How To Install Cb Radio In Jeep Wrangler

A CB radio is an indispensable tool for any Jeep trail ride. Without one, how are yous going to heckle your buddy two vehicles upwards for the poor line he but took?

Jeeps have some unique requirements compared to other vehicles when it comes to picking a CB radio and antenna setup.

You lot demand heavy-duty equipment that tin can withstand vibrations and open-air atmospheric condition. And because well-nigh Jeeps cabs are on the smaller size, those massive cinderblock sized radios (well, it seems like it at to the lowest degree) just aren't going to cut information technology. You lot need something smaller.

Here at Right Channel Radios, we specialize in Jeep and 4x4 CBs - and know exactly what will work well for your vehicle. We'll cover everything you demand to know below.

General Antenna Mounting Guidelines

Specific Mounting Locations

Tire Carrier Mounts
Tail Light or Tub Body Mounts
Rear Mounting Performance Considerations
Rear Bumper Mounts
Hood Mounts

Picking an Antenna for Your Jeep
Picking a Radio for Your Jeep
Coax Cable
Equipment Recommendation Summary

General Antenna Mounting Guidelines

Before we swoop into the specifics of Jeep installations, it'southward adept to encompass a few universal CB antenna concepts. As a general rule for all antenna installations:

Longer = Better. The longer the antenna, the better performance you'll receive.
Higher = Ameliorate. The above y'all can mount antenna (resulting in the higher it'south top is), the amend performance you'll receive. Ideally y'all desire at least 1/two of the antenna above the roof line and ane/three above the roofline at a minimum.
Higher Quality = Ameliorate. It may sounds obvious, only you'll get ameliorate performance (both in terms of range potential and longevity) from a well known, trusted brand. We'll mention our favorites throughout the article.

Mounting to the Tire Carrier

The tire carrier is 1 of the most popular places to mount an antenna. It's specially an attractive choice for JK Jeeps, as there's a special JK mounting subclass that fits those vehicles perfectly.

If you're mounting to a swing out tire carrier on non-JK models, information technology's crucial to make sure the tire carrier arm is grounded to the vehicle. Often, the swing hinge prevents the arm from grounding to the vehicle. And without a expert basis, your CB antenna simply won't work.

So apply a multimeter to make sure there'due south a solid basis. If not, use some wire or a grounding strap to establish ane at the swivel indicate.

Mounting to the Taillight or Tub Body

Mounting directly to the rear of the Jeep's body / tub is too a popular option. 1987-2006 Jeep models tin install a special Jeep Wrangler tail light CB mountain, which uses the existing tail light mountain holes to secure the mounting platform.

For those who don't mind drilling new holes, a standard 3-manner or side mount are besides commonly used.

Important: Grounding Powder Coated Mounts

Many of the mounts mentioned above are finished with a blackness powder glaze, which gives them a nice factory finish. Still, this glaze prevents the antenna from grounding properly. If y'all don't take the necessary steps to ensure your mount allows your antenna to basis, your CB operation volition exist abysmal.

Here's what you need to practice. Make sure to scrape off the powder coating in two places:

Next to the mounting bolts, and then that that mounting bolts can footing to the mount through metallic-to-metal contact
Above and underneath the stud mounting hole, so that the stud and antenna tin can ground through the mountain and back to the vehicle

Audio disruptive? Don't worry. We include steps on how to do this in all our Jeep CB kits, and have also included pictures of how this looks below.

Rear Mounting Operation Considerations

Mounting the antenna on the rear of the Jeep - either on the tire carrier, tub or bumper - is probably the most popular location drivers cull. And it's not a bad option! The antenna is out of the way in the back, protected from overhanging brush, and in that location are a number of vehicle specific mounts for rear mounting.

But yous do need to exist careful of two things when mounting in the rear.

Showtime, brand sure your antenna has at a MINIMUM 1/3 of the length about the roofline. If you don't have at least this much showing, y'all're likely going to have some noticeable operation bug.

Secondly, be enlightened that for Jeeps with fiberglass or soft tops there'due south a greater likelihood of having less than height-notch performance compared to mounting the antenna in the front end of the vehicle.

