CB + installation with no bullbar

Not sure what's on the roof of the highlux (eg. bolt on point for roof racks on Landcruiser and Prado) but the roof is the best place for an arial to get the best performance from your UHF. Has it's downsides though - clearance in parking stations etc. Can get in the way of other roof rack arrangements too.

Agree with Longreach. if possible put it on the roof. If you don't have a roofrack try using a gutter mounting. I use a cheap small rubber arial this way which not only does a great job but also don't have clearance issues. I keep a 6db arial in the car as a back up. Most emus that hit cars do not seem to care that its not dark so i would say the bullbar whilst not the most important thing to get for a 4x4 is a good investment.

I got Z braket on my with the following antenna


Works fine in high country without any problems....

My Z one has worked well on my GU patrol. It is mounted on the drovers side reasonable close to the w/screen.

B,

Has the Hilux got a head board, that is the bar that comes of the ute body and follows the shape of the back of the cab, if it has that is a good spot.

A single roof bar, even though the Hilux is gutless, sorry gutterless, a single roof bar can be fitted.

I have over a period of time traveling the out back have hit the Australian Coat of Arms, Kangaroo and Emu. Driving in the middle of the day doesn't mean that they wont come out, kangaroos and emus don't have watches.

Where you plan to go a good bull bar is a very good investment and then you could put the aerial on the bull bar.

I like the GME unit Australian made.

Wayne

Living in Broken Hill I can testify to the ability of our native animals to get in front of you day or night. I will add my vote to those suggesting the value of a bull bar, and not a cheap one.

I have a GME 3200 with a little stumpy antennae mounted on a gutter mount works fine. The cable is just run through the door seal but I am not overly happy with this. Bopth cable and seal have slight damage, after about three years. I am starting to look for something better.

Duncs

If you have a roll bar in the ute then use it as your mounting point. you can get a purpose made antenna mount to go on the tube of the roll bar.

If you have a tray back then get a right angle bracket and bolt it onto the vertical part of the tray behind the cab.

If you have a canopy then your mounting points are limited unless you want to drill into the fiberglass. If you do this you will need a ground independant antenna.

the Z mount will be the easyest and will work with both ground indipendant and earthed antennas. Remeber with the earthed antenna that the z bracket will have to be free of paint so as the antenna gets a "ground" connection. Also the point where the z bracket is bolted to the car will have to be paint free so as the antenna can "ground". If the antenna is not grounded then it will perform really badly and eventually the transmitter will probably blow up.

If you go the magnetic mount this will actually perform well if mounted on the roof. Remember to get a ground independant antenna and magnet base as you will not be able to "ground" the antenna through the paint (unless you angle grind the paint off your roof). The added bonus with the magnetic mount is that you can take it off really easily when entering car parks or driving through low bush.

Like you I have no bullbar (it is on the agenda since the close call with the cow, but who knows if it would have helped anyway!!) I have mine mounted on a Z bracket. Have a look at my rig photo's. The CDMA phone antenna is mounted to the nudgebar, it's too low there but the CDMA Dipole is just too big to be on a Z bracket off road IMHO. I run a stubby GME 3dm antenna there for ages and it was excellent, I got a good deal on a RFI elevated feed so couldn't resist. It's about as big as you'd want to go on the Z Bracket, I run some silicon on both sides of the bracket to stop it rubbing on the paint work in real rough conidtions as the Z bracket tends to do more swaying that the spring base! LOL

We have used a magnetic mount on the roof on a NM Pajero with out any problems. The unit inc aerial was bought at Dick Smith.
The CB was mounted at the rear of the centre consol between the front seats, powered from the socket inside the console. we went for this option because we only have the CB in the car when we do trips.
The aerial is approx 600 long SSteel and it gave equal performance to those of my travelling companions in a trip we did through the Flinders, & East/ West macs last year. We all have the same UHF units.

Cheers

Craig

I would use a 'z' bracket on the guard and mount a ground independent antennae. Yes the roof is the ideal but when all else fails a ground independent will do the trick.

I use a ground independent mounted on my Pajero attached to the bull bar. Great reception and transmission. I pull it off when not needed. I have a quick disconnect via a BNC connector.

Sapper