Clean Way to Mount a 2-Way Radio?

[NMC_EXP]

I have a 1997 Ranger XLT 4WD. I'm ready to sell my hardcore offroad rig (tricked out 1985 Toyota FJ60 Land Cruiser) and just use the Ranger for milder trails. Reason being I'm too old and broke down to hike out of the high and lonesome mountains if I had to.

Anyway, I have a Uniden PC68 LTW CB radio. Dimensions are 6.25"W x 2"H x 8.5"DP. If not that CB I may be interested in a GMRS 2-way.

Thing is I cannot see a good way to mount a radio that size anywhere in the cab. I'd rather not mount it on top the dash. In plain sight here in NM it would get stolen the first day, if not the sun would burn it up.

Has anyone come up with a slick way to hard mount mount a large radio in a Ranger of this generation?

Thanks in advance.

Jim

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have one of these:

Midland MXT275 MicroMobile GMRS Two-Way Radio | Midland Radio – MIDLAND

With one of these:

CBM-U4 – Audio Interrupt

They make CB radios like that too, depends on what whoever you are talking to has.

 

[NMC_EXP]

I have one of these:

Midland MXT275 MicroMobile GMRS Two-Way Radio | Midland Radio – MIDLAND

With one of these:

CBM-U4 – Audio Interrupt

They make CB radios like that too, depends on what whoever you are talking to has.

That looks real slick. Especially with the speaker that mutes other tranmissions.

But where did you mount the radio and the speaker?

Jim

 

[sgtsandman]

You have two options. The first is going to take more figuring out and work. Mount the CB to the roof above the mirror between the sun visors. That will require removing the head liner to mount some kind of spacer for the radio to mount to and not crush the head liner. The block gets attached to the reinforcement cage in the roof. The radio bracket gets fastened to the block through the head liner.

The other is to mount it to the front of the seat using the existing holes there for a cup holder. Less hidden but easier to do.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

That looks real slick. Especially with the speaker that mutes other tranmissions.

But where did you mount the radio and the speaker?

Jim

Some mount them in a console, glove box or a pocket of available room inside the dash.

I mounted mine where the ECM used to be behind the PS kickpanel.

 

[sgtsandman]

I don't have a picture of that one mounted but I have that mounted under the dash above the shifter. There is a little cubby there with a audio port and the traction control off button in the 2010-2011 year that you probably don't have. Being black, like the cubby, it blends in except for the mic.

 

[NMC_EXP]

Thanks for that. But holy cow, Your install is seamless and good on you.

That said, I do not think I can handle it.

Instead of buying a 50W hard wired transmitter from Midland I ought to buy a pair of Baefong 15W walkie talklies instead.

Just asking

Jim

 

[NMC_EXP]

You have two options. The first is going to take more figuring out and work. Mount the CB to the roof above the mirror between the sun visors. That will require removing the head liner to mount some kind of spacer for the radio to mount to and not crush the head liner. The block gets attached to the reinforcement cage in the roof. The radio bracket gets fastened to the block through the head liner.

The other is to mount it to the front of the seat using the existing holes there for a cup holder. Less hidden but easier to do.

Looks like the best solution to me.

Thanks, and best reagads.

Jim

 

[Uncle Gump]

I put in a smittybilt security console and mounted my GMRS Radio to the back.

 

[NMC_EXP]

Tell you what - I am impressed with that install.

JIM

 

[Snoranger]

In ‘97 the passenger side airbag was optional. It wasn’t standard until ‘98. Do you have a passenger airbag or a dummy cover?

This is my ‘23 Ranger, but you get what I’m thinking, right.

 

[Bill]

I managed to snap off the volume knob placing my FT-2400 in that spot. It tipped forward as I was shifting gears and I guess I hit it in the process.

 

[MaicoDoug]

A good friend of mine operates CW with a key strapped to his leg while driving on 40m, mounted his transceiver on the rear of the passenger seat which folds down flat when he's active on the air.

 

[Curious Hound]

A good friend of mine operates CW with a key strapped to his leg while driving on 40m, mounted his transceiver on the rear of the passenger seat which folds down flat when he's active on the air.

Dang it. Now that's talent. Driving and carrying on a conversation while translating it into and out of Morse while keying.

Hopefully not on highways. That could really get you a "distracted driving" ticket or accident.

 

[Bill]

Dang it. Now that's talent. Driving and carrying on a conversation while translating it into and out of Morse while keying.

Hopefully not on highways. That could really get you a "distracted driving" ticket or accident.

It's not anymore distracting than, texting, putting on makeup, eating a slice of pizza or triple patty western cheddar burger, slapping the kids in the backseat, or hundreds of other things people do while flying down the highway at 80 mph.

But, I can just see someone getting pulled over for operating CW.

Officer: "Do you know why I pulled you over today?"
Driver: "Uhhhhhmmmm, No."
Officer: "You were operating CW while driving. That's a violation of vehicle code 256468794161, subsection 889873131677b."
Driver: "But officer, I was making a rare DX contact to someone on a little island in the middle of the Indian Ocean..."
The officer steps away from the driver's window, grabs his microphone and says, "I'm going to need backup and an ambulance on northbound I-5 just north of Exit 437, the driver appears to be having a medical emergency."