Pre-Install

Materials Needed: CB, 18' quality Coax, and antenna and mount.

Other Recommended Materials: Silicone sealer, zip ties, soldering iron, electrical tape, Wire split loom.

1. I started my install by reading... yup that's right I researched about antennas, radios and how CB radio waves act. I also asked a lot of questions from a local CB shop. One good source of information was Firestik's website. This manufacturer of CB antennas has an excellent FAQ that covers a lot of questions for the beginner.
2. Next I selected my mounting point for the antenna the CB location in my truck and also decided how I was going to run the Coax to the antenna. Then went out to buy all the goodies.... I had a buddy of mine machine a suitable mount for where I wanted to mount it at the time (Cost = 1 case of beer)

Used for this installation:

3' Firestik- this antenna is a ""top-loaded" antenna meaning there are more wire coils towards the top of the antenna.

Uniden 520xl- a very compact but quality CB radio. Features a PA./speaker output and switch a jump switch to channel 9 and a gain knob.

Antenna mount- I originally had a antenna mount machined by a friend out of aluminum that clamped to the factory bed tie-down. After getting a diamond plate tool-box, I then got a flat Firestik Stainless steal mount and bolted it to the bottom of the box.

Installation (tips section below install)

	Tear apart your dash so you can gain access to a place to run your wiring and mount your CB. Remove all of the control knobs from the Heat and A/C controls and also the A/C button.  Remove the 2 screws from underneath the in-dash cup holder.  Then gently remove the center console plastic trim.
	Starting from the bench seat storage area.  Run enough coax out the rear grommet of the vehicle to your antenna mount. Run cable front to the CB. (more to follow) This enables you to loop the excess in the storage area out of site.
	After running Coax out the rear grommet I ran it up the back of the bed, over the bed rail and to my CB mount. Leaving a loop of Coax to drip off water. Zip tie your Coax in place to keep it from vibrating loose. Then seal the grommet you had to slice to get the coax out with some Silicone sealer. Remove your plastic door sills, kick panels, and also the lower plastic trim that runs under your steering column. Run Coax out the drain hole in the corner of the bench seat storage area, under the carpet and down the wire channel- underneath the carpet.   Through the kick panel area and underneath your dash to where your CB is installed. After making sure I had enough Coax to the CB I then zip-tied it in place.
	I chose to mount my CB where my ashtray used to be. I removed all of the ashtray guts, then using a Dremel tool cut the back out of the ashtray area. Slid the CB in place and secured it with a generic radio strap to hold it in place. This made for a compact, clean and secure location for my CB. I wired my CB directly to the cigarette lighter beside it only b/c there was not much on that fuse. It is recommended by many professionals that your CB's "hot" wire get run back the battery. Then well grounded to the firewall. Test the install, fire up the CB to make sure it comes on. But do not broadcast!  this could damage your radio unless your antenna is tuned. Tune the antenna to the lowest SWR's- meters are commercially available, I chose for this install to have a Pro tune it. Cost was around $5.00 and it took him all of 10 minutes to do it.
	After making sure the CB works, tuning the antenna, and doing some general clean-up of the wires. It's time to put everything back together.

Some tips I used:

• All electrical connections were hard wired for least electrical resistance.
• All the wiring and coax used on this install, was covered in wire-loom for safety.
• Antenna was tuned by a professional... remember CB damage can occur if care is not taken to tune the antenna for lowest SWR's possible.