[Tanimal]

Dragging this over from another forum I had this posted on:

Hello all! Just though I'd share my idea. I mounted and wired my Uniden PRO520XL CB radio in the center console! Pretty easy to do and the install came out clean.

Yes....it is in there

Peak-a-boo

As you can see I removed the lock mechanism...mine was broken anyway. (Aren't they all?)

Wires go into the side of the center console and down toward the passengar side firewall and out a rubber gromet onto the battery. The coax goes down and out the back gate gromet.

Don't buy a $30 dollar mount...go buy a stud mount ($8.99) and a L bracket ( $2.79) and make your own like I did. I drilled the L bracket holes bigger for the tire carrier bolt and the stud mount.

How the antenna stands..

All in all this was a fairly easy install and I am very happy how it came out. You can still hear the CB radio fairly well even with the center console closed. I will be mounting an external speaker just above the drivers side seat to make it even easier to hear. Any questions let me know.

Thanks


A buddy wanted his done like mine so I helped him out and snapped a few more photos for those interested in doing this but didn't know what it all consisted of. The hardest part is drilling the holes and eyeing them to lineup and thread into your CB.

First you remove the center console lid by unscrewing the 4 bolts holding the hinge down. It's a torx and cannot remember the number:


Next take the locking mechanism out:


and should look like this:


This is the piece you are going to want to cut out, I believe I used a dremel:


Should look like this or something similar, just make sure it's pretty flush:


Test fit your CB to make sure it sits even (IT NEEDS to sit this far forward so the COAX and other cables will clear when hooked up)



Take the sides off the center console lid by removing the 2 bolts as seen here:


Should look like this now:



Had to go get different screws and I literally eyed it and than drilled the screws into the side to secure the CB in the top of the lid :

 

[Tanimal]

After your CB is mounted in the lid put it back together and remount to the center console and run your wires up the side of the center console by and drill a hole for a Coax in the top:


Make sure none of the wires snag and wire it however you want to your battery....YOU WIN:

 

[Blackr6]

Looks good man. Definitely didnt loose any space. Nice and hidden too

 

[JeepUpKeep37s]

I like to see my radio and hear it very well. This is my idea and I cost about $9 plus some self tapping metal screws I had lying around. By far one of my favorite DIY mod that I have done.

 

[Flyer]

Since I will probably not mount a spod, the mirror location probably works the best for me. Good ideas. Now I just need to decide on a CB. Will primarily be using it on trail runs...not to listen to truckers and other CBphiles.

 

[JeepUpKeep37s]

Get a good cb. I bought this one used for 50$. Could pump up the wattage to but I don't find that is necessary to just talk to people on the trail. This goes plenty far for my purposes. Uniden pc78xl or cobra nw29ltd. Each of these are slightly different with features. I wish they could be combined. I tried cheaper radios and the mic gain and RF gain are 2 important features you shouldn't be without. Uniden has the weather station channels which I personally like. If you don't value that then get the cobra. I have the cobra and a friend with the uniden that is pumped up. That is why I know these very well.

Good luck finding a radio.

 

[Flyer]

Thanks. Money is not much of an issue in this case. I'd prefer to get the smallest high-quality one though. The JK has little room as it is. I'll look into these. Spending $200 vs. $100 or $300 vs. $200 means little if I can get a compact and high quality CB setup.

 

[JeepUpKeep37s]

Thanks. Money is not much of an issue in this case. I'd prefer to get the smallest high-quality one though. The JK has little room as it is. I'll look into these. Spending $200 vs. $100 or $300 vs. $200 means little if I can get a compact and high quality CB setup.

I don't know of a good choice of radio that is quality that is not full size. I can only recommend what I know. Anything compact usually means a sacrifice for quality as far as I know. The mounting location I used makes for size a nonissue.

 

[Flyer]

Yeah, I think you are right. I'll not worry about the size as much as the quality. I'll be mounting it in the same place as well.

 

[JeepUpKeep37s]

Yeah, I think you are right. I'll not worry about the size as much as the quality. I'll be mounting it in the same place as well.

Well get to know features and how they will apply to you. Rf gain you can dial in on radio frequencies near or far. Mic gain will help people hear you far away and turning it down for the comfort of those near you. Those without mic gain may find it frustrating to communicate over a longer distance. These two features have improved my use of a cb the most. The other features found in a full size radio are just nice to have. On the cobra there is a switch for switching quickly between a channel you selected with the channel selector to ch 9 and to channel 19. I use this feature abit. When on the road I am on 19 and I can switch over to channel 8 ( commonly used by offroaders around here) if I see an offroaders on the street.
Built in swr meter is key for ensuring u have the antenna tuned or general trouble shooting.
There is noise reduction features also found in a larger radio that makes for better clarity.

