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Anybody mounted a CB?

Flexin

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What A pillar mount is that?
Quadratech had a mount ( I don’t see it this morning) it was shaped like the mopar mount. However, after this install and even before the first snow, my bolts are rusting! It was half the price of the mopar mount ($77 at the time) but you get what you pay for... and this morning I don’t see it on their site. I hope to call this week and let them know.

The mount is not rusting just the hardware. Besides that it’s very sturdy.
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Flexin

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Where is the hole in the firewall on the passenger side? I only found the clutch pedal hole on the driver side and the drain plugs.
Finally found a picture! You can see the gasket circled, this is on the passenger side top right behind the glove box. You also see the black wires, a negative to the battery and the antenna.

A note, I ran my antenna in the electrical box that goes across the hood by the windshield for a clean install and then down the passenger side to this gasket. This resulted in engine noise for me. To fix I pulled the wire back out of the electrical wire box and for the moment have it across the back in the rain channel. If I were doing this all over again, I would run it through the driver side firewall instead to reduce the length of wire which would reduce the chance of engine noise in the line.

I hope this is helpful.

4A34B38E-9626-4462-AA1B-EF0267B2D60A.jpeg
 

Flexin

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Quadratech had a mount ( I don’t see it this morning) it was shaped like the mopar mount. However, after this install and even before the first snow, my bolts are rusting! It was half the price of the mopar mount ($77 at the time) but you get what you pay for... and this morning I don’t see it on their site. I hope to call this week and let them know.

The mount is not rusting just the hardware. Besides that it’s very sturdy.
Quadratech had a mount ( I don’t see it this morning) it was shaped like the mopar mount. However, after this install and even before the first snow, my bolts are rusting! It was half the price of the mopar mount ($77 at the time) but you get what you pay for... and this morning I don’t see it on their site. I hope to call this week and let them know.

The mount is not rusting just the hardware. Besides that it’s very sturdy.

an update, they no longer offer the pillar mount made by Quadratec, it was indeed discontinued.
 

Coyotesong

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What is the best way to power a CB? I have accessory switches but don't really want to use one of those for CB power. Quadratac has a power jumper that is on/off with vehicle that looks like a good solution.
 

Flexin

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What is the best way to power a CB? I have accessory switches but don't really want to use one of those for CB power. Quadratac has a power jumper that is on/off with vehicle that looks like a good solution.
If you have the accessory switches, on the passenger side you have four wires for the switches and two extra lines (the manual has more info). One is always hot and the second is hot on ignition. I connected mine to switch that’s hot when the truck is on.
 

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WhatExit?

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Some info on CB radio hardware I found for the Gladiator...there are certainly other options but these come highly rated based on what I've read:

Cobra 75 WX ST Compact/Remote Mount CB Radio
https://www.quadratec.com/products/96080_990.htm

Stainless Steel bracket
https://topsyproducts.com/products/fender-mount-antenna-bracket

Firestick Antenna (several colors available):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SB6SD...olid=2KOBBFSVUL828&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Firestik SS-3H Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Antenna Spring
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00042LC9...olid=2KOBBFSVUL828&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

RG8X Cable
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010GKZ5Q...olid=2KOBBFSVUL828&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Cobra HG S500 Highgear CB Speaker
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006JPF...olid=2KOBBFSVUL828&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
 

WhatExit?

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hjdca

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Some info on CB radio hardware I found for the Gladiator...there are certainly other options but these come highly rated based on what I've read:

Cobra 75 WX ST Compact/Remote Mount CB Radio
https://www.quadratec.com/products/96080_990.htm

Stainless Steel bracket
https://topsyproducts.com/products/fender-mount-antenna-bracket

Firestick Antenna (several colors available):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SB6SD...olid=2KOBBFSVUL828&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Firestik SS-3H Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Antenna Spring
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00042LC9...olid=2KOBBFSVUL828&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

