CB Antenna Mount Needed!

[islandtees]

HVAC bezel pops out about 3 inches without disconnecting any wires. Behind that panel is a bolt that holds the left side of the grab handle.
Loosen up the bolt a few turns and the bracket goes behind the grab handle. When you tighten the bolt back up it squeezes the bracket between the handle and dash. Nice and tight, no movement. The bracket looks like its floating in the air with no attachment point. Cool Tech did a good job with this bracket.

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[islandtees]

I might go to that, eventually. The only drawback I see to it is that it slightly obscures the vent, which triggers my OCD.

The pic makes it look that way but it doesn't interfere with the vent at all.

 

[Rubidouxit]

Are you guys mounting the Cobra box behind the console? I tried to feel behind there and there didn't appear to be any room.

 

[Spank]

Are you guys mounting the Cobra box behind the console? I tried to feel behind there and there didn't appear to be any room.

This looks a little messier than it actually is, but this is the very end of the plastic trim on the passenger side as it goes under the footwell. I just stuffed the box back behind it and zip tied it to a thick wiring harness back there. Not exactly my ideal location, but it works and I'm not getting any interference on the CB from it. But yeah, there's nothing you can zip tie to or hang the box off of behind the glovebox like you could in the JK.

 

[usmcss]

Are you guys mounting the Cobra box behind the console? I tried to feel behind there and there didn't appear to be any room.

I felt under the dash and found a flat spot on a piece of plastic which I have no idea what it is; blindly I put a piece of Velcro tape on it and a piece on the cb box and it works perfect!

 

[bjlamour]

Ordered the full CB Cooltech kit on Wednesday and it arrived Friday afternoon. Super pleased with the speed. Definitely comes with everything you need and some brief instructions on how to mount and wire everything.
Jeep was also delivered this morning. Can't wait to get it installed.

 

[Rubidouxit]

I keep looking for someone to do a YouTube video on the antenna and cb installation in a JL but so far haven't come across one. It's nice to be able see in a video all the tricks to running the coax and mounting the cb box plus wiring it up.

 

[Spank]

I keep looking for someone to do a YouTube video on the antenna and cb installation in a JL but so far haven't come across one. It's nice to be able see in a video all the tricks to running the coax and mounting the cb box plus wiring it up.

Other than the single torx bolt that helps hold the rear trim on the passenger side left of the subwoofer, all the plastic pieces that run along that side of the Jeep where you'll want to run your coax are all separated by simply pulling. The plastic on the gate, the trim along the floor, it's all just plastic hooks and clips.

I used this video just to help me get started.

 

[usmcss]

Other than the single torx bolt that helps hold the rear trim on the passenger side left of the subwoofer, all the plastic pieces that run along that side of the Jeep where you'll want to run your coax are all separated by simply pulling. The plastic on the gate, the trim along the floor, it's all just plastic hooks and clips.

I used this video just to help me get started.

Wow!!! Thanks a lot Spank!!! Great video and very helpful!!!

 

[Fuel Fire Desire]

Has anyone received and tried the Rugged Ridge CB/AM/FM multiplexer yet? Im really curious about performance.

I like having the CB stick out of the way, but mounting it behind the aluminum wheel and steel belts of the spare on top of it being obscured by a fiberglass top is far less optimal than having the stick up front so the RF can push off the hood. Im just wondering if that mounting location with the rugged ridge kit is enough to overcome the degradation the multiplexor will induce. (Im going to be running a 4' tunable stick on a spring). IMO the stick looks good in the stock AM/FM location too. It looks clean and finished.

 

[Spank]

Has anyone received and tried the Rugged Ridge CB/AM/FM multiplexer yet? Im really curious about performance.

I like having the CB stick out of the way, but mounting it behind the aluminum wheel and steel belts of the spare on top of it being obscured by a fiberglass top is far less optimal than having the stick up front so the RF can push off the hood. Im just wondering if that mounting location with the rugged ridge kit is enough to overcome the degradation the multiplexor will induce. (Im going to be running a 4' tunable stick on a spring). IMO the stick looks good in the stock AM/FM location too. It looks clean and finished.

I was considering this solution myself, but it's apparently not a popular product. That combined with Rugged Ridge's reputation for poor quality and fitment made me reconsider. Even though the gate behind the spare tire is literally one of the worst places for a CB antenna, it's more than adequate for communicating with nearby vehicles. You won't be talking to people miles away, but having an antenna that's taller than the hard top should give you semi-decent range.

 

[Fuel Fire Desire]

Against better judgement.......I went with the Rugged Ridge CB/AM/FM.


Heres why:

1: I really (really) like the location it puts the antenna. Not just for the better ground plane, but the antenna actually has wobble room on its spring. Its also in a position, where I can pull it back and hook it to the door frame/ sport bar to clear parking garages and low trees. I feel the Cool Tech mount traps the antenna in between the gate and the spare, allowing for some flex, but not full range of motion. Not to mention the bounce back would wail on the top (zip tying some foam onto the antenna at the point of impact would fix that though).

