Hello Nate:

Sure anything can be done.

There use to be luggage rack type antennas sold for vans and Trucks.
These antennas where horizontal of course, and because of there close
spacing to the top of the metal vehicle the pattern would have shoot
most of the energy up in the air warming the clouds. Some guys swore by
them, but I never saw one work.

A long wire could be used, I would start off with a 1/4 wavelength 102
inches long and see what happens. You might need a tuner or some
matching transformer. The bad thing with a long wire I would think would
be the pattern energy going mostly up by there should still be some for
local short range contacts.

How where you going to install it?

The reason I suggested the Wilson 1000 or 5000 is that they are proven
performers for the last several years. And they have a whip antenna that
can be used and survive the low lying things out there. And work
really well.

I have seen especially here in the southern california desert, many
motor homes towing a dirt bike trailer that has a 102 inch whip antenna
on it, and the coax going from the motor home to from the trailer.

Many use a Trucker type antenna (3 to 5 feet long fiberglass antenna)
mounted on the drivers mirror mount arms. This works good but ya might
have to verify the ground is connected to all the vehicles aluminum body.

Lots of guys are in a large group of motor homes, one guys sneaks out
early and sets up camp, putting up base station antenna to radio all the
others into the camp. The radio contacts between the base camp station
and mobiles get very entertaining especially after several drinks.

Jay in the Mojave


Nate Morton wrote:

It is interesting to see this subject broached. I have been wondering if
it's possible to install a long wire antenna on my 31 foot MH, tuned to
the cb frequencies.

Nate in Chicago


On Sat, 21 Oct 2006 15:58:51 -0700, Jay in the Mojave wrote:


Hello All:

Ok here is a little more on the Motor Home Install.

Usually supplied is 18 feet of RG-58C Coax with many antennas isn't long
enough for most Motor Home installs.

By replacing the cheap-O RG-58C Coax with RG142 or RG142B or RG-400
Teflon Coax, with the length that is needed will be a big improvement
over the cheaper RG-58C coax supplied with the antenna, in this is case
a Wilson 1000 or 5000 Mobile Antenna. Its not a easy thing to do
changing the coax but not impossible. And its costs more money.

This allows you the longer length you need for the Motor Home Install,
and the Teflon Coax will last forever. And take several hundred watts to
a grand without any problems.

Cable Experts or most all coax dealers carry the good Teflon Coax.

http://www.cablexperts.com/

Jay in the Mojave