CB Rear Mount Plate Flex/Bounce

[mikekey]

Sorry my thread title isn't more descriptive. And I wasn't 100% sure where to stick this. But I know a few of you used the Jeep Wrangler Hood Mount with the firestik over the rear tail light, and I know someone else just made their own bracket.

I'm curious about what kind of screws or bolts/how many you used to secure the bracket to the sheet metal.



The problem I'm having right now is after a couple of days the bracket itself starts wobbling, and I'm afraid this will lead to stripping out the holes.

Suggestions appreciated.

[bartonmd]

From my build thread: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=1477

- Cobra C75-WXST CB Radio, and associated antenna (seen below).

I made a bracket out of 12ga 304 stainless steel, and cut it to fit. I drilled (2) 1/4" holes in it, then transferred them to the body, as shown. There is no good way to get nuts on the inside of that spot, so I removed the tail light and drilled a 7/8" hole in the bottom sheet metal. I slathered everything in between the mount and body with silicone, then put the 1/4-20 bolts through the holes and put the Nylock nuts on the inside, through the 7/8" hole. I then put some silicone on a 7/8" Heyco plug, and snapped it in the hole. I ran the antenna wire in with the tail light wiring, and used a round file to file off a little bit of the top of the tail light, so the cable could pass through.

ETA: Also, an antenna spring helps take some of the vibration and impulse loads off of the mount/body.

Mike

[mikekey]

Ok, interesting. This gives me some ideas. I'll pick up the spring too! Thanks.

[dvanbramer88]

Like MDB did and Josh did, You definatly want to have nuts and lock washers on the back. I used stainless machine screws. On the passenger side you can reach through with a socket and hold the nut while another tightens the screw. On the driver side, see MDB's thread.

[Trail X]

I used rivet nuts after my sheet metal screws basically stripped out entirely.

[mikekey]

I made a bracket out of 12ga 304 stainless steel, and cut it to fit. I drilled (2) 1/4" holes in it, then transferred them to the body, as shown. There is no good way to get nuts on the inside of that spot, so I removed the tail light and drilled a 7/8" hole in the bottom sheet metal. I slathered everything in between the mount and body with silicone, then put the 1/4-20 bolts through the holes and put the Nylock nuts on the inside, through the 7/8" hole. I then put some silicone on a 7/8" Heyco plug, and snapped it in the hole. I ran the antenna wire in with the tail light wiring, and used a round file to file off a little bit of the top of the tail light, so the cable could pass through.

I originally ran my wire the same way. I removed the bracket last night, and kind of annoyed at how quickly rust formed on the sheetmetal. It's only been on for about a week.

My idea here is to move it a few inches further back, I'm going to have to cut a hole like you did. and I might enlarge the holes on the plate to use a larger bolt with lock nut. I also have a few strips of rubber from another project, so I think I'm going to cut a gasket to go under it before tightening it to the body. This might also eliminate some vibration.

I have contemplated just welding the sucker on there.