyear Silent Armor
02 Wrangler Sahara, 31x10.5r15 Goodyear Silent Armor, ARB Bumper, Patriot Rear Bumper w/tire swing

Lose the spring and get a Wilson FLEX antenna... you can dang near bend them in half...
I was told from a CB shop that the spings are bad... Just throwing that out there....

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2000 Cherokee Trail Hawk
3.5" R.E Superflex Lift, R.E Quick Disconnects, R.E Rear Driveshaft, SYE, OME Steering Stabilizer, ARB Diff Covers, JW Speaker Black Heated Headlights, Mickey Thompson 16x8 wheels, 245/75r16 Toyo Open Country AT's, 15 lb Powertank

2003 KJ Sport (BLACK) 230,000+Miles (Decommissioned)

whips are superior in most all aspects to that of fiberglass antennas like the wilson flex-4

but on the other hand, the flex-4 or firestik style antennas do have their perks, they aren't as susceptible to high SWR's in inclement weather, they tend not to build up ice or get bad reflection when they're wet

as far as breakage, the flex-4 is about as good off with tree limbs as a steel whip, but if you smack something at 50 miles an hour it isn't going to matter and the fiberglass ones can ground out on power lines (a really, really bad thing..) just about as easy as a steel whip because chances are you've breached the plastic covering at some section of the antenna rubbing against tree limbs and drive throughs

i X2 not using a spring unless you're running a 1/4 wave (102" steel whip) off your rear bumper or tire carrier

if you're interested in putting a steel whip on your roof, i would go with a base loaded whip like a wilson 5000 (which is overkill for a CB without an amp) instead of the centerloaded antenna simply because it's on your roof and the base loaded coil will have less of a chance of getting beat up than a centerload like was mentioned



i haven't noticed radio shack carrying an untuneable antenna in a few years but it's not impossible

if your antenna has a weather cap (rubber cap on the tip) take your antenna off, get the cap good and warm and twist it off and see if there isn't an adjustable tip under it, most tuneable tips are stud type and have a small allen bolt that tightens against the stud of the tip, pull the stud out 1/8"-1/4" at a time and replace the cap and recheck the SWR or do the opposite. A small adjustment can make a big difference in the SWR in the terms of lengthening your antenna several inches in relation to the 102" that the antenna is 'Electrically'


I have a wilson flex-4 and can't complain one bit about it's durability or performance

I also have a 102" steel whip i put up there when stationary ..

let's just say it "GETS OUT THERE" expecially when I have 4 foot copperweld wire strapped to the ground plane attachment and rigged out

almost as good as having beam!


check your antenna tip and get your SWR checked before you spend money on a new antenna - i hate to see people spend money they don't have to spend! If it doesn't have a tuneable tip, i'd just get a new antenna that you'd be happy with, cutting and unwinding wire for the cutter tune antennas sucks!

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03 Renegade (Black)
177k miles 3.7L gas - 45RFE
Command Trac / 4.10s
Lift: ft. 790+ rr. JBA4+
The last of the TrailReady Front&Rear Bumpers and TR Rock Rails
Jarhead Offroad light covers
31x10.5R15 RedLetter Grabbers on Blackrock Dunes
L.O.S.T #KD098632

Ok thanks guys, thats exactly what i was looking for.