Affordable Jeep JK Wrangler CB Radio Solution Midland Model-1001Z

September 29, 2007 wayoflife CB, Lighting & Electrical, Jeep JK Write-Ups 93


While a decent FRS walkie-talkie style hand held radio will get you by on the trail, there really is nothing that compares to a good old fashion CB radio when it comes to range, audio clarity, reliability and ease of use. And, it’s for those reasons that’s so many Jeep clubs make having a CB Radio a requirement in order to go on their runs.

Now, I know there are a lot of people who try to argue that a CB radio is too expensive or that they wouldn’t know where to install one in the Jeep JK Wrangler and it is for them that I have created this easy to follow write-up. With the very affordable Midland 1001Z CB Radio (can be purchased for about $32 shipped), a few simple tools and an hour of your time, you can have a great CB radio installed on your Jeep that’s compact, looks great and comes loaded with features including a PA switch. Need I say, you no longer have any excuses for not having a CB radio in your Jeep.

What You Will Need
for the CB Installation

• Midland 1001Z CB Radio
• Torx T-15 Bit
• Phillips Screwdriver
• Flathead Screwdriver
• 10mm Socket & Wrench
• Ratchet
• 3" Ratchet Drive Extension
• 14 Gauge Red Insulated Wire
• 14 Gauge Black Insulated Wire
• Solderless Wire Connectors
• Solderless Ring Connector (LG)
• Solderless Connector Pliers
• Wire Cutters
• XACTO Knife
• Tape
• Coat Hanger
• Pencil

Additional Items
You Will Need for the
CB Antenna Installation

• CB Antenna
• 18′ Coax Cable(2-door)
• 6′ Coax Cable Extension(4-door)
• CB Antenna Mount
• Power Drill
• 1/16" Metal Drilling Bit
• (2) Small Metal Screws
• SWR Meter
• 3′ Length of Coax Cable
• 8-10 Gauge Wire
• Solderless Ring Connector (SM)

Where to Buy It

I purchased my Midland 1001Z from Amazon.com and paid about $32 for it shipped to my door. The coax cable I bought from my local RadioShack as well as my SWR Meter.
   

