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Here's
what the antenna mount looks like when done. |
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The
tire carrier bolt is a perfect place to mount a bracket. |
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| I
used the existing hole for the 3rd brake light wiring to route the
coax cable into my Jeep. |
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Here
you can see how the coax cable comes through the tailgate. |
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| The
notch in the plastic cover provides an exit for the coax cable and
holds it in place. |
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| Coax
cable routed along the tub underneath the carpeting. |
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Homemade
Jeep CB Antenna Mount
Well,
if you haven't figured it out by now, I really like fabricating parts
that incorporate existing elements on my Jeep. In the case of a CB
antenna, I wanted to make a mount that would somehow attach to the
spare tire carrier and be wired through the tailgate as opposed to
through the rubber seal of the door or window. This mount is made
of 1"x1/8" steal bar stock which I drilled, shaped and painted.
It's attached to the tire carrier using the existing bolt to the right
of the 3rd brake light. I wired the coax cable through the existing
hole in the tailgate (used by the 3rd brake-light) which I had widened
using a Dremel and then capped off with a set of rubber grommets.
Inside, the cable runs behind the carpeting along the upper side of
the tub and is supported at the tailgate through a notch I had made
on the top part of the plastic cover. This allows the tailgate to
open and close without the cable getting in the way.
What
You Will Need
•
1"x1/8" Stainless Steel Bar Stock
• Jigsaw with Metal cutting blades or Hacksaw
• Bench Vice
• 5/16" & 3/8" Cobalt Drill-bit or equivalent
metal drill bit
• Hammer
• File
• Standard 3/8x24 thread mount (can be found at Radio Shack)
• (2) - 5/8" Rubber Grommets
• Antenna Mount Diagram CLICK
HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PDF of it.
Installation
1.
Start by taking your bar stock and mark it off according to the diagram
provided above (you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader). Be sure to locate
the 3/8" hole on the end of the bar stock.
2. Drill your two holes
in their designated locations. To insure a good clean hole, be sure
to mark the center point with a punch and use oil.
3. Place your bar stock
in a bench vice up to the 1" line and then bend it over using
a hammer. If you have a torch handy, heating it up first will make
this process easier.
4. Using a jigsaw or
hacksaw, cut off the rest of the bar stock leaving only the piece
you are working on.
5. Place your mount
to be back in the bench vice with the lower end in up to the line
you had marked off and bend it back a little with your hammer. You
may need to tap the top flat part down a bit to make it level again.
With a file, clean up your rough edges.
6. With you new mount
in hand, remove your spare tire from the carrier and the bolt on the
top right hand corner.
7. Bolt on your new
antenna mount using the spare tire carrier bolt and then attach your
threaded mount.
Optional Stuff
8.
If you're just going to bring you coax cable into you Jeep through
the tailgate or through the window, you are pretty much done here.
However, if you want to route it through the tailgate like I did,
then now is the time to bust out your trusty Dremel. From here, you'll
need to remove the plastic cover, undo the wiring for the 3rd brake
light and pull it out of the tailgate door.
9. Using a Dremel and
a metal grinding bit, I widened the existing hole large enough to
squeeze a the connecting head of the coax cable. Touch up the rough
edges with some touch up paint to prevent rust.
10. From the outside
of the tailgate, fish the coax cable through one of your new rubber
grommets, pull the cable inside of your Jeep through the tailgate
hole and then cap both sides with the new grommets.
11. Using my Dremel
again, I cut a notch out on the plastic cover for the cable to come
out (This will also hold your cable in place) and then routed the
cable along side of my tub behind the carpeting.
12. Put everything back
together and you are done. |
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