Another noob antenna question.

[samthetramp]

Hey I'm just a guy wanting to be able to get my radio mounted in my 2018 Dodge Ram 2500. The antenna is giving me issues. I pull a 5th wheel camper and have a kayak on the roof at the same time. Short of buying a rack for behind the rear glass a front fender mount seems to be the only option for the antenna. I have searched this and other forums but haven't found what I'm looking for yet.

Anyone have any ideas that might help me out?

 

[prcguy]

How about a trunk lip mount on the side of the hood near the cowl? It will clamp on and provide an OK ground plane. The only potential problem is its closer to the engine and spark plugs and may invite more spark plug noise into the receiver. Many new trucks are very quiet and don't have any spark plug noise to worry about.

 

[slowmover]

There are specific under-hood mount for Dodge trucks. Model-year range. Uses an existing screw or screws. WALCOTT, WEARECB, Amazon, etc.

Stainless-steel + HD preferable. Dremel to clean off paint around screws. Will likely need mounting stud + coax. (WILSON FME-terminated easiest to get thru firewall). Split-loom to cover plus zip-ties to anchor. Grommet at sheet-steel.

A 5’ antenna should work (top load). Skipshooter brand recommended. It’s not a good location for distance.
I have one on mine from years ago and it’s nothing great to recommend that location.


Behind the cab in a stake-pocket mount would be better, overall (taller, possibly heavier antenna on a true HD mount.) Coax can enter body under rear seat thru a body plug.

A 102” whip is the physical ideal (one-quarter of radio wave-length), and a 7’ Skipshooter would have better overhead clearance (just not deal with the trailer being in the way quite as as well).

I run antennas on a big truck up to (as close as) 14’ as I can get.

BREEDLOVE ANTENNA MOUNT is the place for very high quality mounts.

 

[samthetramp]

There are specific under-hood mount for Dodge trucks. Model-year range. Uses an existing screw or screws. WALCOTT, WEARECB, Amazon, etc.

Stainless-steel + HD preferable. Dremel to clean off paint around screws. Will likely need mounting stud + coax. (WILSON FME-terminated easiest to get thru firewall). Split-loom to cover plus zip-ties to anchor. Grommet at sheet-steel.

A 5’ antenna should work (top load). Skipshooter brand recommended. It’s not a good location for distance.
I have one on mine from years ago and it’s nothing great to recommend that location.


Behind the cab in a stake-pocket mount would be better, overall (taller, possibly heavier antenna on a true HD mount.) Coax can enter body under rear seat thru a body plug.

A 102” whip is the physical ideal (one-quarter of radio wave-length), and a 7’ Skipshooter would have better overhead clearance (just not deal with the trailer being in the way quite as as well).

I run antennas on a big truck up to (as close as) 14’ as I can get.

BREEDLOVE ANTENNA MOUNT is the place for very high quality mounts.

I realize that the front fender mount isn't ideal. I've been told that stake pocket is too close to the cab. What is give/take on that mount?

Is there a quick release coupling that would allow me to disconnect the whip without tools or further loss in performance?

 

[slowmover]

Yes, on QR adapters.

I’d rather have bed mount despite the near-trailer problem / near-cab problem. TALLER antenna is “better”, but you’ll have to make the call if the inconvenience outweighs that.

Hood-mount sorta fool-proof, just doesn’t get out that far.

A SIRIO 5000 (PL-145 mag mount) on roof is another. Put it where you want it (especially if kayak can be off-center). It’d be best, IMO, given mount location problems elsewhere.

.

 

[samthetramp]

My problem with a mag mount is I had one on my last truck and it ended up destroying the finish on the roof. That's been a few years ago maybe they have improved since then. Also the kayak would have to be center mounted when it was on the roof. If the antenna was moved off center temporarily while transporting would that affect the SWR at all?

 

[mrweather]

As long as the kayak is not made of metal it shouldn't impact SWR.

 

[mmckenna]

My problem with a mag mount is I had one on my last truck and it ended up destroying the finish on the roof. That's been a few years ago maybe they have improved since then. Also the kayak would have to be center mounted when it was on the roof. If the antenna was moved off center temporarily while transporting would that affect the SWR at all?