Instructions

This is a pic of all the things you will get with your new Midland 1001Z CB Radio. I have also included the coax cable you will need in order to connect an antenna to it.
1. To begin the installation of your new Midland1001Z CB Radio in your Jeep JK Wrangler, secure the mounting bracket to the sides of it using the fastening knobs provided.
2. Climb inside your Jeep JK Wrangler and locate where you will be mounting your new Midland 1001Z CB radio by holding it up to the plastic trim above your rear view mirror. Try to be mindful of the wires and cables that will extend from the back of it and make sure you leave enough room for them to clear the windshield.
3. Using the Midland 1001Z CB radio mounting bracket as a guide, mark off its footprint on the plastic trim of your Jeep JK Wrangler with a pencil as shown in this pic. 4. Remove the mounting bracket from the Midland 1001Z CB radio, position it over the foot print outline you just drew and then use it as a template to mark off the 3 mounting holes on your Jeep JK Wrangler’s plastic trim with a pencil. 5. Using a Torx T-15 driver, remove the 2 screws securing both your Jeep JK Wrangler’s sun visors to the windshield frame. Set the sun visors aside and out of the way for now.
6. Using a phillips head screwdriver, carefully remove the plastic screws (located in the lower of the 2 holes) securing the plastic trim to the sides of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s windshield frame. 7. Carefully separate and remove the upper interior plastic corner trim pieces from both sides of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s windshield frame as shown in this pic. 8. Carefully separate and remove the lower interior plastic trim pieces from both sides of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s windshield frame as shown in this pic.
9. Separate and remove the interior plastic trim that extends across the top of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s windshield frame by carefully pulling down on it until the trim clips come free.
10. Place the upper interior plastic trim piece that extends across the top of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s windshield frame down on a solid surface and then use one of the screws that came with your Midland CB 1001Z and a phillips screwdriver to carefully tap mounting holes at the points you marked off earlier. Make sure you DO NOT over tighten these screws as you will ruin the plastic threads you are trying to create.
11. Take the 3 screws that came with your Midland 1001Z CB radio and place the spoked washer on them as shown in this pic. 12. Place the Midland 1001Z CB radio bracket on top of the upper interior plastic trim piece and secure it in place with the 3 screws. Again, try to make sure you do not over tighten these screws. 13. Attach your new Midland 1001Z CB radio to the mounting bracket and secure it in place with the fastening knobs. Then, attach your coax cable to the back of the CB as shown in this pic.
14. Route the Midland 1001Z CB radio power/ground wires as well as your coax cable up over the center of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s upper interior plastic trim and then across towards the passenger side of it. 15. Carefully reinstall your Jeep JK Wrangler’s upper interior plastic trim back onto the top of your windshield frame by pushing it in place. 16. Use a piece of tape to temporarily hold your Midland 1001Z CB Radio power/ground wire and coax cable up against the passenger side of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s windshield frame.
17. Attach an additional length of red insulated wire to the power lead of your Midland 1001Z CB radio using a solderless connector. You will need a pair of solderless connector pliers to crimp them in place as shown in this pic. 18. Once again, attach an additional length of black insulated wire to the ground wire of your Midland 1001Z CB using a solderless connector and a pair of solderless connector pliers to crimp them in place. 19. Carefully pry off the side panel of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s dash as shown in this pic.
20. Bend a metal coat hanger straight, pop open your hood and then fish it all the way through the small foam filled hole that goes through your Jeep JK Wranglers fire wall which is located between the dash assembly and the door jam. 21. Pull out the coat hanger and then carefully fish the additional length of wire that you connected to your Midland 1001Z CB radio’s power lead through the same hole. 22. Your Midland 1001Z CB radio’s power lead will come through fire wall in between your Jeep JK Wrangler’s cowl as shown in this pic. Once it does, pull all the excess wire through and leave it for now.
22. Locate the bolt on your Jeep JK Wrangler’s firewall just below the foam filled hole you ran your Midland 1001Z CB radio power lead through and remove it using a 10mm socket. 23. Attach a solderless ring connector to the end of your Midland 1001Z CB radio’s power lead and ground wire as shown in this pic. 24. Secure the ground wire of your Midland 1001Z CB radio to the firewall of your Jeep JK Wrangler using the bolt you removed in step #22.
25. Use a 10mm wrench to remove the nut on top of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s positive terminal clamp. Then, attach your Midland 1001Z CB radio power lead ring connector to the stud and secure it in place with the nut you just removed. 26. Tuck the remaining red power lead wire down in between the fender of your Jeep JK Wrangler as shown in this pic. 27. Re-attach the side panel of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s dash as shown in this pic.
28. Re-attach the lower interior plastic trim pieces from both sides of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s windshield frame as shown in this pic. 29. Re-attach the upper interior plastic corner trim pieces from both sides of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s windshield frame as shown in this pic. 30. Using a phillips head screwdriver, secure the plastic trim pieces to the side of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s windshield frame using the factory plastic screw.
32. Use a Torx T-15 driver to reinstall your Jeep JK Wrangler’s sun visors back in place using the factory screws.
33. Run your coax cable down along the passenger side of your Jeep JK Wrangler and hide it behind the plastic trim as shown in this pic. It may be necessary to use a flathead screwdriver to pry up some of the trim tabs in order to feed the cable underneath. 34. Continue to route the coax cable towards the back of your Jeep JK Wrangler and tucking it behind the plastic trim as you go. 35. When you get to the rear door, there will be no more plastic trim so just tuck the coax cable underneath the carpeting as is shown in this pic.
36. Finally, route the last of your coax cable along the upper rear fender and behind the carpeting as is shown in this pic.

Routing Your Coax Cable
Outside Your Jeep

If you have a CB antenna mounted to an after market rear bumper tire carrier like I do, you can simply feed the coax cable out in between the weather seal of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s tailgate and zip tie it in place as shown in these pics.