RG8X Cable
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010GKZ5Q...olid=2KOBBFSVUL828&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Cobra HG S500 Highgear CB Speaker
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006JPF...olid=2KOBBFSVUL828&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
Some lessons learned from me... For the front fender mounts only, I learned that I was not comfortable with a heavy 3 foot fiberglass antenna and a light duty or heavy duty spring. Just too much weight and a big stick bouncing around. So, even though the firestik was easy to tune, it needed a spring, and was just too heavy for me. I also tried the Firefly, which was still too heavy and stiff for me - it still required a light duty spring... It also could be easily tuned. Both the 3 foot firestik and the 3 foot firefly required lengthening of the antenna to tune to the fender mount. For me the four foot adjustable Wilson 305-4FD Silver Load Series 4' CB Antenna Whip was by far the best. Super flexible, can be bent into a U, no spring required, very light, and an added bonus, it has to be shortened to be tuned to the fender mount. So, as I said in my previous post, I threw away the adjustment extension and grinded down past the adjustment screw to get the great 1.1 tune on all channels. Reception and transmission has been fantastic and it's shorter than 4 feet and there is no spring required. It also feels to be the right weight and flexibility for the fender mount location.

PS. I believe the reception and transmission with the light, flexible 4' Wilson 305-4FD is better than the stiff, heavy 3' Firestick --- based on my tests on the JT with a fender mount antenna.
 

Flexin

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Some lessons learned from me... For the front fender mounts only, I learned that I was not comfortable with a heavy 3 foot fiberglass antenna and a light duty or heavy duty spring. Just too much weight and a big stick bouncing around. So, even though the firestik was easy to tune, it needed a spring, and was just too heavy for me. I also tried the Firefly, which was still too heavy and stiff for me - it still required a light duty spring... It also could be easily tuned. Both the 3 foot firestik and the 3 foot firefly required lengthening of the antenna to tune to the fender mount. For me the four foot adjustable Wilson 305-4FD Silver Load Series 4' CB Antenna Whip was by far the best. Super flexible, can be bent into a U, no spring required, very light, and an added bonus, it has to be shortened to be tuned to the fender mount. So, as I said in my previous post, I threw away the adjustment extension and grinded down past the adjustment screw to get the great 1.1 tune on all channels. Reception and transmission has been fantastic and it's shorter than 4 feet and there is no spring required. It also feels to be the right weight and flexibility for the fender mount location.

PS. I believe the reception and transmission with the light, flexible 4' Wilson 305-4FD is better than the stiff, heavy 3' Firestick --- based on my tests on the JT with a fender mount antenna.
Picture please :)
 

Uparms

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Some lessons learned from me... For the front fender mounts only, I learned that I was not comfortable with a heavy 3 foot fiberglass antenna and a light duty or heavy duty spring. Just too much weight and a big stick bouncing around. So, even though the firestik was easy to tune, it needed a spring, and was just too heavy for me. I also tried the Firefly, which was still too heavy and stiff for me - it still required a light duty spring... It also could be easily tuned. Both the 3 foot firestik and the 3 foot firefly required lengthening of the antenna to tune to the fender mount. For me the four foot adjustable Wilson 305-4FD Silver Load Series 4' CB Antenna Whip was by far the best. Super flexible, can be bent into a U, no spring required, very light, and an added bonus, it has to be shortened to be tuned to the fender mount. So, as I said in my previous post, I threw away the adjustment extension and grinded down past the adjustment screw to get the great 1.1 tune on all channels. Reception and transmission has been fantastic and it's shorter than 4 feet and there is no spring required. It also feels to be the right weight and flexibility for the fender mount location.

PS. I believe the reception and transmission with the light, flexible 4' Wilson 305-4FD is better than the stiff, heavy 3' Firestick --- based on my tests on the JT with a fender mount antenna.
That stainless steel bracket above at 14 GA. is a good deal. I am builing my own at 16 GA. now (same style) and if that does nto work I will try to build a cowl mount I found today on a VHF radio website.

Rug Radio Design specs Antenna mount.JPG
 

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WhatExit?

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Some lessons learned from me... For the front fender mounts only, I learned that I was not comfortable with a heavy 3 foot fiberglass antenna and a light duty or heavy duty spring. Just too much weight and a big stick bouncing around. So, even though the firestik was easy to tune, it needed a spring, and was just too heavy for me. I also tried the Firefly, which was still too heavy and stiff for me - it still required a light duty spring... It also could be easily tuned. Both the 3 foot firestik and the 3 foot firefly required lengthening of the antenna to tune to the fender mount. For me the four foot adjustable Wilson 305-4FD Silver Load Series 4' CB Antenna Whip was by far the best. Super flexible, can be bent into a U, no spring required, very light, and an added bonus, it has to be shortened to be tuned to the fender mount. So, as I said in my previous post, I threw away the adjustment extension and grinded down past the adjustment screw to get the great 1.1 tune on all channels. Reception and transmission has been fantastic and it's shorter than 4 feet and there is no spring required. It also feels to be the right weight and flexibility for the fender mount location.