Nothing to say you cannot do a permanent NMO mount off center on the truck roof. That'll prevent paint issues, and all the drawbacks that can come with compromise mounts.

Using a mag mount and changing the ground plane under the antenna by moving it off center can impact performance. But for CB, I'd not get too hung up on it.

 

[samthetramp]

Yeah I'm not doing a NWO off center. Maybe if I get a rear window headache rack but not on the roof. That aside which mounting option will give me the better overall performance? Front fender, stake mount or magnetic on the roof?

 

[mmckenna]

Yeah I'm not doing a NWO off center. Maybe if I get a rear window headache rack but not on the roof. That aside which mounting option will give me the better overall performance? Front fender, stake mount or magnetic on the roof?

Magnetic on the roof.

That'll give you a better ground plane under the antenna. It'll make tuning the antenna much easier, and will give you a better radiation pattern.

Mounting off to the side of the vehicle, either fender mount or truck bed stake hole is going to result in a radiation pattern that favors to the side of the vehicle. Not very useful for CB when you want to hear stuff from in front or behind you.

Headache rack mounts are poor ground planes. You'll have trouble getting them to tune up correctly. It's common to see installs like that in logging country by guys that don't want to do a full install, but they don't work as well as the real thing.

 

[bearcatrp]

Am in same boat as you for my 2017 Ram 2500 with a 5th wheel. Can't mount to the mirrors like 20 years ago. I will not put a mag mount on my roof. Thought about a bracket to mount to my 5th wheel hitch. Wide enough to clear the 5th wheel. Or use a front pocket on the bed with a whip. For now will just use a handheld until I find a solution. Good luck figuring this out. When you do, please post pics so I can see how you did it.

 

[samthetramp]

Am in same boat as you for my 2017 Ram 2500 with a 5th wheel. Can't mount to the mirrors like 20 years ago. I will not put a mag mount on my roof. Thought about a bracket to mount to my 5th wheel hitch. Wide enough to clear the 5th wheel. Or use a front pocket on the bed with a whip. For now will just use a handheld until I find a solution. Good luck figuring this out. When you do, please post pics so I can see how you did it.

Will do.

 

[samthetramp]

OK so after looking and talking to the guy at Breedlove antennas and reading on the k0bg website I think I'm gonna go with this Mount. I can off center it to accommodate my kayak when it's on the roof and it won't interfere with my 5th wheel camper in turns. I am running a Cobra 29Lx that has been cut over, peaked and tuned supposedly. No amp. I'm needing recommendations on antennas and mics.

Thanks

 

[prcguy]

There is no CB antenna that will work well or achieve a good match with that mount. An antenna needs a lot of sheet metal right at the feedpoint and when you raise the feedpoint up that high in the middle of the air the impedance goes up and losses stack up. Breedlove is a machinist and not an antenna expert. He might make some good heavy duty mounts but this one is a mistake.

OK so after looking and talking to the guy at Breedlove antennas and reading on the k0bg website I think I'm gonna go with this Mount. I can off center it to accommodate my kayak when it's on the roof and it won't interfere with my 5th wheel camper in turns. I am running a Cobra 29Lx that has been cut over, peaked and tuned supposedly. No amp. I'm needing recommendations on antennas and mics.

Thanks

 

[slowmover]

The link to mount won’t come up for me.


Here’s my example:

This is the BREEDLOVE one I’ll be using on the roof of my 3500 Dodge 4-door with a 6x6 backing plate. I want no restrictions past total height to limit my choices, and have antennas of different designs and lengths from 5’ to 9’.

My travel trailer needs 11’ clearance. For me that means the usual antenna will be above 6’ (to about 7’ to keep clearance under 14’). I also bought a layover coupling to ease clearance while buying fuel, etc.

1). Measure the roof height of your pickup. Choose antenna that will be long enough to reach 13-14’ total height, IMO, for best highway operation.

2). Choose best antenna design. A PREDATOR has a different wind loading than a SKIPSHOOTER, for example. But the former may be better than the latter.