If you are mounting your CB antenna on your factory spare tire mount or tailgate, you might consider routing the coax cable through the tailgate itself as shown in the steps below. (NOTE: Some of the photos were taken at different times and using different Jeeps but the information is otherwise exactly the same.)
1. Open up your Jeep JK Wrangler tailgate and then carefully separate the tabs securing the top half of the plastic interior trim piece by pulling down on it as shown in this pic.
2. A ground strap or heavy gauge wire will need to be attached to your Jeep JK Wrangler’s tailgate and body in order to provide sufficent ground. To do this, feed a lenght of 8 to 10 gauge wire through your Jeep JK Wrangler’s tailgate fabric wiring harness as shown in this pic. 3. Cut off the excess length of wire and then attach a small solderless ring connector to both ends of your ground wire. 4. Using sandpaper or a Dremel with a sanding bit, remove a small patch of paint on your Jeep JK Wrangler’s tailgate at a point located behind where the plastic trim piece is installed as shown in this pic.
5. Lift up your Jeep JK Wrangler’s carpeting on the passenger side rear fender next to the tailgate and then use sandpaper or a Dremel with a sanding bit to remove a small patch of paint as shown in this pic. 6. Using a 1/16" metal drilling bit, drill a small hole on your Jeep JK Wrangler’s tailgate where you had just removed the paint. 7. Again, using a 1/16" metal drilling bit, drill a small hole on yor Jeep JK Wrangler’s passenger side rear fender where you had just removed some paint.
8. Using a small metal screw, attach your ground wire to the hole you just created in your Jeep JK Wrangler’s passenger side rear fender as shown in this pic. Then, reinstall the carpeting to hide everything. 9. Again, using a small metal screw, attach the opposite end of your ground wire to the hole you just created in your Jeep JK Wrangler’s tailgate. 10. Partially reinstall your Jeep JK Wrangler’s tailgate interior trim piece and then route your coax cable behind it as shown in this pic.
11. Carefully remove your Jeep JK Wrangler’s plastic tailgate vent screen. NOTE: The side of the screen closest to the plastic trim is held firmly in place with trim clips and the opposite side is loosely held in place with weak plastic tabs that can break easily if you are not careful.
12. On the outside of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s tailgate, pull out the rubber grommet securing your 3rd brake light wiring harness, take an XACTO knife, carefully cut a line through the grommet being mindful of the wires inside and then separate the two. If you no longer using a 3rd brake light, simply pull the wiring harness inside the tailgate.
13. Take your coax cable and route it through the hole where your Jeep JK Wrangler’s 3rd brake light wiring harness use to exit the tailgate.
14. If you are keeping your Jeep JK Wrangler’s factory 3rd brake light, route it back though the hole in your tailgate along with your coax cable, slip the rubber grommet over them and then plug it back in place. If you are not going to be using your 3rd brake light, leave it inside your tailgate and just route the coax cable out the hole and into the rubber grommet and plug it back in by itself.

From here, you attach the coax cable to an antenna mount on your factory spare tire mount or to one attached to the bolts on your tailgate.

Tuning Your CB Antenna

If you have a CB antenna like a FireStick II or FireFly II, you will need to have it tuned for optimal performance. To do this, you will need to have an SWR Meter. You can buy one at most any RadioShack for about $20 or if you have a friend that has one, you might want to give him a call.
1. Park your Jeep out in the open and away from buildings and other vehicles if at all possible. Remove the red cover off of your FireStick II antenna and then rotate the tip all the way down so that no threads are showing. Reinstall the red tip onto the antenna.
2. Attach the coax cable connected to your FireStick II CB antenna to the back of your SWR Meter as indicated. Then take your 3′ length of coax cable and attach one end of it to the back of your SWR Meter and the other end to the back of your Midland 1001Z CB Radio as shown in this pic.

3. Turn on your Midland 1001Z CB radio and set it to Channel 20.

4. Change the switch on your SWR Meter to calibrate, press your Midland 1001Z CB radio’s transmit button and hold it while you rotate the knob until the needle is pointing to infinity. Make sure you are not making any noise at this time.
5. Change the switch on your meter back to SWR and then press the transmit button again. As you can see in this photo, my initial reading came up to a little over 2. While this isn’t bad, an optimally tuned antenna should read as close to 1 as possible.
6. Go to your FireStick II antenna, pull off the red cap, rotate the tip up just a bit (1/2 turns or less), reinstall the cap and then repeat step #5. Keep doing this until you get a reading as close to 1 as possible.

Finished Photos

     

That’s it, you’re done. Your Jeep JK Wrangler is now equipped with a highly functional and fun piece of equipment that every Jeeper should have in their Jeep.

Please let me know if you have any questions.
 

49 Comments

  1. As always…great information on a valuable product. Thanks for the detailed instructions. Looks like a very clean install! Seems to be a hard to beat price for a necessary trail tool! Can’t wait to get mine.

