i really like that antenna bracket. do you have anymore pics of it? i got a toolbox but i paid too much for it to drill holes in it. plus in the winter i run a cap.

 

On the fender mount, Did you use the fender bolt to mount bracket? I put a cb in my wifes durango and used the fender bolt. Wire wheel the bolt and took a little paint off where the bracket would touch the fender. It is very important to get a good ground to the body. Your cheap steel whip is a Hustler. They are very narrow banded. Meaning there good for about 40 to50 channels swr wise. When going shorter than 4 foot firestick works ok. And had good luck with the ol frances fiberglass 3 and 4 foot, but not adjustable. If I could find one I would use the 4 foot wilson flex whip. No spring needed. top load and easily tune able. I would even go as far as testing the radio end of coax and make sure there is good ground on the shield. A weak ground or no ground will throw you a loop every time. good luck and 73's

 

this is the only other pic that i have at the moment. i'll go take a couple more.

i like to take my toolbox on or off as needed, without screwing around with the antenna. i made a template from a piece of cardboard to fit the front lip of the bed, with 3 holes to attach it and create a ground. i traced the template onto a piece of scrap steel that's about 1/16 - 1/8 thick and cut it out on a bandsaw (or jigsaw). i countersunk the holes a little bit so it would lay flat and the toolbox wouldn't catch on it.

 

Oh i had another Antenna that worked ok and was super cheap. Its was a Valre i think.It was about as long as an am/fm antenna and had a little base load with two little tuning rings around it. It worked ok for just puttin' around town and a bare radio.

 

does the spring touch the box when going down the Hwy? or is it just the pic?

 

^ no. there's about 2 inches of clearance in front, plug the spring sits to the outside of the toolbox another inch or more. the top of the antenna bends back a smidgen when driving, but the spring doesn't get anywhere close to the toolbox (not that it would matter, except for a rattle). its a really stiff spring.

 

more pics.

the bracket is 9 inches long, 1-1/2 inches wide at the bed, an 3 inches wide at the flare. its a little too thin at about 3/32. 1/8 would better.

 

dhvaughan, thank you for those pictures

justfrfun, when i installed the bracket i used the mounting bolt and 4 self tapping screws.

 

well just make sure its got a good ground. I have run into this stuff before you won't believe it sometimes. I took a little paint off right around where the fender bolt hole is. so when i tighten it down the bolt pulls the bracket right to the bare steel. Some times the stinger has gotten replaced and can be the wrong length. I have a black one around here somewhere. I'll try to find it and see how long the stinger is. If its over or under 1 inch it will throw the match(swr) off with those antennas. but they will run flat 1:1 on 20 and about 1:3 to 1 on 1 and 40. they are just touchy.

 

I put two mounts on each end of my toolbox with 3ft fire sticks. Looks cool and is rather functional. Any questions please PM.