Antenna on Headache Rack/Roll Bar

[Ravenkeeper]

Got my new (replacement) truck. I’m looking at putting my antenna on top of the headache rack, or roll bar that I’m going to install by the end of the year. Other owners of the same rack/bar, have said that I can run either a magnet mount or NMO. If I reuse my 4ft Firestik, the tip will be 10’6”, definitely won’t be able to hit the drive-thrus. Debating on getting a 2’ Firestik, if I go NMO. Otherwise, I may get a K40.

Looking for suggestions.

 

[prcguy]

Antennas on roll bars never tune up right because the ground plane from the bar is very inadequate. This goes for CB through VHF antennas. A UHF antenna would probably match up ok.

Got my new (replacement) truck. I’m looking at putting my antenna on top of the headache rack, or roll bar that I’m going to install by the end of the year. Other owners of the same rack/bar, have said that I can run either a magnet mount or NMO. If I reuse my 4ft Firestik, the tip will be 10’6”, definitely won’t be able to hit the drive-thrus. Debating on getting a 2’ Firestik, if I go NMO. Otherwise, I may get a K40.

Looking for suggestions.

 

[cmdrwill]

Not enough groundplane for your CB antenna on a "headache rack".

You would be much better with a NMO27 on the roof.

 

[lmrtek]

The shorter the antenna, the worse the performance.
......
You would be far better off with a K40 or longer firestick
on the bed rail.

 

[Rt169Radio]

The shorter the antenna, the worse the performance.
......
You would be far better off with a K40 or longer firestick
on the bed rail.

I second that! Or a Wilson brand one.

https://www.walcottradio.com/wilson-antenna-m-27.html

 

[swen_out_west]

There's a local who runs a Wilson 5000 with a ground plane radial kit on the headache bar, that he had a mounting plate welded to. It works quite well for him.

https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Trucker-..._rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=V3CNV0N039RRG537C184

They sell one for use with a firestik as well, but I have no idea if they work or not.

 

[mmckenna]

Those are no where big enough to provide a proper ground plane at 27MHz.

 

[swen_out_west]

Those are no where big enough to provide a proper ground plane at 27MHz.

You are right, but a little is better than nothing apparently. His system is comparable to being on a mag mount stuck on the roof. I actually run one on my Wilson 5000 mag mount and there is a significant increase.

I say that it's comparable to a mag mount, because if you do a regular mount to the roof of course that's the best way.

 

[Ravenkeeper]

I may just run with what I had on my previous truck. Either way, I'm looking at getting a "hard" tonneau cover, aluminum(?)/metal in the sections under the leather. I was hitting about 6 miles NW of Lancaster, as I was driving around.

My quest continues.

 

[RodStrong]

Not enough groundplane for your CB antenna on a "headache rack".

You would be much better with a NMO27 on the roof.

+1

Good luck.