About to put a CB in my reg cab 95 ram 1500 5 speed. Would like to know about where to mount it, power hook up, antenna type and mounting and any comments you wanna throw in there that could help. Thanks in advanced

 

I'd mount it right below the radio. This is where I mounted my scanner in my old '94 (sorry, it's the best picture I have):




I also built a custom mount for my '01 (click to enlarge):









For power, the easiest would be to pick up an adapter that'll fit right into an accessory port on your fuse panel. You can prob get one at any car parts place or a Radio Shack. Connect the red wire to that and the black wire to anywhere on the frame of the truck. Anything metal that supports the dash will do.

For the antenna, the easiest and most effective would be a magnet mount right dead center of your cab. For something more permanent you can get an L-bracket and mount a Firestik antenna in several different locations, such as coming out of the hood on the driver side:



Or you can get other brackets to attach it to toolboxes, the inside of the bed or on the front or rear bumper. Just keep in mind that antennas work best when they are surrounded by a plane. The best place to mount any antenna is dead center of the roof on any car because of the nice flat surface around it. Think of it like a satellite dish. The hood mount isn't as good but still pretty effective since the hood provides a nice flat plane to the side of it. Typically mounting it directly behind the cab isn't as effective but it will still work, but you probably won't be able to transmit as far.

A few more tips. Stay away from window/glass mount antennas! They are garbage! Also don't bother with dual antennas. On trucks our size, they aren't any more effective than a single antenna because the dual antennas need to be a certain distance apart to work properly. That's why you always see the duals on the big rigs all they way out on the mirrors. The duals will still work on our trucks, but they'd be for show rather than better reception/transmission. Plus it's much harder to tune dual antennas.

 

Thanks Andrew, the 5 speed is in the way of puting it under the radio witch i wanted to do. But i like your custom mounting im might look in to building one. I've never heard of the adapter for the fuse panel but im gonna look into it too. As for the antenna im thinking about mounting it behind the cab not the most efective put for looks and what im doing it will be fine. Thanks for all the info.

 

i want to do a mount like that. my cb is already in that area, and i want to put a multiport cig lighter thinger, and switches for my air horn, siren, and lights. how did you attach it to the seat?

 

Mount it under the dash just to the driver's side of the center console. My mount actually fit using two of the screws that hold the knee-guard up.

 

I undid the bolts under the center console, then I bought longer bolts. I think I got three inch bolts. Then just bolted the board to the underside of the center console. When you get the bolts make sure to get the right thread size. I'm at work now, if you want maybe maybe I can get you guys some dimensions later.

The fuse panel hookup is called an add-a-circuit. You can find it at autozone (link below). Def the easiest way to hook up your CB. Much better than cutting into the ignition wires in the steering column.

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...questid=513761

 

That is how I mounted both of my cb radios.

 

i have a 3rd gen ram...and i have mine mount under the dash, under the steering wheel column...and is doesnt get in my way. but im 5,8 so yea i take it if your short it will work

 

if your 5spd is like mine (98 tho?) I was able to remove the pocket out of the dash just below radio and mount in there. radio must have a front connecting mic. this is a pita install but its out of the way.
Doug

 

Ok cb is in mounted it like big red ram has his. Bought the fuse panel adapter andrew 2500 talked about but am having trouble finding a spot to put it in. Any help much appreciated thanks guys