CB antenna mount re-revisited (the $3.50 version)

blackjeep · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 4:05 am

i'll try to keep this short

a lot of good posts in here and ideas how to mount the CB antenna, thanks to everyone.

now this is so simple it's not even funny. i was looking for a mount like this one, the MK-204R or SS-204R from firestikboth the same and found on ebay for $25US or so except MK looks to be a kit version. expensive for what it is.

I couldn't find one here and shop told me i'd not have much luck if i tried to order it. on the way to the bank i stopped in at home depot and look around for some aluminum or sheet metal that would work. in the area where they have the metal braces for connecting pieces of wood together i found what i needed.

a piece of galvanized steel called the Simpson Strong-Tie 66T. you can see it here:
http://www.aecinfo.com/1/resourcefile/0 ... iycc30.htm - first picture on the left also the one the person is hammering.

the cool thing about it comes now.

1. taking the T i bent the end of the longest part (with the big hole and 4 screw holes) 90 degrees in a vice directly in the middle of the big hole.

2. i then made a roundish larger 90 degree bend at the where the long end meets the T. did this by making 2 smaller 45 degree bends together - not perfectly round but good for first time.

3. then i bent the top short end of the T down 90 degrees. each end has a large hole which is the perfect size for the antenna stud (the part that connects the antennna to the coax). thus no drilling required.

- with part 3 i have some options. since both ends are identical i could bend the other side and it would be reversed to fit the drivers side of the vehicle. the drivers side seems to have more room to screw the bracket in since it doesnt have a door stop lip. but as you will see in the picture, mounting it on the right side is OK as well because the screw holes that are pre-drilled line up perfectly with the angle of the inside so no worries. i am mounting it on the right side because i think it will be easier to run the coax down the space between the door and the door jam and into the vehicle. also it sticks out just far enough to make sure i can fit my hand and sheep skin mitt in when i wash her.

all 4 screw holes are in a good location for drilling and screwing in. what i am going to do tomorrow is use my buddies grinder and round off the end where the stud mounts (so the 2 holes wont be there anymore). also going to grind off the other end of the T that my hand is holding. paint it and mount it. attach the antenna and ground wire. then run the coax. i'll post more pictures. don't let me forget to rust proof and silicon the holes i drill.

final cost was $15.00 Canadian with taxes
$3 for the T, box of 10 8x1/2 metal screws and the antenna stud was $10. coulda been cheaper if i got an antenna kit with stud included but i bought a wilson that i can almost tie in a knot its so flexible.

- addition -

ready to paint. i cut some masking tape circles where i want/need a good ground connection.

KJ Willy · **Posted:** Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:21 am

Pretty nifty, do you think if you folded the base of the T out that it would fit on the spare tire mount?

m0th · **Posted:** Thu Mar 16, 2006 1:12 am

blackjeep wrote:

I couldn't find one here and shop told me i'd not have much luck if i tried to order it.

Was that at the Roadking on Barlow? I was going up there this week to ask him about that exact part. If it was, I won't bother.

blackjeep · **Posted:** Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:15 am

cant with the tire mount, too far in. i was gonna build one with flat iron and welding a lip, but saving room for a larger tire = 23" long. but it could be used behind the tail light like some have done. can also be bent for under the front hood lip.

.... but home depot does sell much longer L brackets and flat iron that could be made to work with tire mount. would have to look and see for sure.

@M0th - yea the one on barlow

he said in some swear words about the pain of ordering these parts in. also asked me to make a few for him which i might. i'll take it up and show him when it is finished and if he wants i can do, if not no biggy. i could make them out of stainless steel but it is a little bit thicker and more expensive. in the end i'll prob print out a sheet with instructions incase any other liberty owners drop in.

got it all ground off, taped up now ready for paint and a couple pictures.

blackjeep · **Posted:** Sun Mar 19, 2006 1:18 pm

final results. was great in the bush getting banged around. thought the metal might be a little weak after installing it but it's good.large picture so linked

vxla · **Posted:** Sun Mar 19, 2006 1:55 pm

Very nice blackjeep; how strong is it?

