cb antenna bracket procomm PC32-3300

[alexlab79]

Hello everyone,


I'm looking for some advice about a CB antenna bracket setup for my Gladiator. I came across the Procomm PC32-3300 bracket and was wondering if anyone here has experience with it. Does it fit well? Is it a good option overall?

I’ve heard that the Topsy bracket might be better, but unfortunately, here in Quebec/Canada, it’s nearly impossible to find one—nobody seems to sell them locally. That’s why I’m considering going with the Procomm instead, since it's much easier to get here.


Any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

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[Radio Guy]

Not sure I would trust a mount that has only one hole to bolt it down. Have you considered a base loaded whip like the Larsen NMO27 or similar versions from Tram/Browning? You could then use an NMO trunk lip mount on the hood near the hinges which works well.

 

[wcberry]

Not sure I would trust a mount that has only one hole to bolt it down. Have you considered a base loaded whip like the Larsen NMO27 or similar versions from Tram/Browning? You could then use an NMO trunk lip mount on the hood near the hinges which works well.

The trunk lip mount uses one or two small screws on the back side to hold it in place. I would trust a single bolt that I could torque down., if that was a concern. Also, what kind of RF ground do you get with those one or two small screws that you tighten down into the paint. There won't be a problem for a loaded antenna using a single hole mount as the OP has.

 

[Radio Guy]

The trunk lip mount uses one or two small screws on the back side to hold it in place. I would trust a single bolt that I could torque down., if that was a concern. Also, what kind of RF ground do you get with those one or two small screws that you tighten down into the paint. There won't be a problem for a loaded antenna using a single hole mount as the OP has.

If your looking at a thick fiberglass antenna like a Firestick over about 3ft tall vibration over time will have its way with a single bolt mount. On a good trunk lip mount from Laird or other high end commercial mfr the metal bracket that wraps around under the hood with two set screws is thicker metal than the Procomm mount and will not come loose. It grounds just fine.

I've done around 1,000 vehicle radio and antenna installs and have seen just about everything good and bad. The Procomm mount is not that good.

 

[alexlab79]

Thanks, but I don’t want a trunk lip mount for my Firestik 3'.

My first choice was the Way alife bed mount, but I have the Mopar soft roll-up tonneau cover, and unfortunately, that mount isn’t compatible with it. The Quake mount has the same issue — it uses the same mounting points as the tonneau cover, and I don’t want to lose, damage or modify the cover just to install a bracket.

The way alife:

Quake:

My second choice is a fender mount. I’m considering the Procomm bracket, but I’d like to know if it fits as well as the Topsy, without damaging the paint. The angle of the Procomm looks a bit odd, so I’m not sure how well it sits against the fender.
Topsy:

Procomm:

Thanks!!!

 

[Radio Guy]

The Way of life and Quake don't offer very much ground plane as mounted in the pictures which can make it difficult to get a good match and performance (distance) will suffer. I found various mounts on the inside upper bed wall use the vertical bed wall and basically the entire bed area as a ground plane and can work really well but not compatible with a tonneau cover. Anything on the top bed rail along the sides or behind the rear window are ground plane problems. A ground plane has nothing to do with a connection back to the battery or frame, its the amount of flat sheet metal right under the antenna.

I've not used a current Procomm or Topsy mount but a mount sticking out between the fender and hood will tune up and perform ok. I've seen so many fender mounts that are too thin and bend easy, especially with a heavy Firestick. The pictures look like the Topsy mount might be thicker and I would make use of the additional holes and add at least two self drilling sheet metal screws to secure it from moving and to improve grounding.

The vast majority of antenna installs I did was in the 70s and 80s and mounts have changed and become thinner and cheaper.

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