Without getting too technical, CB antennas employ a vehicle'south metal chassis to send and receive a point. So when the antenna can't see much metal (as is the instance when mounted on the back behind a fiberglass topper), it can't function about also.

Now, nosotros have a lot of Jeep owners who mountain their antenna on the rear of their Jeep and it works out just fine. In terms of antenna tuning, they probably won't get super lower SWR readings (which equates to elevation-notch performance), but performance is overall satisfactory. You lot're likely to go SWR in the 1.5 to 2.0ish range.

But if performance absolutely trumps mounting convenience, we'd encourage you to mount the antenna on the hood or front bumper where the antenna will likely be able to see more of your Jeep's metallic chassis.

For most Jeep owners, the slight decrease in performance (hard to say for sure, but roughly xx% to 25%) is worth information technology for a convenient mounting location that utilizes a mount made specifically for their vehicle. But it's something to be informed nearly when making your decision.

Mounting to the Rear Bumper

Mounting to the rear bumper can be a tempting option, simply is i yous should probably avoid.

When mounting on the rear tire carrier, the antenna may be blocked past the Jeep'south cab, but it's ordinarily mounted loftier plenty to articulate the roofline and offer reasonable performance. But when mounting to the low bumper, it'south usually difficult to become the antenna high plenty to perform well. And even if you employ a long 5' antenna, most of the antenna'southward length will be below the roofline, and you lot're likely to have some performance issues.

While the rear bumper isn't platonic, mounting to the front bumper can work well from a performance event if y'all utilise a 4' or longer antenna. The antenna will have plenty of open room, also equally being able to "see" the metal from the hood to apply as a basis plane to send and receive a bespeak.

Plus, many aftermarket bumpers have convenient 1/2" holes pre-drilled that are perfect for mounting a CB antenna - no mountain required. Merely get yourself a CB stud, an antenna and some coax and you're adept to go.

Mounting to the Hood

Mounting along the hood channel is another convenient option, and like the front bumper mount gives the antenna more than free room to operate from.

Jeep hood mounts are adequately unique in the motorcar globe, and most universal hood CB mounts won't work. Fortunately, in that location are Jeep specific hood mounts available - one for 1997-2006 Jeep Wranglers and a second i for newer, 2007+ JK Jeeps.

Picking an Antenna for Your Jeep

Fiberglass antennas are hands-downwardly the all-time option when information technology comes to Jeep installations. Different center-load antennas which break hands, a proficient fiberglass antenna volition exist able to withstand the rigors (and impacts) of off-route use.

Magnet mountain antenna tin can be a viable selection for Jeeps with solid, metal tops. But for the majority of Jeeps with either fiberglass or soft tops, there's no good place to mount them.

The Firestik FS

The Firestik FS is, in our opinion, the male monarch of fiberglass antennas. It's congenital extremely well here in the good ol' USA, tunes up nicely and has a 5-yr warranty. The only downside is that it'southward fairly stiff, but that issue can be hands overcome with the addition of an antenna spring.

The Wilson FLEX

We besides occasionally recommend highly flexible fiberglass antennas, like the Wilson FLEX. These thin and highly flexible antennas offer much more "give" than stiffer antennas like the Firestik FS, and are perfect if you exercise a lot of trail rides with overhanging brush, copse, etc and demand something that can get bent in just about any direction.

But similar anything else, there's a trade-off. Flexible antennas like the Wilson FLEX won't give most equally skilful of performance as a thicker, more standard fiberglass models. If your really want something flexible, nosotros'd recommend the FLEX. Otherwise, stick with the proven Firestik FS.

If you practise determine to use a FLEX antenna, nosotros'd strongly recommend mounting information technology on the hood or front bumper. Mounting it to the rear of the Jeep will probable exacerbate the operation issues flexible antennas take due to the reasons we discussed above in "Rear Mounting Performance Considerations".

Antenna Length

When it comes to length, we'd recommend a 4' antenna for your Jeep. This tends to be enough to clear the roofline for most back-end installs, offers noticeably meliorate performance than a three' antenna but isn't so long as to severely cause clearance problems.

If you're mounting on the front bumper or hood mount, you can probably get away with a iii' antenna - but nosotros even so recommend the 4' for the increased range. While range will vary based on conditions and other factors, you'll get approximately 3-iv miles range with a 3' and 4-6 miles with a 4' fiberglass antenna on your Jeep.