  3. What antenna would you recomend i would like more details about antennas. would this one i found work? (Midland® 18-258 27MHz Window Mount CB Radio Antenna Model: 18-258) at radioshack.com?
    And what about the coax, you list 3 different sizes, i have a jk unlimited what length do i need?

  4. Hi Mark, I personally prefer using a 3′ FireStick II as it made out of fiberglass and has a tunable tip. But, any 3′ or taller fiberglass antenna with a tunable tip should work out just fine. As far as coax cable lenghts go, 18′ will come up short on an Unlimited and I would recommend getting something closer to 24′. You will also need a short 1′ cable if you have an SWR meter so that you can tune your antenna.

    Eddie

  5. Thank you. I am specially gratefully that you showed how to get from battery, through the firewall and into the cab. I will use the same path to setup a Ham Radio.

  6. Wayoflife,

    This is probably a stupid question bu I dont understand how the ground will affect my antenna, as it is not directly connected to anything. I am using a teraflex antenna mount that fixes, by using the 2 of the bolts that hold the factory tire carrier. Doesnt the ground have to be connected to the antenna? Or only the coaxial cable?

    Thanks,
    Botsjeep

  7. Botsjeep – The ground is on the coax side of the mount. You will need to remove the paint on the TF bracket around the bolt holes and the underside of the bracket where the mount attaches. It is also a good idea to run a grounding cable from the gate to body. The antenna itself is isolated from the ground – if it is not isolated, you will have an open short and the CB will not work. Shoot me an email if you need/want more detail.

  8. How did you get the large coax cable end through the gromet on the door? Did you cut the gromet to slip it around the cable?

    Thanks,
    Jamooche

  9. This little cb does not have a speaker does it? Where and how would you recomend to install the speaker?

    Thanks

  10. Hi Jamooche, yes, I took a razor and cut a line in the gromet to remove the existing wiring and replaced it with the new coax cable.

    Marco, this CB does have a speaker and it works suprisingly well.

    Eddie

  12. Great job on the write up. The instructions were simple and easy to follow, I especially liked the oversized jpeg pics. Thanks, mine works great!

  13. Thanks for the write-up. very helpful. Wiring directly to the battery means the CB will not turn off with the ignition key, right? would it be better to wire it to a power source that turns off when the key is removed so you don’t kill your battery if you forget to turn off the CB? if so, can you suggest where to wire it this way?

  14. Thanks Hoop, glad to know that my write-up was helpful to you.

    Hi Mokos, you can tap into the power lead that goes to you cig lighter but the reason why I went straight to the batter is so that I could insure that there would be as little interference as possible.

    Eddie

  15. Great writeup,have you seen anything on the Cobra 75 WX ST? Looking for something a little more space saving than the conventional radio. I’m also trying to find a good spot to put the extension speaker as well, any ideas?

  16. I’m trying to work on one now. But, it really is simple as most people are mounting their contol box behind the glove box and draping the handset cord from underneath or afixing the plug to the base of the dash underneath the glove box. Regarding the external speaker, a lot of guys I know are just plugging a mini jack into the aux input on their stereos.

    Eddie

  17. looking at doing this within the next week. how hard is it to pull off the plastic trim on the windshield?? should i look out for anything that could break if i pull too hard?? awesome write up!!!!

  19. Eddie, I just finished this project. I used a Cobra 19 and it fits just fine. I was particularly concerned about screwing those screws to the plastic trim on the windshield, but surprisingly it screwed on easy without any cracking or stripping. This write up was very helpful. I did end up needing a 2 feet extension to my antenna wire. That was remedied with a short trip to RadioShack.

    Thanks for the tips and keep em coming.

  20. Just followed your write up and installed my CB and it looks great and works well. I was a bit concerned about the strength of the mount to the trim but survived a major outing with no ill effects. Great write up and the pictures filled in the questions.

    Thanks

    Jim

  21. just finished this today!! great write up!! took me a little more than an hour, but i installed a pa horn as well under the hood.

