Whip antenna for CB on a Suburban

[Fight Milk]

Hey all,

I know there have been a few threads out there, but I was hoping to get a little more feedback/guidance, and pictures if possible.

Long story short(sih)... I bought an '89 V2500 sight unseen off of FB Marketplace and road tripped it back home to Ohio with my brothers during the covid era. We wanted to take scenic routes, and it was a Roadkill-esque type trip, so I bought the CB supplies and we installed it, but I never tuned it or used it (the Burb never let me down!). I had the 102" whip antenna mounted on the bumper, which I know isn't ideal, but it was about the best I could do with the limited tools available. I sold that Suburban to my uncle about a year later to help pay for school.

A couple of years back, I found an almost identical '89 Burb V2500 out of Colorado that I couldn't pass up. I want to keep this one, and I also want to eventually make it reliable enough to be more than a weekend warrior. I bought a Cobra 29LTD, 18' of cable, and a ball mount, barrel spring, and 102" whip.

As far as I can tell from what I've been researching, the 102" typically has the best performance, but of course that depends on how it's mounted. I mostly want the CB in case I'm out in BFE and have a breakdown or emergency with no cell phone service, so the longest possible range is desirable (as far as I can tell). I know it may be dated, but I've also always loved the look of the whip antenna on square bodies (maybe because of the CUCVs).

The middle of the roof is the best place to mount it, but being a 102" antenna, that could be problematic. Is my best option just on the side of the Suburban, accessed by the taillight? I assume the metal there along with the backing plate on the ball mount is sturdy enough? It's certainly not a mint condition low-mileage Suburban, but it pains me to think about drilling holes in it- it's pretty clean with bumps, and dents, but only a couple of small rust bubbles.

Any advice/guidance is appreciated.

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[bigcountry78]

Yes, the rear quarter panel by the tail light would be the best location to put the ball mount. Like you said, it’s not ideal, but it’s the best location for that type of mount. And the 102” whip is the best antenna out there for cb, since that’s actually the ideal size for the wavelength that cb radio operates on. Me personally, I wouldn’t drill those holes, but it’s your truck. I’m also not sure how much I would rely on a cb in an emergency. There’s not a whole lot of activity in my area, but it may be different out your way. It’s definitely a period correct add on for the burb though, so you do have that going for you lol. You mentioned tuning, so I assume you know about SWR and the meter needed to check it?

 

[Vbb199]

Nice truck, i had a 90' chevy burb r1500 the same color

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Mount or make a mount on the edge of the rear bumper, then have a loop on the roof for when not in use. Otherwise I would make a reinforcement plate and slide it inside behind the sheet metal. By the twilight.

 

[Fight Milk]

Yes, the rear quarter panel by the tail light would be the best location to put the ball mount. Like you said, it’s not ideal, but it’s the best location for that type of mount. And the 102” whip is the best antenna out there for cb, since that’s actually the ideal size for the wavelength that cb radio operates on. Me personally, I wouldn’t drill those holes, but it’s your truck. I’m also not sure how much I would rely on a cb in an emergency. There’s not a whole lot of activity in my area, but it may be different out your way. It’s definitely a period correct add on for the burb though, so you do have that going for you lol. You mentioned tuning, so I assume you know about SWR and the meter needed to check it?

Thanks for the feedback! Right. Not a huge fan of drilling holes like that.

Good point. It's definitely a last-ditch effort, I see way more CB usage out west than I do on this side of the Mississippi. Maybe it's mostly for wheeling/off-roading to talk to spotters, I'm not super familiar with it, though.

Hahaha, I do like the looks of them, so that's also some motivation for this style instead of a more convenient antenna. Yep, I think my radio has a SWR calibration meter, but I also have an external one.

 

[Fight Milk]

Mount or make a mount on the edge of the rear bumper, then have a loop on the roof for when not in use. Otherwise I would make a reinforcement plate and slide it inside behind the sheet metal. By the twilight.

Thanks! I have considered it. I may need to get a longer cable, but no biggie. I could probably sneak the cable out of a barn door and make a mount (CUCV-style) on the side of the bumper, but I'd be losing a couple of feet of height above the roofline. If it's on the side, it would largely avoid contact with the barn door opening.

I have some scrap titanium and scrap stainless that would probably work. I guess I just have to do my best to get it as close to perpendicular as possible with the ground, as I understand you want a mounting surface that's as flat and perpendicular as possible. And I would definitely loop it to the roof rack when not in use.

 

[Fight Milk]

Nice truck, i had a 90' chevy burb r1500 the same color

Thank you! I don't see many of 'em with this color combo.

 

[TotalyHucked]

Personally, I couldn't drill the quarter, that thing's too clean. Especially for an occasional use thing.

Google "CB mount behind tail light" and browse the pics. I'd fab up a bracket like this to utilize the tail light mounts or rear door mounts or something so I don't have to drill sheet metal

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