PS. I believe the reception and transmission with the light, flexible 4' Wilson 305-4FD is better than the stiff, heavy 3' Firestick --- based on my tests on the JT with a fender mount antenna.

Nice post but you know what would make it better? A pic and a link? Thanks in advance
 

hjdca

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Nice post but you know what would make it better? A pic and a link? Thanks in advance
Here is a pic of the three I rejected - from heaviest to light three footers - Firestik, FireFly, unadjustable flexible antenna that came with the Quadratec kit. They are all roughly the same height. The FireFly still has the light spring on it. The unadjustable one that came with the quadratec kit was too short to tune to the lower channels, but, otherwise it was perfect for lightness and flexility. The SWR was only good for the high channels, so, it was worthless. The mounted pics are with the 4' Wilson. Like I already mentioned I got the SWR tuned perfect by grinding it down past the adjustment screw. You can also see how flexible it is, no heavy spring needed. For my mount, I cut the extra ground wire on the Wilson and tucked the cut wire under the plastic cover so you cannot see it. The Firestik and the Firefly do not bend at all and both need a spring, but, they you can tune the SWR easily by lengthening them 1/4 inch or so using the adjustment screws. Here is a link on Amazon for the Wilson.

https://www.amazon.com/Wilson-305-4FD-Silver-Load-Antenna/dp/B005ALD33K/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Wilson+305-4FD+Silver+Load+Series+4'+CB+Antenna+Whip&qid=1580052449&s=automotive&sr=1-1

CEnxEv.jpg


FeDGDL.jpg


q2SIT3.jpg


2rXPPF.jpg
 
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WhatExit?

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Some info on CB radio hardware I found for the Gladiator...there are certainly other options but these come highly rated based on what I've read:

Cobra 75 WX ST Compact/Remote Mount CB Radio
https://www.quadratec.com/products/96080_990.htm

Stainless Steel bracket
https://topsyproducts.com/products/fender-mount-antenna-bracket

Firestick Antenna (several colors available):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SB6SD...olid=2KOBBFSVUL828&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Firestik SS-3H Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Antenna Spring
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00042LC9...olid=2KOBBFSVUL828&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

RG8X Cable
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010GKZ5Q...olid=2KOBBFSVUL828&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Cobra HG S500 Highgear CB Speaker
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006JPF...olid=2KOBBFSVUL828&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I meant to include this in the above list - if you're not familiar with it you may find it helpful for 2-way radios and other items requiring 12v power inside the Gladiator rather than using one of the existing outlets:

Quadratec 12 Volt Power Adapter for 18-20 Jeep Wrangler JL & Gladiator JT
https://www.quadratec.com/p/quadratec/12-volt-power-adapter-jeep-wrangler-jl

Quadratec-JL-APT-12-Volt-Power-Adapter-Jeep-Wrangler-JL_0.jpg
 

WhatExit?

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Here is a pic of the three I rejected - from heaviest to light three footers - Firestik, FireFly, unadjustable flexible antenna that came with the Quadratec kit. They are all roughly the same height. The FireFly still has the light spring on it. The unadjustable one that came with the quadratec kit was too short to tune to the lower channels, but, otherwise it was perfect for lightness and flexility. The SWR was only good for the high channels, so, it was worthless. The mounted pics are with the 4' Wilson. Like I already mentioned I got the SWR tuned perfect by grinding it down past the adjustment screw. You can also see how flexible it is, no heavy spring needed. For my mount, I cut the extra ground wire on the Wilson and tucked the cut wire under the plastic cover so you cannot see it. The Firestik and the Firefly do not bend at all and both need a spring, but, they you can tune the SWR easily by lengthening them 1/4 inch or so using the adjustment screws. Here is a link on Amazon for the Wilson.

https://www.amazon.com/Wilson-305-4FD-Silver-Load-Antenna/dp/B005ALD33K/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Wilson+305-4FD+Silver+Load+Series+4'+CB+Antenna+Whip&qid=1580052449&s=automotive&sr=1-1

CEnxEv.jpg


FeDGDL.jpg


q2SIT3.jpg


2rXPPF.jpg

THANKS! I appreciate you posting the pics showing the antennas and your install and the link!
 

WhatExit?

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