I run a CB when I travel, camp, and follow trail rides. I’ve broken mounts. I’ve fixed mounts. I’ve tuned a few in the rain, which I don’t recommend. Here’s what actually worked for me and what made me grumble in my driveway.
Quick game plan
- Why mounts matter (brief and real)
- Four mounts I used, on real rigs
- What I loved, what bugged me
- Simple install tips that saved my butt
- Who should get which mount
Why the mount matters more than you think
The antenna is the star. Sure. But the mount is the stage. If the stage shakes, the show stinks. A good mount gives you a solid ground, keeps the whip steady, and makes tuning easy. A bad one? You get high SWR, weird noise, and a floppy stick that clanks like a flagpole.
Still shopping for the whip itself? This no-nonsense roundup of the best CB antennas breaks down the front-runners in plain English.
You know what? I learned that the hard way. If you want to read the full blow-by-blow of my testing spree, I posted a longer version called I Tried CB Radio Antenna Mounts So You Don’t Have To over on Airtronics.
If you want a deeper technical breakdown of why a solid mount changes everything, check out the clear, no-fluff guide over at Airtronics — it helped me connect the dots before I ever picked up a wrench.
The four mounts I lived with
1) Firestik SS-204A Stake Pocket Mount on my 2017 Silverado
I wanted zero holes in the bed. The SS-204A slips into the rear stake pocket on the Chevy and clamps tight. I paired it with a 4-foot Firestik FS-4B and a FireRing cable.
- Install: 20 minutes. Two wrenches and a deep breath.
- Ground: Great on steel beds. Star washer did the trick.
- Tuning: 1.3:1 on channel 20 after a few turns on the tip.
- Drive time: No whip slap on the cab at highway speed. Nice.
Good stuff: Clean look. Strong. Didn’t snag the tonneau cover.
Bad stuff: The clamp loosened once after a gravel road washboard. A dab of blue thread locker fixed it. Also, rain loves that stake pocket, so I added a thin rubber pad under the plate.
2) Firestik SS-174 Hood/Fender Mount on my 2013 Tacoma
My Tacoma has a friendly little gap by the hood. The SS-174 slides under the fender lip and bolts to stock holes. No drilling into paint, which felt like a gift. I ran a 3-foot Firestik to keep it low.
- Install: Simple. Socket wrench and a screwdriver.
- Ground: Needed two star washers to bite through paint.
- Tuning: 1.5:1 on channel 20. Close enough for daily chat.
- Quirk: A light whistle at 45–55 mph. A bit of edge trim killed it.
Good stuff: Easy route for the coax. Tight and tidy.
Bad stuff: On windy days, it swayed more than I liked. Not scary, just… twitchy.
3) Wilson 1000 Magnet Mount on a rented U-Haul box truck…and a weekend on my Subaru
This was my “no-drill, swap it fast” setup. The Wilson 1000 has a huge magnet. I mean, stick-to-the-fridge strong. I used it on a long haul in a U-Haul, then slapped it on my Subaru Outback for a caravan trip.
- Install: Fast. Center of the roof, 18 feet of coax to the cab.
- Tuning: 1.4:1 right out of the box. Sweet.
- Hold: Stayed put at 75 mph, even in crosswinds.
Good stuff: Great range from the center of the roof. Clear audio. Easy on/off.
Bad stuff: Dust under the base can scratch paint. I learned to wipe the roof first. I also kept a thin paint film pad in the glove box. Looks goofy, saves clear coat.
4) Breedlove 3/8-24 Puck Mount on my 2004 Tacoma roof
Yes, I drilled the roof. Yes, I winced. But this was my “go big and be done” mount. It’s a through-roof puck that takes a standard 3/8-24 stud. I ran RG-8X and a 5-foot Firestik.
- Tools: Step bit (3/4 inch), masking tape, rust primer, and a deep breath.
- Ground: Excellent. Big, flat steel roof helps a lot.
- Tuning: 1.2:1 across the band after micro turns on the tip.
- Range: Best of the bunch. I was getting 8–10 miles on flat highway with clean skip.
Of course, if sheer distance is your quest, you might be tempted to add power—before you do, take a peek at what happened when I tried a CB radio amplifier in my Jeep; the real-world results might surprise you.
Good stuff: Rock solid. No wobble. No rattles. Professional look.
Bad stuff: Drilling is nerve-racking. Seal it right with butyl and a thin smear of RTV or you’ll chase leaks later.
What I loved vs what bugged me
Loved:
- Solid grounds on steel. It’s half the battle.
- Roof center with the puck mount. Clear signal, easy tune.
- The Wilson magnet for travel days. Swap in seconds.
Bugged me:
- Powder-coated racks and painted lips. You must break through to bare metal for ground.
- Clamp mounts backing off from vibration. A dab of blue thread locker saved the day.
- Wind noise on some hood mounts. Edge trim helped more than I thought it would.
Tiny tips that saved me time (and knuckles)
- Use star washers where metal meets metal. No ground, no glory.
- Keep coax at a gentle sweep. No tight bends behind the stud.
- 18 feet of RG-58 or RG-8X is easy to route. I zip-tie the slack in a loose loop.
- Wrap the stud with self-fusing tape after tuning. Water hates tight tape.
- Keep a 1/2-inch wrench, a 7/16, and a small Allen key in the door pocket.
- Check SWR before the trip, not in the gas station lot. Ask me how I know.
Who should get what
- Daily driver, no holes: Wilson 1000 magnet. Simple and strong.
- Pickup with a bed: Firestik SS-204A stake pocket for clean looks and decent height.
- Compact truck or SUV: Firestik SS-174 hood/fender mount for easy routing.
- Long-term build, best range: Breedlove puck on the roof. Drill once, smile often.
Need help matching any of these mounts with the right stick? This outdoor-tested list of the best CB antenna options can steer you toward the perfect whip.
CB chatter is a language of its own—think “10-4” and “breaker, breaker”—but once the rig is parked for the night, most of us grab the phone to stay connected in a more personal way. If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a blinking cursor wondering how to turn a simple “miss you” into something spicier, the freshly curated sexting examples over at SextLocal walk you through real-world message templates and tone tips so you can keep the spark alive even when you’re miles apart and the only light is from the truck-stop neon.
When the road drops you near SoCal and you’d rather swap the airwaves for an in-person hello, the local classifieds at Bedpage Diamond Bar showcase real-time listings and meet-up opportunities in the Diamond Bar area, helping travelers line up a coffee, drink, or something a little more memorable before they ever roll off the freeway.
Final word from the road
If you want quick and clean, the Wilson 1000 magnet never let me down. If you want tidy on a pickup, that Firestik stake pocket is a quiet hero. And if you’re chasing range and stability, the Breedlove roof puck feels like “set it and forget it.” I still use all three, depending on the trip.
For day-to-day impressions of living with a rig humming behind the seat, my running diary, My Life With a CB Radio in the Truck, covers the good chatter and the occasional squelch tantrum.
One last thing—don’t skip the tune. A few turns on the tip took my setup from “meh” to “gotcha loud and clear.” Funny how a tiny tweak can make your radio sound like it grew up.