Antenna Springs

As nosotros mentioned before, an antenna spring tin can exist installed which allows the antenna to flex at the mount betoken. For but about all Jeep installs, we recommend getting a spring every bit a cheap insurance policy every bit it volition protect both your antenna and Jeep from damage.

Sometimes you'll run into bug where a bound mounted antenna volition starting time oscillating and repeatedly striking the back of your Jeep - enough to bulldoze you mad after about 100 yards. If this is a recurring problem, you tin can easily solve it past cut two small holes in a tennis brawl, pushing information technology over the top of the antenna and using it to protect / cushion the tub from being hit.

Picking a Radio for Your Jeep

When because radios to recommend to Jeepers, we strongly consider size, performance and immovability. And given these criteria, two radios take emerged as being extremely well suited for Jeeps - the Cobra 75 and the Uniden 510.

The Cobra 75 WX ST

The Cobra 75 is the #one radio we sell to Jeep owners. If you regularly ride with other Jeep owners, you've virtually certainly seen 1 in action before.

It's an all-in-i unit that contains the radio components in the microphone assembly. So instead of having to find infinite to mount a huge CB unit, you only have to worry nigh mounting a microphone. Nice.

It as well has a centralized control box that deals with all the wires (power, antenna lead, mic connection, etc) which can be mounted out-of-sight for a super clean install.

The Uniden 510

The Uniden 510 takes the traditional CB form (radio box + mic), merely is one of the smallest CB radios we sell. In addition to it'due south tiny footprint, it's insanely well built and tin withstand just nearly any use and abuse.

We sell equipment to a lot of mining companies who really vanquish up their equipment. The radio they order time and once more? The Uniden 510.

At present, the 510 isn't a bear witness horse and doesn't have many features - it's a pretty blank-bones organization. It'due south big blood brother - the Uniden 520 - offers PA (public address) capabilities if that's important to y'all. Merely across that, the features are pretty much the aforementioned.

But that's the dazzler of the radio. A small, bombproof model that doesn't have a agglomeration of dials you may never need.

Coax Cable

If you lot accept the selection, we recommend RG8X coax cable for Jeep installs. RG8X is the beefiest grade coax sold, and tends to accept more than shielding / a thicker outside than standard RG-58 coax.

Ring-style coax is also pop with Jeep installs, equally it tends to concord upward to the elements a chip better than standard metallic PL-259 barrel connections.

And if you take the choice to apply a coax cablevision with a FME connector, exercise information technology! A FME connector lets you disconnect the cable in the heart so y'all tin road the small FME end through whatever holes. Without it, you might have to make any drilled routing holes much larger to arrange the bulky ring or barrel manner coax ends.

Our ii favorite coax cables for Jeeps are our heavy-duty RG8X CB coax and our FME equipped ring style coax.

Equipment Recommendation Summary

Hopefully this guide was helpful, and you know accept a much meliorate thought of what will work well for your Jeep! Listed below is a crook-canvas of all the equipment we mentioned, from complete Jeep packages to our favorite individual components.

Shop Using Our Jeep Make & Model Wizard

Complete Packages

Complete JK CB Package (2007+ JKs)
Classic Wrangler CB Package (1987-2006 YJ, TJ Wrangler & CJ)

Top Mounts for Jeeps

JK Tire Carrier Mount (All JK Models)
JK Hood Mountain (All JK Models)
Tail Calorie-free Mount (1997-2006 Wranglers)
Hood Mount (1997-2006 Wranglers)

Top Radios for Jeeps

Cobra 75 - All-in-the-mic, compact unit
Uniden 510 - Small and bulletproof CB
Uniden 520 - Similar the 510, but with PA

Top Antennas for Jeeps

Firestik FS - Our hands-down favorite. Beefy with great performance.
Wilson FLEX - For when extreme flexibility is needed.

Top Coax for Jeeps

xviii' of RG8X Cable - Bulky, super potent coax.
FME FireRing - Easy routing through small holes + a ring-mode mount connector.

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Source: https://www.rightchannelradios.com/blogs/selection-guides/18542243-cb-radios-for-jeeps

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