2: IMO it just looks cleaner. Call me a city jeeper, but I really like the clean look the JL has with its painted hinges and bolts. I think the stainless plate the Cool Tech mount uses cheapens the clean look the JL has going on back there. (I could always have it powder coated to match body color). I didn't mind hanging extra stuff off the back of my JK, because it just didn't have the 'finished' look the designers gave the JL. Don't get me wrong....if Arizona Rocky Road had an offering for the JL right now Id be right on it. Its not a "I don't want an antenna on the back" thing......its a "I like the pretty look of the hinges" thing.

3: I get Rugged Ridge is........Rugged Ridge. As long as the mount itself is welded correctly, theres not much that can go wrong with it. The multiplexor they have (probably sourced from the cheapest chinese vendor) would be the main point of failure. Even understanding this, a decent multiplexer from a reputable source can still be had for under $50 (and will probably yield better SWR and overall performance).


So...is the Rugged Ridge product over priced? Yup (considering its using a ~$20 multiplexor, $15 in cables/ connectors, and a very basic steel mount). Will it perform well? IDK....Im honestly hoping the mounting location and better ground plane will make up for the signal being run through a cheap multiplexor. Aside from a few people (who haven't used the product) immediately putting the product down because of the multiplexor concept......the handful of reviews I've found from actual owners seem to be satisfied. I would venture to guess said people aren't expecting HAM level performance either.....and I honestly cant either. Im just going to be running a Midland 75-822. I honestly cant expect top notch performance from a radio that plugs into a cigarette lighter....

Not exactly what I want....but the best option Ive seen thats out for my goals though.

I'll definitely come back with a write up.

 

[bjlamour]

Got my Cooltech CB kit installed and tested this weekend. Keep forgetting to take pictures.

Install was super clean and took me less than an hour to do. Definitely hurt my soul with every snap crackle and pop of pulling trim off but it all went back on perfectly fine. Tuned the antenna with an SWR meter and was able to get 1.5 and 1.7 ratio on chan 1 and 40. Was able to hear folks loud and clear at least a mile away on the trail, maybe more, no matter if I was in the bottom of a wash or top of a hill. Was a little sad that the kit came with the more flexible/less windings firefly antenna. Kit worked perfectly fine with it however and it only smashed against my hardtop after getting hung up on trees etc. . . Imagine one of the more robust Firestik offerings would have better transmission capabilities but would also increase the risk of bending your bracket/snapping when pulled through trees etc. . . Spring mount would help with this but would almost guarantee constant whackings against your top as you bounce down a trail.

Bracket and antenna are definitely more resilient than I thought they would be. After the trip Saturday I completely forgot about my antenna when I pulled into the garage. Bent the antenna way back but it didn't snap and the mount was still perfectly 90 degrees.

Overall am very happy with my Cooltech kit and the rest of the club was very impressed with the install and signal. The other JL owners in the club will be ordering theirs soon after having seen and heard mine.

I'll try and put pictures up when I get a chance.

 

[MacombRoger]

Got my Cooltech CB kit installed and tested this weekend. Keep forgetting to take pictures.
I'll try and put pictures up when I get a chance.

Ordered my Cooltech kit last week. Patiently waiting on it. I am seriously considering painting the bracket "Flame red", i will leave the bolt hole area clean with some plastic grommets during painting. All plans can change once I get the parts.

Look forward to seeing your pictures.

 

[keviper]

Got my Cooltech CB kit installed and tested this weekend. Keep forgetting to take pictures.

Install was super clean and took me less than an hour to do. Definitely hurt my soul with every snap crackle and pop of pulling trim off but it all went back on perfectly fine. Tuned the antenna with an SWR meter and was able to get 1.5 and 1.7 ratio on chan 1 and 40. Was able to hear folks loud and clear at least a mile away on the trail, maybe more, no matter if I was in the bottom of a wash or top of a hill. Was a little sad that the kit came with the more flexible/less windings firefly antenna. Kit worked perfectly fine with it however and it only smashed against my hardtop after getting hung up on trees etc. . . Imagine one of the more robust Firestik offerings would have better transmission capabilities but would also increase the risk of bending your bracket/snapping when pulled through trees etc. . . Spring mount would help with this but would almost guarantee constant whackings against your top as you bounce down a trail.

Bracket and antenna are definitely more resilient than I thought they would be. After the trip Saturday I completely forgot about my antenna when I pulled into the garage. Bent the antenna way back but it didn't snap and the mount was still perfectly 90 degrees.

Overall am very happy with my Cooltech kit and the rest of the club was very impressed with the install and signal. The other JL owners in the club will be ordering theirs soon after having seen and heard mine.

I'll try and put pictures up when I get a chance.

Hey, yeah if you could post pics I would greatly appreciate it. Once I get my JL the CB install is my first mod. I'd love to see how you guys are setting these CB's up.

Thanks!

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