It's just in a bad location for trees, or those evil parking garages

But thats' nothing a spring shouldn't fix.

blackjeep · **Posted:** Sun Mar 19, 2006 2:08 pm

the wilson antenna can bend in a circle and not be a problem. it hit lots of trees yesterday and still standing strait. it is about 2 inches too tall for my garage door but i haven't put the top cap on all the way yet, it is pretty tight so i wanna wait till i get it tuned. i prob wont have to add a spring, it's flexible enough to move but if the antenna was not so flexible i'd have to remake it out of a little thicker stuff. still might as now i think i want stainless rather than painted.

m0th · **Posted:** Tue Mar 21, 2006 11:42 pm

So I went to Home Depot and got the part too. Only it cost me over $100 because I ended up buying a Dremel kit too. :roll:

I decided to run mine on the driver's side, as my CB is mounted behind the steering wheel panel. So after bending and cutting it, I realise my flip-glass is slightly off-centre and the driver's side gap is really tight, so I'm probably going to grab another one and redo it for the passenger side.

Any chance of a close-up of where you ran the cable out? Looks like it'd get pinched real good if I just came out close to the light.

blackjeep · **Posted:** Wed Mar 22, 2006 4:01 am

okies i will take some pictures in a few minutes. cant go wrong with a dremel, i borrow my mother in laws once in a while and spend hours walking around using it heh.

i haven't run my cable yet, still waiting for dang radio in the mail. but i will show you my 'ideas' for how i will do it when i get the pictures.

plenty of room for wire without crushing it

I need smaller clips, but having them where the light screws in saves drilling extra holes

where i am thinking of running the wire underneath

might look at going in on this side as well. i dont wanna go through the door seal with the metal lip. have to wait till i get some glue to glue it back on if i pull to see.

part number 846-582x - x looks like a 1 or 7

m0th · **Posted:** Wed Mar 22, 2006 10:52 am

Thanks. Looks like you've got the exact cable I have. Mine is currently run down the driver's side out through the hinge bracket hole into the rear gate and then comes out underneather the spare. I mounted a generic antenna bracket on the spare mount but with the bigger tires I have now, it doesn't work any more. I guess I'll have to take wrestle with the spare tonight and see if I can find a suitable place without re-running the whole thing.

Scratch · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:15 am

Glad I'm hanging around LOST these days. Used the 3.50 (Now 2.79!) solution for my Wilson FLEX.

I did kill my black and decker dremel knockoff mind you - but it's in. I'll have to take it back off at some point soon - to add a few beads of weld to strengthen it, and 'smooth' it out before painting - but the proof is in the pudding.

1.6 on the SWR with my Wilson and a Cobra 75 WX ST. I mounted mine much higher in the window box - both to get the screws into a section with 2 layers of sheet metal - well between the spot welds, and to get the extra foot of reach on the antenna. I'm a full 3 feet of antenna above the roof with my 4'.

Pics here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/scratch/se ... 948907628/

riptricket · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:30 am

i really like this instal. too bad i already have mine on my roof rack!

03kjsport · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:12 am

very cool. im slowly working on a jerry can, hi lift, cb replacement peice for the spare tire area. putting the spare up top. not my dd so i dont care about mpg's. all these testers are great for ideas. i love this site.

KKommando · **Posted:** Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:17 pm

well i was planing on doing this to my KK and after a long ride out to home depot and looking for 20 min at the same two sections i got ticked and decided to go to the contracors services the guy walked back with me and said that 66T was no longer made apperently there using a different cheaper product to do what this T was made for so anyone trying to do this is SOL.... unless someone wants to go to home depot and order 50 or more lol group buy.

CB antenna mount re-revisited (the $3.50 version)

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