Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: Ddub1973 on May 02, 2012, 07:28:43 AM

Title: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: Ddub1973 on May 02, 2012, 07:28:43 AM
Does anyone know where I can get one of these in Calgary for my 2010 JKU?  I could order one but I would like to have one for this weekend.
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: w squared on May 02, 2012, 07:42:59 AM
Dean at the Road King will have something on hand.
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: jeepgrl on May 02, 2012, 09:34:55 AM
I have a mount with two 3' antennas for sale. $20... PM me if you're interested.
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: Ddub1973 on May 02, 2012, 02:49:20 PM
Here is a picture of the one I am looking for. 

(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t516/ddub1973/sparetirecarrierantennamount.jpg)
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: Anton on May 02, 2012, 02:57:36 PM
I have this one, i bought it from northridge 4x4.

I would not use it if u have the time and get some else. The paint on it is not the best grounding and the area you mount it does not have a good grounding either. I had to sand the paint off from it to get a better reading but now the area with out the paint is rusting.

But in the end it works and i dont care any more lol.


Anton
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: Ddub1973 on May 02, 2012, 03:10:41 PM
I might just try an l-bracket from home depot then  :-\
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: Ddub1973 on May 02, 2012, 11:09:54 PM
I used a 6" L-bracket from Home Depot and it worked awesome.  Had to cut it to fit and drill one hole.   ;D
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: Ddub1973 on May 03, 2012, 07:10:50 AM
(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t516/ddub1973/IMG_2303.jpg)

(http://i1063.photobucket.com/albums/t516/ddub1973/IMG_2305.jpg)
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: Anton on May 03, 2012, 07:46:46 AM
Looks even better! good job man.

Anton
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: w squared on May 03, 2012, 08:12:51 AM
That'll work!

You should also not have any issues with trail damage to your antenna given where it's mounted.
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: Slewfoot on May 03, 2012, 10:32:06 AM
That'll work!

You should also not have any issues with trail damage to your antenna given where it's mounted.
You might want to buy a small ball...tennis ball, squash ball, or something, (I have a small black squash ball), poke a hole in it and slide it over the antennt to line up with the wiper so you don't go insane with the sound of the antenna hitting the wiper.
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: NUXJR on May 03, 2012, 10:44:27 AM
You might want to buy a small ball...tennis ball, squash ball, or something, (I have a small black squash ball), poke a hole in it and slide it over the antennt to line up with the wiper so you don't go insane with the sound of the antenna hitting the wiper.

Yeah like he said!!!!

Where is the best place to ground when mounted in position?
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: w squared on May 03, 2012, 11:04:16 AM
That mount is grounded to the tailgate. There should be no need for any other grounding as long as the mount/bolt/nut/tailgate connection has nothing in the way (like paint).
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: euroboxxer on May 03, 2012, 11:13:53 AM
That mount is grounded to the tailgate. There should be no need for any other grounding as long as the mount/bolt/nut/tailgate connection has nothing in the way (like paint).

i read somewhere that the tailgate mount isnt the best ground but i could be wrong. guess youll find out when you try to tune it with swr meter
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: Slewfoot on May 03, 2012, 11:55:43 AM
i read somewhere that the tailgate mount isnt the best ground but i could be wrong. guess youll find out when you try to tune it with swr meter
Mine is mounted on my tailgate.  I did nothing with the hinges.  I did make sure the bolts grounded to the tailgate (I ensured it was clean metal on metal contact) and have an SWR of 1.1/1.2 (can't remember which is channel 1 and which is channel 40)

I was suspicious of the tailgate mount, but W Squared assured me it would be OK - he was right. :-[

Now...if your hinges are all worn out and full of crud and corruption...that's a different story.  ::)
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: euroboxxer on May 03, 2012, 12:20:16 PM
Mine is mounted on my tailgate.  I did nothing with the hinges.  I did make sure the bolts grounded to the tailgate (I ensured it was clean metal on metal contact) and have an SWR of 1.1/1.2 (can't remember which is channel 1 and which is channel 40)

I was suspicious of the tailgate mount, but W Squared assured me it would be OK - he was right. :-[

Now...if your hinges are all worn out and full of crud and corruption...that's a different story.  ::)

do you have a soft top? i installed my cb stuff with my top off just to make life easier and took a reading and got swr of around 1.1. then i put my hard top back on and spare tire and now get a reading between 1.4 and 1.5. just wondering if a hard top makes that big of a difference
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: Slewfoot on May 03, 2012, 01:45:29 PM
do you have a soft top? i installed my cb stuff with my top off just to make life easier and took a reading and got swr of around 1.1. then i put my hard top back on and spare tire and now get a reading between 1.4 and 1.5. just wondering if a hard top makes that big of a difference
I have both.  Installed with soft top.  To be honest, I didn't measure it after I put the hard top on because it shouldn't make a significant difference.  (though I might now, out of curiosity)  However, I didn't move my spare tire.
Title: Re: spare tire carrier antenna mount
Post by: w squared on May 03, 2012, 03:19:09 PM
do you have a soft top? i installed my cb stuff with my top off just to make life easier and took a reading and got swr of around 1.1. then i put my hard top back on and spare tire and now get a reading between 1.4 and 1.5. just wondering if a hard top makes that big of a difference

Adding a hard top that is right next to the antenna (especially with a defroster in the rear window) will absolutely change what you get for SWR - but I wouldn't worry about 1.4. That's still better than a LOT of people ever get to.

As far as the tailgate being a good ground....when you get right down to it, there is very little on a Wrangler that is a truly good ground from an RF point of view. If you want good antenna performance, you can either mount it right in the middle of your hood, or line the inside of your hard top with a copper sheet, and always have your hard top on. Since both of those options are pretty ridiculous, most of us have decided that either a tailgate mount or a rear quarter panel mount will work fine. If you do go with a rear quarter panel mount, I'd suggest a big 'ol brass ball mount and a long, flexible antenna on a spring.