Full size CB location?

[hkunz]

I would like a full sized CB radio like I run on my rock Jeep in my JK. I've gotten the antenna mount, the mic mount, now I just need to figure out where the radio goes. I've seen the "radio on the mic" setups, but want a full radio. Has anyone done this, and where does it mount?

[RotorHead]

It will mount nicely to the footman loop above the mirror. I had mine mounted just to the loop, but wanted to move it up a little and use a piece of flat bar to and attached it to the windshield frame then used small rubber coated clamps to attach the flat bar to the footman loop. I'll get some detailed pictures for you later, but here's a picture from a distance.

[hkunz]

Yes, please, better pics. I'd like the higher mounted radio, it is up out of the way, and hard to see from the outside.

I got the Cooltech Versa Mount for the mic and iPod, so that part should work well.

How did you route the wires, and where did you tap into the 12 volts?

[Bigjerm]

Here is mine, sounds about the same as Rotorhead. I took off the plastic, drilled small pilot holes and screwed the bracket into the plastic piece. It has held for several thousand miles on my last JK and did it this way on the new one.

[John L]

I mounted mine on the drivers side of the console. I can't stand having stuff waving in the rearview mirror (mic cord) or I would put it up high. I also bought a small extension speaker and mounted it in the foam that covers the corner of the roll bar. It puts the speaker just behind my left ear, works out great. You can't tell it's there with the roll bar cover on.

[hkunz]

Does that bother your leg? Or damage your wife's nylons? We drive ours long distances, and she commutes in it. My right leg is bad, so I need room to move it around (taking narcotics before driving doesn't work so well)

I like the "out of sight" mounting.

Is there room in the bottom of the dash? I haven't taken mine apart there yet, I'm trying to get the jet boat running and put the trans back in the rockcrawler, so the JK stays pretty much unmolested

[John L]

Originally Posted by hkunz

Does that bother your leg? Or damage your wife's nylons? We drive ours long distances, and she commutes in it. My right leg is bad, so I need room to move it around (taking narcotics before driving doesn't work so well)

I like the "out of sight" mounting.

Is there room in the bottom of the dash? I haven't taken mine apart there yet, I'm trying to get the jet boat running and put the trans back in the rockcrawler, so the JK stays pretty much unmolested

Naw, the only time my leg gets near it is when I'm getting out or in the Jeep. Sometimes on long runs I rest my leg on it though.
Works pretty good actually, I can get to all the controls, I can see the channel digits, and it keeps the illumination below eye level.

The only negative thing about the location is it limits the forward seat travel, no big deal for me since I'm the only driver.

Bottom of the dash locating, IMHO, is not an ideal location for two reasons.
There's nothing substantial to bolt a heavy full size radio to, and that area is considered a kind of "crash zone" so your knees don't get busted up too bad in a wreck, hence the name "knee bolster".

[RotorHead]

OK, here are the pics I promised. Originally I made an attachment bracket that mounted the radio to the footman loop and it worked OK, but I wanted to move it back a little so I could raise it up more to so I could move my mirror up in hopes of seeing over the 37" tire on the back.

I had a few pieces of 3" aluminum flat bar laying around so I used that. I removed the windshield trim pieces and drilled two holes in the end of the flat bar and on the bottom side of the upper windshield frame. Then I drilled two more holes in the flat bar to line up with the footman loop. I used a little paint for the windshield frame to prevent rust. Next, I attached the flat bar to the upper windshield frame using sheet metal screws. Then I used rubber coated clamps around the footman loop and bolted them to the flat bar. You will have to cut the trim a little when you reinstall it depending on the size of flat bar you use. I just used a razor knife. It only needs a little. All that's left is to mount your cb to the bar and run your wires.

I ran the wires inside the trim panel and down the drivers side. I ran the hot wire through the firewall directly to the battery and I attached the ground to the kick panel by the drivers footwell. I routed the antenna cable through the roll bar padding to the back.

I love the location. The speaker is in the perfect position and everything is easy to get to without taking your eyes off the road. With the mic on the right side, I only see one end of the cable in the mirror and it doesn't bother me at all, plus it's a natural grab with your right hand. You could always disconnect it when not using the radio if it did bother you.



Notice that the downward force does not pull on the windshield frame. it pushes towards it. This mount is extremely sturdy.


This view is from the driver's eye level. Very little mirror obstruction.






The antenna cable is very easy to get to for tuning.

[John L]

Nice job there Rotorhead. Glad to see I'm not the only one cutting up the plastic!!

[RotorHead]

Originally Posted by John L

Nice job there Rotorhead. Glad to see I'm not the only one cutting up the plastic!!

Thanks John.

[hkunz]

Thanks for the inputs guys! I got the Cooltech antenna mount that goes in the license plate, and put the radio itself along side the console for now. I had about an hour and a half to get it in by the time I collected all the parts, had to finish this Am at 5, although the hot and ground aren't hooked up yet - too hard to do in the dark. I used the same radio as my rock CJ, which is the same Uniden that John has.

Thanks again. I'll get pics of the antenna mount up when i'm not so rushed.

[Woods]

I wanted a radio that had a USB input and I used my CB to fill the gap.

I think it's Cobra that makes a single DIN CB with a front fire speaker. That would work well. I mounted my speaker under my steering column.



Without Mic

[John L]

Originally Posted by Woods

I wanted a radio that had a USB input and I used my CB to fill the gap.

I think it's Cobra that makes a single DIN CB with a front fire speaker. That would work well. I mounted my speaker under my steering column.



Without Mic

That's a nice setup there. Too bad my 68 won't fit like that, I'd pull the stock radio and do the same.

[RotorHead]

Originally Posted by Woods

I wanted a radio that had a USB input and I used my CB to fill the gap.

I think it's Cobra that makes a single DIN CB with a front fire speaker. That would work well. I mounted my speaker under my steering column.



Without Mic

That is pretty cool Woods. I'd have to mount the MyGig above the mirror though. Great location if you have the room though.

[jaasun71]

Cobra makes a really cool CB with Bluetooth so you cana make phone calls thru your cb....and it has blue lighting.