CB Antennas & Mounts

Where to mount a CB antenna on a Jeep

Antenna placement matters more than antenna brand. A CB antenna radiates against the metal of the vehicle as a ground plane, and the more metal below and around the base, the better the signal pattern. On a Wrangler that leaves few good options, which is why most of the mounts here attach to the tailgate or the spare tire carrier. A tailgate mount using the spare tire bolt holes puts the base high and central, and a hinged carrier mount such as the TeraFlex Alpha HD bracket moves with the carrier so the antenna is not in the way when the gate swings.

Fender and hood mounts put the antenna out front, where it can be seen and tends to whip into branches. Roll bar and tube mounts are common on UTVs and on Jeeps with a cage, and they are the home for flag whips as well. Whatever you pick, the tip of a fiberglass antenna should ideally clear the roofline so it is not shadowed by the body.

Antenna types and length

Fiberglass antennas like the Firestik II series wind the radiating wire around a fiberglass rod and are top-loaded, which is efficient for a short antenna. Lengths of 3 and 4 feet suit trail rigs that hit overhead branches; longer whips reach farther but take a beating. Almost all of them use a standard 3/8-24 threaded base, so they interchange across mounts, and a spring at the base helps survive trail contact. Models with a tunable tip let you set the standing wave ratio without cutting anything.

Rugged Radios and some other UTV mounts are built for NMO style antennas and 3/8 inch NMO cable instead of 3/8-24 studs. These are two different systems, so check which base your antenna uses before choosing a mount.

Tuning for SWR

Every new antenna install should be checked with an SWR meter. A reading near 1.5:1 or lower on channel 20 is good; above 2:1 wastes power and can eventually damage the radio's final transistor. High SWR on a Jeep is almost always a ground problem: powder coat under the mount, a hinged carrier with no bonding strap, or a mount isolated by rubber. Scrape a small spot to bare metal under the mount, add a ground strap from the carrier to the body, and check again before adjusting the tip.

Mount hardware and coax

• Confirm the mount is for your exact body. JK tailgate mounts use the factory spare tire bolt pattern and fit 2007 to 2018 two-door and Unlimited models; JL and Gladiator tailgates differ.
• Tube mounts list a clamp diameter, for example 1.8 inch, and must match the bar closely or they will spin.
• Carrier mounts like the TeraFlex bracket are made for one specific tire carrier and will not bolt to another brand.
• Use quality RG-58 coax with a PL-259 connector, route it away from ignition wiring, and avoid coiling the excess tightly behind the dash.

Flag sleeves and flag whips

The Forever Wave sleeves in this category slip over a roll bar or an antenna and let 12 by 18 inch flags zip on and off, so you can swap a sports team flag for a state flag without removing anything. They are marine grade mesh with UV resistant thread and are sized by bar diameter: YJ roll bar, medium bar and so on. For a flag on an antenna, make sure the sleeve does not sit over the radiating section, which would detune it slightly. For trail use, a safety flag whip on a UTV is often required in dunes; those rules vary by riding area, so check locally.