ntomsheck

Hey guys, the wire on my mag mount antenna finally snapped after being tipped off by trees (even with a spring... it was a weak magnet). I'm looking to hard mount the antenna, as opposed to magnetic mounting it. I'd like to keep it on the roof, and I was thinking about the aluminum rails that the factory roof rack clips to. Would this be enough of a ground? Or would I need a ground strap antenna mount.

I'm considering a hard mount antenna in the roof sheet metal too, but I feel the sheet metal might be too weak. I have a firestick on a spring, and I feel that an antenna in the sheet metal of the roof would warp and tweak the metal over time.

I'm definitely looking for range, that's why I'm trying to keep it on the roof.

goldenlandscaping

Not trying to burst your bubble but with a firestick your already gonna get good range but if your worried about range get an amplifier of some kind and hook it inline and mount the antenna to a bracket behind the hatch just above the taillight that way its protected and highly functional look around on here there are a few good threads about CB antenna and also welcome to cherokee forum

prerunner1982

If the rail is insulated from the rest of the body I would run a small ground wire just to be on the safe side.

Caish

Forget the flashy antennas.
Theres three good antennas out that I use.
Wilson Trucker 2000 about $50, its pretty strong, but not impervious to trees.
Frances Antenna, again its a weak design when it comes to trees etc.
Then there is tried and true unbeatable.
102" Whip aka Stainless Steel Whip.
Mounts, I would use on a jeep.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...uctId=2062088#
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...lickid=prod_cs
Then I would use a 102" whip antenna.
On caveat with the whip if you have to be concerned with over head open lights. It will pop a whole string of them in a hurry.
Antenna care is easy, one a year polish it with steel wool and forget it.
it will last forever.