 

[Flyer]

Looking at options on Amazon. I'll look for a site that specializes in CBs too.

 

[JeepUpKeep37s]

Looking at options on Amazon. I'll look for a site that specializes in CBs too.

I would buy locally and from a shop that does tweak radios to boost wattage. Get the max.

 

[mrsig]

Out of the way and very clean with the Cobra 75

 

[JeepUpKeep37s]

Out of the way and very clean with the Cobra 75

I wanted a cobra 75. Problem was with the research I made others had many frying boards. If u have one that has not failed your lucky. I also had feedback it works pretty good.

I went to something similar in a midland cb. That was ok in a vehicle with a metal roof but in the wrangler it was useless. It is a handheld walkie talkie so I am sure the watts are not anything near 4 watts.

I then got the used cobra and have been happy with that.

So yes nice setup with the 75. You can plug in a speaker into the back of it or make a mono to stereo 3.5 jack cord and it can run through the aux port of the jeep. You can crank it up if your away from the cab of your jeep and still hear others sqwauking... Lol

 

[MT Predator]

I like to see my radio and hear it very well. This is my idea and I cost about $9 plus some self tapping metal screws I had lying around. By far one of my favorite DIY mod that I have done.

That is a slick setup! Just when I was about to pull the trigger on a Tuffy, I spotted this thread. I have a couple of those ramp brackets so now I think I am going that route. I don't need a $200+ console for a CB that costs less IMO. What size self tappers did you use to cinch it down good? Any vibration issues off-road? Also, since you had to crank the rear view mirror down to clear it, is it still usable? (Not a deal breaker for me as I use my side mirrors anyway). Thanks!

 

[Flyer]

I'll have to look again...not sure I have that footman loop. If I go the overhead way, I will get the smallest or least deep unit I can find...probably the Uniden 510XL. I have to use my rear-view mirror and I don't want the CB/bracket too close to my head or my GF's head just in case we ever have a rollover.:th_pray:

 

[soberbyker]

Another vote for the Cobra 75 .....

First I bought a complete set from http://www.rightchannelradios.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=cobra+75 which included:

Cobra 75 WX ST CB radio

3' or 4' Firestik FS or Wilson Flex CB antenna

Mounting options:

3-Way Vertical Surface & Mirror Kit
Jeep Wrangler Hood Kit (1997+ Jeep Wranglers)
Universal Hood & Channel Kit
Bandi Mount (FireRing and stud for FJ Cruisers; $19.95 upgrade)
Teraflex Tail Light Kit (TJ, CJ & YJ models, 1987-2006; $19.95 upgrade)
Teraflex JK Tire CB Mount (antenna stud and 18' of coax; $19.95 upgrade)

Compact external speaker
Standard SWR meter and jumper cable

Very impressed with the Teraflex mount, very heavy duty and appears to have been powder coated.

When this was first installed I was getting horrible SWR readings, over 5 and sometimes as high as 10. I'm guessing the tail gate isn't grounded. I went back and sanded the paint off where the mount bolts connect to the tire rack, I also ran a ground wire from the tailgate to the body floor, again sanding where ever there was direct contact needed. After all that my readings were 1.1 on channel 1 and about 1.4 on channel 40, great readings as far as I am concerned. With everything good to go I went back and painted any exposed bare metal, including the bolt heads.

I also bought a Versa Mount 2 from http://www.cooltechllc.com/jeep/jk_versamount2.shtml for the mic mount, another heavy duty product.

For power I used a cigarette type lighter adapter in the center console, which is powered even when the Jeep is off.

One last item I included was a Hustler QD2, heavy duty quick disconnect for the antenna I picked up at a local CB shop.

Here's some photo's of the finished install.

Shot of the Hustler QD2 on the tire mount:

Ran the antenna coax through a punch out hole in the tailgate to the mount. On the inside ran the coax and the ground wire inside the pull off panel on the gate with the third light wire.

.

Here's where I grounded the wire from the tailgate to the body.

Ran the coax along the passenger side wall, tucking it in where I could.

Under the floor mat up to the rear of the center console.

Coax into the center console on the drivers side, the power plug, the power/antenna/speaker switch box and the SWR meter (left inline) all in the center console, the CB/mic cable goes out the passenger side up to the Versa mount. (I taped the ends of the power plug to keep from accidental shorting out and blowing a fuse, ask me why I know to do that :redface-new

.

The console has some cutouts perfect for the running of the cables.

 

[soberbyker]

Last few shots from my CB install ...

The Versa Mount 2

The external speaker in front of the gear selector, stays in place too.

 

[Flyer]

Nice setup. For those who have mounted the CB up near the rear-view mirror, how did you route the coax? I'd like to maybe use the rollbar padding but not sure how I can get to the rear view mirror area. I will only have 18 feet to work with.

 

[BIGTom]

Looks good byker