Communication Equipment [CB's, antennas, etc]

As it says above,


What is everyone running in there 4Runners?

Lets see it and also a little about how it preforms. I know one thing that drives me nuts while wheeling is the lack of communication at times. Knowing what is ahead is always nice.

The Cobra 29 will fit into a 3rd Gen but you have to get a little creative on the mounting. Mine is right under my Elocker Button. It is a shoe horn but it fits. This is a very solid radio if you have never used one. It can be tuned up to preform well. It comes out of the box like most all radios that meet FCC regulations swinging about 4-5 watts. Now as you can guess that sucks! After some work, it is running about 70-75 watts today with no amp on it at all. There is power in them if you send them out to someone who knows what they are doing.

The Ranger ss-3900-

This is my big radio(10 Meter export). This thing is flat out BA's. On the upper side shooting skip it can go forever depending on how big of an amp you want to run and weather conditions. It will reach from MO to any place in the US shooting skip all day long. The previous owner would talk from Chicago to the Cayman Islands on a regular basis with his buddies down there. It makes about 200 watts as it sits now with no kicker. Add the kicker and well it fly's. I'm still trying to work out a mounting place in a 3rd Gen but that will be down the road.

Antenna's-

Well they are pretty much everything with a CB radio. You can have the power in the world and if it can't get out or is not tuned with a low SWR then you will not go or hear anything. I'm not a huge antenna guy at all. I know what I have works because I took the recommendation from a professional. If you are going to get one get something that had a copper coil in it. The performance for the money is well worth it. I run something like a Wilson 5000 on my truck but with a better copper coil. The man that made it has ran 6,500 watts through one so I know my little piss ant 75 will not hurt it at all.

For further information about communications I would recommend http://www.cbradiomagazine.com/
They have a wealth of information that will lead you to what you need for the type of communications you are looking for.

My next investment is going to be the HAM route. Stay tuned for more on that.

Blue

 

Thanks for the info! I'm new to
CBs and am hoping this thread will help point me in the right direction.

 

this is what i use for the trails a portable midland radio. its works fine for me because i can have it in the truck and out, plus i can use it in any vehicle.

http://www.staples.com/office/suppl..._src=17588969&ci_sku=IM1T40604&KPID=IM1T40604

 

Uniden Pro 520 with an Firestik 2' Antenna + spring and quick disconnect.

 

So who HAMs????

 

I'll take pics of my setup later, but I'm running a Midland 1001LWX radio and a Lil Wilson magnet mount. I originally tried to go with the RS720 Comet hatch mount and a 4' firestik, but I can't get the mount to ground right so I grabbed the magnet mount on the fly so my radio would at least work. Eventually I want to change the mount to between the tail light and bumper and go back to the firstik so it's easily removable. Also plan on getting my ham license, but haven't felt the need for it yet.

 

Id love to a HAM but I don't want to go get a license for it.

Cobra 19.

 

I just ordered a Cobra 75, NMO hood mount, base loaded NMO whip, and a few little accessories to make the install easier - Motorola mic clip (to replace the queer mic clips every CB since the dawn of time has come with), fuse tap, and NMO mount weather cover (for use when the antenna is not on).

I am not really a fan of the Cobra 75 (handset / micro CB) but goddamn, there is nowhere to mount a CB in the 5th gen. I've previously mounted small "full size" CBs in the ashtray of my old Toyota truck, and on top of the dash in my Xterra, but I don't even think I could get one in the 5th gen without it looking like total ass.

I don't regularly use a CB but it's nice on road trips, and on the trail. I refuse to use an item that's just "temporarily" installed, my OCD requires that I correctly install and wire whatever I'm using and adjust the SWR accordingly.

 

No room in the center console? That's where mine is mounted.

 

Not in the 2014. Searching online came up with nothing good.

 

I mean, you can't fit a full size giant radio in the 4th gen, but the Midland I picked up fit just about perfect. I really need to get some pictures of my setup, but I have the Tacoma today.

 

Here's how mine is mounted in my center console. There's barely enough room to close with the mic mounted, but it works. I also can't see it when I'm driving, but on the trail I just set the channel and close the console with the mic hanging out the front. Need to finish hiding the wires too.

 

Oh sorry, yes, there is room IN the center console; and I had considered that. However, I want to be able to adjust the chanel, fiddle with the squelch, etc, without always opening the lid.

If I were to have gone that route I was going to run an external speaker, and a panel mounted mic extension so the mic would neatly wired outside the console.

 

Forgot to mention I have an external right in front of the console. For the most part, it's set it and forget it. If I'm sitting in traffic I can flip channels without looking, but when I'm on the trail, we do a quick radio check and get on our way.

 

Id like to mount mine in the center console of my 3rd gen

 

That Midland is pretty small and fits well with an elbow connection on the bottom. Does weather reports too. My only real bitch so far about it is that it defaults to 19 every time I turn it on but that might be because it's only connected to "on" power.

 

it looks clean in the ash tray area. but if I can hide it in the center console, id love that. I would route the mic connection to somewhere on a dash blank.

 

The radio itself is in the center console, the speaker is in the tray right in front of it. The mic stays in the center console unless in use and then I route it out the front and the console closes perfectly.

edit: not sure how the 3rd gen is setup though.

 

Just like that ^^^ most 3rd gen guys use that small uniden or cobra and place it in the ashtray area.

 

Personally I'd rather have it like that because I could see the controls, but I like the out of sight/out of mind too. Keeps things clean and out of the way.

 

Yes sir. I also feel the space in the center console is dead space. Too small for anything.

 

I should take a picture of the Tacoma's center console, dead space indeed. With the CB in there on the 4runner, I won't be as tempted to just shove paperwork and other random stuff in there.

 

correct! The mic connector is diverted under the center console and onto a switch blank on the dash. So when you are out and wheelin, pop open the center console, set your channel and volume and close it. Connect mic to connector and voilaa!

Ive seen it on T4R.org, I am trying to find it right now

 

I think I know what you're talking about, pretty sure I've seen it too. I have more than enough cord to just pull it out in the middle and it still closes tightly without pinching the mic cable so I'm not using any switch blanks or putting more holes in things.

 

sorta what this guy did.

Id just need an extension long enough to reach where Id want.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/hidden-cb-install-pics.223025/

 

Of course, id need a mic extension long enough to a switch blank

 

Yeah, that's legit. I thought about doing that but coming out the side since my speaker is in the cubby, but what I did works so I'm good for now. I'll re-evaluate how I have things set up if I get my ham license/radio. That's a bit off though, between the RCI group buy and the weather techs I'm over my budget for toys until December or January

 

you were in my weathertech group buy?

 

On t4r. Drunner97 I was in the first group.

 

thanks for participating.

wish more guys on here jumped in