CB Radios - Diesel Forum

reklund · 07-07-2005, 09:53 PM

Ok, I've got a good antenna and a really nice CB. Problem is, where to mount the Radio in the cab of the truck. It's a full-size radio, so it won't fit under the dash. I've got a bench seat, so between the seats is out. Anyone have one mounted overhead? Anywhere else?

Post up some links to some photos of your setup for me. I want it to look like I put some thought into it...

Ryan

tim94f250 · 07-07-2005, 10:01 PM

On my '94, if you look at the trim piece that runs along the top of the windshield, you'll see a notch cut in to the trim for the wires and antenna coax. I just mounted the radio bracket into the headliner, right against the trim. You won't go through the outside sheet metal if you use a 1/2" long screw.

nboehm · 07-07-2005, 10:08 PM

I have mine on a over head mount. Its wood trim that matches the trim of the truck. I dont know where it came from tho, but there out there!

Gibson · 07-07-2005, 10:46 PM

take the cb and place it in between the two visors. where the back end sits just infront of the metal moldin. then screw the CB mount whre you marked it to fit. if its a good radio thats heavy like mine, you'll have to drop the headliner enough to put a small pice of palstic or wood... for the screws to scrwe into for a good backin. then reassemable and talk your head off...............Gibson

Mike Lewis · 07-07-2005, 10:48 PM

I have my CB installed in a JC Whitney overhead shelf. Pictures at http://photos.yahoo.com/mlewis73, then select the truck album.

I've had the rack reupholstered with padded brown vinyl since those photos were taken. Not impressed with the stock headliner material that covered it.

Looks great. I did add a couple of supports to the rack to hold the middle of the rack to the ceiling of the truck so that the rack wouldn't flex/shake over bumps or when my truck shudders due to driveline vibration or unbalanced tires or road surface issues. Screwed them into the factory visor clip screw holes... easy as pie.

Mike

reklund · 07-07-2005, 11:04 PM

Thanks guys...that's exactly what I was after. I think I'll go ahead and shoot some screws in the headliner between the visors...and if I don't like it, maybe I'll order up one of those shelves to put it on.

I'll put up some pics when I've got it all done. I picked up a Radiall-Larsen antenna from a local 2 way radio supply place. Its the same antenna that the Police and Forest Service around here use, so it should work great and last forever. Its on a fender mount on the LF fender of my truck, to allow use of a Slide-In later. Hopefully, I can at least talk to my buddies when we're towing our rockcrawlers to the trails...

Ryan

Fozz · 07-08-2005, 01:24 AM

I've got a picture of mine, click 'my truck' below. The headliner is glued to a thick wax coated cardboard. I used very large washers to spread the weight. Mine's mounted close the the windshield for good in-cab visibity (and not noticable outside of truck). Run the wires down the A-piller. It's been there for years, doesn't vibrate or droop the headliner [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

westbound · 07-08-2005, 08:58 AM

i mounted mine to the bottom of the factory ashtray. the weight of the radio makes it impossible to close the ashtray, but with it open, i get to use it to store little stuff.
i recommend against this if you shift 2 hi to 4 hi a lot, or if you have a girlfriend that insists on sitting in the middle of the bench seat. she gripe about the CB taking up her "footroom" on the tranny hump [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

nickbf2504x4 · 07-08-2005, 12:14 PM

hey reklund...off topic but i was reading your sig and i also have an 1984 toyo pickup and my bro has an 87 supra turbo... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif[/img] its lacking on the 400wrhp part though

ps what brand CB are you using and how much? i want to get one for my truck thanks

-Nick

jonmercer05 · 07-08-2005, 01:01 PM

I removed my ashtray and mounted my CB in its place looks clean almost like a factory install. If i knew how to post pictures i would.

ARIZHNT · 07-08-2005, 05:01 PM

I also mounted mine in a overhead shelf (along with an external speaker, an inside/outside thermometer, scanner, and all the junk that used to rattle around on the dash). The only thing I added to the sheld so far is a net on the windshield side to keep the stuff from falling out. I need to brace the middle, it does vibrate pretty bad on rough roads.

guntherx2000 · 07-08-2005, 05:52 PM

I mounted mine to the floor on the hump. I then put in a cell phone gooseneck, about 6", to the CB mount. It sits up off the floor at an easy angle to read & reach.

reklund · 07-08-2005, 09:16 PM

Nick-

I'm using a Galaxy brand CB that was purchased at a big-rig supply place. Evidently, it's one of the nicest units you can get. I got it in exchange for installing some headers on a friends Tundra... I guess he's into amateur radios, and got this CB for one of his trucks, but decided to go for a full-on amateur setup. All I know is that he wouldn't have bought a cheapie.

The problem is that it is friggin HUGE! It's too wide for the ashtray without major surgery to the dash, too deep for under the dash (hits the ductwork and other crap) and too ugly to put on top of the dash.

I was all set to screw it into the headliner today...but couldn't bring myself to punch holes in my pristine truck's headliner. I know it sounds dumb, but this truck was owned by a little old man and he kept it SOOOO nice. I just cant bring myself to put holes in the headliner, incase I decide I don't like it.

So, instead I'm fabbing a mount to put it vertically on the front edge of the center of the bench seat. Nobody sits in the middle anyway, since it's a stick. I'll cut/bend/weld a nice mount out of 1/8" plate this weekend and mount it to the bottom of the seat, so it will slide with the seat.

Oh, and the 400HP Supra is tons of fun. Nothing pisses off a rich guy in a new Mustang/Vette/Camaro like getting his ass handed to him by a 18 year old Toyota [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/phoney.gif[/img] The 84 Toyota is just for rockcrawling now...johnny law doesn't like it on the street with 37"s no mudflaps, 1/2 doors, locker chirping the tires, etc... but it'll go anywhere I point it.

Ryan

RDBillsJr · 07-08-2005, 10:39 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I'm using a Galaxy brand CB that was purchased at a big-rig supply place.

[/ QUOTE ]

I have a Galaxy CB. Mounted mine under the dash just to the right of the steering column (and to the left of the ashtray). The right side of the mount screws into the underside of the dash. The left side is bolted through the fuse cover. Its a bit of a hassle to get to the fuses because I have to remove the CB from the mount before I can remove the fuse cover, but in the four years the CB has been there I have only needed to access the fuses one time. Works for me.

reklund · 07-08-2005, 11:53 PM

RDBills-

That unfortuneately doesn't work in my 92- the dash is a little different. I'd still like to check out some pics tho...

My damn engineering mind is whats causing this to turn into such a big project. I started out just wanting a CB...Now I'm taking out the front seat to custom fab a stoopid CB mount... Just wait until I have to actually do some real work to the truck...

Ryan