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need radio mount location help

5K views 31 replies 14 participants last post by  bbtj 
#1 ·
Ok I have read several pages looking for my answer and gave up so i'm asking direct.

I am thinking of mounting a radio ( haven't bought one yet,still deciding ) above the mirror on my 2014 jk unlimited.

Is there a mount sold that can mount a smaller or even more full size radio classic style radio securely and solid and not interfere with top mount when switching tops.

Im not even sure how big a radio fits in that location so any help is appreciated ,thanks.

can you post pics also.
 
#7 ·
I mounted mine to the passenger side of the center console. It did require a metal plate to be installed on the inside of the center console. This is a good spot, mostly out of view from anyone walking by, easy to see and operate and you can remove it quickly.

Just my 2 cents.
 
#8 ·
I bought this: http://www.amazon.com/Rugged-Ridge-...8820&sr=8-2&keywords=rugged+ridge+cb+mount+jk

It uses the mount for the footman loop (without getting in its way, thankfully). I haven't installed it yet because I need to drill a hole in the CB's mount bracket first. But I currently have the radio mounted directly to the plastic header cover, and it works great, it just wobbles a little too much when the going gets rough.

I have a full-size radio.
 
#12 ·
Well, I can't speak to the bounce on the Rugged Ridge option because it's not installed yet. That's installed using the existing bolts that hold the footman loop in place. So there are no new holes or anything required.

I did originally have some bounce with my current install (what's in the pictures), but I solved that by adding a small piece of heavy-duty velcro to the top of the radio all the way in back. The other half was positioned just right on the plastic above the windshield. Pressed them together, and that formed a third connection point, getting rid of the bounce. I assume you can do the exact same thing with the RR mount.
 
#15 ·
No, the RR mount is still in my garage, I haven't installed it yet. Should be just about the exact same position. This is just drilled directly into the plastic bar above the windshield. It works fine, but the RR bracket should be more stable once I get it in.
 
#17 ·
Just make your own, I've got about $5 in the piece of metal I used to make mine.
That's definitely cheaper, but the RR bracket is only $15 and you don't need to drill or cut through anything. It's a perfectly clean install, which is why I bought it.

If I'm ever home long enough to do so, I'll get it finished and post pics. But it'll probably be a couple of weeks. Things are crazy here right now.:pullinghair:
 
#19 ·
Ok I have read several pages looking for my answer and gave up so i'm asking direct. I am thinking of mounting a radio ( haven't bought one yet,still deciding ) above the mirror on my 2014 jk unlimited. Is there a mount sold that can mount a smaller or even more full size radio classic style radio securely and solid and not interfere with top mount when switching tops. Im not even sure how big a radio fits in that location so any help is appreciated ,thanks. can you post pics also.
Not sure if you found your answer, but
I bought a tuffy overhead molle console. About ~$160 really easy install on my 98TJ.
I like that it's a metal base, to mount lights CB and a couple molle pouches
I will upload pics this weekend.
 
#22 ·
Thanks I'm still thinking on things and seeing what people post.
I like the little cobra's like posted in the last pic but my cb shop in town says they are not very rugged and not to expect much more than a couple years from them in his experience, says the circuit board and parts are too tight in such a compact place with the mic that a standard radio would last way longer and also have the option to peak and tune it more. I am kinda leaning towards the over the mirror mount from RR but I'm really concerned about it being secure and not bouncing around or falling out.
 
#24 ·
JeffK please post pics when you install the Rugged Ridge option. You are heading in the same direction I am. I have a Cobra 29LTDBC that is peaked and tuned from my Libby and I am read to install in my 2015 JK. Hopefully, life gets out of the way and you get time for this mod.

Mike
 
#26 · (Edited)
No, the radio doesn't get down into CB freqs. I couldn't justify keeping the CB mounted permanently, the only people in this area that are on 11m are running illegal rigs, splattering their signal all over the place. It's a nightmare. On the rare occasion that I want to be on CB (like for the trails) I have a Midland 75-822 handheld. I kept the same antenna mount (3/8x24) on the Jeep, so I can swap the antenna cable from the 2m to the Midland and swap out the antenna with the CB antenna, and I'm good to go.

I like the RR mount, especially considering no drilling or modification of the Jeep is needed. The Cobra 29 radio mount will need to have a screw hole drilled in the center to work with the RR mount because the existing holes are too wide apart to match up. There is, as expected, a bit of an issue with bounce on the 2m radio. Crucially though, I don't expect that it would be an issue with a full-size CB like the Cobra 29.

See the attached image. [Edit: aaaannnnndd it's upside down when inserted. Nice. Sorry about that] I know it's not great, but you should see two velcro squares on the top, back corners of the radio. The matching halves of those were on the plastic header cover in my previous installation. When I hold the Cobra up to the RR mount in the correct position, it looks to me like those back corners will reach the header just like it did before.

This means that the radio has four solid contact points: the two screws on the sides holding the Cobra to the mount, and the two heavy-duty velcro tabs on the back corners. In my previous installation, bounce was negligible. With the new mount (although I haven't actually mounted the Cobra to it, so take it with a grain of salt) I would expect it to be at least as stable, quite probably even more so.

Sadly, since the 2m rig is smaller than the Cobra, is just barely doesn't reach the header, so the velcro option is out for me. I haven't bumped it around yet to see how it holds up -- if it's a problem, I may need to devise some other solution. :)
 

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#30 ·
Mike, look for the grommet on the tailgate that the 3rd brake light cable runs into. I ran the antenna cable through that. On the inside of the tailgate door, there's a long, horizontal plastic piece that you can unclip and remove, allowing you to run the cable along the inside of the tailgate door and through the same hole as the existing wiring (just above the door hinge).



From there, it's a matter of running it along the side of the body underneath the plastic. You can run the cable under the carpet or feed it up into the roll bar. (the roll bar is probably the better option unless you're planning on lowering the windshield, but if you planned on doing that, you wouldn't be mounting the radio there anyway!)

The end of the cable comes out of the header near the middle, exiting out of the back where it touches up against the glass. I had trouble getting the cable to exit out from the cabin-facing side, for some reason it wouldn't let the header snap fully back into place. But this works perfectly anyway. I disconnected the cable so you can see how it comes out into the cabin:



I don't have any pictures of the power, unfortunately. Someone else ran the power for my CB install, and I didn't realize until afterwards that they went about it all wrong, drilling into the firewall and running power through there. Afterwards, I saw this post, detailing how to run power without any drilling, and I'm still a little mad about that. :rant: 2012 Jeep Wrangler Radio Install - The KØNR Radio Site

I had to rewire it somewhat to switch to the 2m radio's power connector, but I kept the existing wiring up until it came into the cabin, where I cut off the Cobra power cable and spliced in the Icom cable. You can coil up the excess power cable inside the vertical panel that sits up against the door.
 
#28 ·
I recently finished mounting my Bearcat 880 with the RR mount. It's shorter in depth than the Cobra 29, but still big.

I was able to mount it in the middle holes on the RR mount, offcenter on the bearcat mount so that it is centered between the visors and the rear of the unit is about 3" (?) from the glass.

The antenna and power go up through a notch in the center of the header trim. With the standard PL-259 cable end (not the modular Firestik one), the antenna cable effectively tripods the radio against the glass which almost eliminates all the jiggling of the unit. I took it on a little ATV trail nearby and I never noticed it wiggle out of the corner of my eye. Before the antenna cable was connected it had a distracting flap just driving on the street.

I can get pics tomorrow if needed.
 
#32 ·
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