  22. Great write up!
    just a few things though. I would concern myself with mounting the C.B. bracket with screws into nothing more than plastic over time (not much) the plastic will be affected adversly ie screws will pull out, plastic trim will probably sag, and possibly crack. i would suggest a simple reinforcing plate on the back of the trim that is atleast twice the size of the C.B. mount or as large as I could fit between the mounting clips then I would “sandwich” the trim piece between the reinforcing plate and the C.B. mount utilizing nuts, bolts, and washers and possibly some removable locking compound to overt loosening from vibration.
    also I would never make a termination for an electrical lead on a battery. The reason for this is simple even the best of bateries gas sulfuric acid which in a relativley short period of time will corrode your connection. you could easily attain the same effect by picking up power off the battery cable were it terminates at the starter. I would use an anti oxidizing compound to prevent electralisis from fubaring my connection. if nothing else petroleum jelly or grease will do but I would not terminate at the battery even with an anti oxidizing compound. sooner or later if your a jeep guy and or a gadjet freak you will add more accessories and before you know it your battery will look something like a rectangular meatball under psycodelic spagetti!

  23. Hey Eddie, I think I like this better than the Cobra 75, but the one thing I would wonder about is, does the mic cable come close to whacking the driver? Nice write up, BTW. Almost makes me feel like I can do it myself!

  27. Do you need an inline fuse? As far as I understand, its best to place the fuse no more thatn 6″ from the battery?

  28. Great site. Wasn’t sure how to run the power until I saw your photos – that made perfect sense. Also, the coax through the tail-gate photos helped some of the confusion. I was able to get everything installed and working in a few hours. Thanks for posting this information.

  29. Great instructions. I have just installed a CB in my 2007 Jeep Rubicon 4 door, following your instructions to a T. The install went fine….except, when I turn on the Jeep, and I transmit on the CB, my panel lights start to light up, such as ESP indicator light, Malfunction Indicator Light, and Sway Bar Indicator Light. Then when I stopp transmitting the lights go off. Got any ideas? I am wondering if there is too much drain on my battery and this is causing some electrical issues. The CB I am using is a “high power” cb and maybe too much power drain? Any ideas?
    Thanks,
    Eric

  32. Great write-up. Quick question. I installed almost identical to yours, but when SWR calibrating I can’t get the needle to reach even close to the test range when switched to calibrate and rotating the knob all the way to the right. The CB works but not very well at all and I get alot of static feedback from the turn signals. Any ideas.

  33. hey Russ, you’re antenna is most likely grounding out. you need to make sure that the inner lip of the nylon washer fits inside of the antenna mount hole so that it keeps the threaded end of the antenna away from it.

  34. Thanks for the write up. Has anyone installed a CB radio in other places in there Jeep. Does anyone make a bracket to put the CB radio in other places like in the TJ where it goes next to your right leg. Thanks for the help.

  35. a lot of folks mount their CB’s on top of the dash in the center and this works great. i have a trail guide installed so i couldn’t use that spot.

  37. Great write-up. I’ve spent the last couple days looking for a good way to hook up my cb and antenna. I’m going to do it like this. Thanks again.

  38. I’ve written a lot of technical articles over the years for a wide variety of automotive and vehicular installations and how tos and I must say that your write up is one of the best I have ever seen!!! Kudos to you on taking the time to do this as I know that it didnt just haphazardly fall together as the gem that is presented here. And the oddest thing is that I don’t even own a Jeep…………..I’m just a nerd who likes to read installation and tech write ups LMAO. This is one of the only ones that has ever compelled me to leave a message (a positive one anyway……). Job Well Done!!!

  40. no, it does not as it is intended to be hard mounted. however, you can splice on a cig lighter connector but i’m not sure why you would want to do that with this cb.

  41. I got lost at the tailgate for the antenna install. The ground cable, does it just connect to the tailgate and rear body? I will keep the factory 3rd brake light? And where does the antenna mount back there? Thanks!

  42. yes, you just conntect the ground strap or wire to the tailgate and body. it’s not necessary but it will help out. regarding your 3rd brake light, you can keep it but you will need to find a place to mount your antenna. i have seen people drill a hole in the flat part of the spare tire mount and install a mount to it.

  43. Looks like a great write up, and my comments are directed to the board not to the writer – How about providing a printer friendly option?

  46. Hey is this CB any good? I wanted to mount a cobra 29ltd classic some how above the mirror but is it too wide?

  48. it works pretty well but the cobra 29 is a much better cb. as far as wiring goes, no, it should not interfere with the freedom top latch or, at least not on an 07-08.

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