I am buying the Cobra 75WXST CB for my Sport Trac. I like the fact that it doesn't take up much space. The sport trac has a rounded dash and sloping consoles, so there is no where to mount a full size CB. My question is now what antenna to get. My biggest problem is that the bed and bumper are plastic (nothing to ground to). If I get a roof mount unit, there is no easy way to get the wiring into the cab. I was looking at Midland's 18-258 window glass mount unit, but I don't know how well they work (looks like a cell phone antenna). Any suggestions for antenna and mounting?

I'd stay away from the "window mounts". I don't think you'll be too happy with the quality of them. If you wish to mount one in the bed it can still be grounded. Just mount it as you wish....then take a 16 gauge wire and run it so a piece of metal. Hook one end to the antenna or the mount, and the other end to the metal. Aslo...if you wish to use the roof, you always could just run it through the door. You will need to replace it every so often though. This is a cheap and "quick" fix that many don't like, but many use.

I myself use the same CB that you're getting teamed up with a Firestik antenna. I love the combo. I've got the antenna on the roof with a mount on the factory roof rack. Simply grounded the antenna and I was off. So far not a problem yet.

I'd also like to take this time to welcome you to the site. I can see from your posts that you've gotten a taste of what this site has to offer. You'll find that it can provide you with any answer you'll ever have. :)

I used it at Truckhaven this year and didn't have any problems. I am going to get a splitter and have a quick dicconnect Firestick antena, but for around town, and when I'm out on the trail, the glass mount worked great. I kept asking the other guys on the trail on the quality of my transmissions, and no one complained.

Hey guys, maybe I can add a question to this: I have a 3' Firestik on a custom roof mount with a quick disconnect. Would one of those long (5 or 6') thin stainless antennas give me better reception? My SWR is tuned as low as it can go, about .5 to .8 all around. Also, are those long stainless antennas tunable?

Thanks.

yes they are, and no I don't think they will.

They are adjusted with a small alanbit put into the side. I don't think that you will get any better reception. The wilson fiberglass antenna is a very good one. I've thought about running them before I got my firestik...I just got a great deal on the firestik...FREE.

Blayne, what brand of thru-glass antenna did you buy? I tried using two different ones on different vehicles and they were totally worthless. They received fine but I couldn't transmit any farther than I can yell. I'd never waste a dime buying one again but am curious what you bought that did work.

remember when we were all buying those midland radios from amazon? they had the midland glass mount antenas for $5. I bought two of them. I'm saving the other one, just in case I decide to put a radio in the wifes car. I'm not real sure on the distance of transmitting, becuase I only used it when we were on the trail, truck to truck.