Install done at
CB RADIO STORE at the A1 Truck Wash
15252 Valley Blvd
Fontana, CA 92335
(909) 428-0340
Just east of Cherry on Valley, North side of the street. Dude that did the radio tweak & peak goes by "Capt. Kirk". He also did the installation. See the end of the report before you decide to have them install the hardware and radio.
Parts changed a bit from what I had in mind. Went with a Tweaked & Peaked Cobra 148 GTL with upper/lower sideband, and a 5 foot Firestick II. The antenna I wanted was bottom loaded, so it needed to be installed on the roof. I didn't think the sheet metal would hold up to the wind load so I went with a top loaded antenna...2/3 above the roof.
Overall, the price was fair for the radio and parts. Installation (book) rates is about 50 bucks an hour. This install took well more than the time they quoted me, but the price didn't go up when the cash register started ringing.
The installation, however...leaves a few things that I'm not too thrilled about.
Pops always told me to measure twice and cut once...but this guy just started poking with the self drilling screws. Dawson, I don't know how you got that bumper mount to work, Captain Kirk ran a screw into the bumper without getting on his back to look at what was going on. No metal in the space behind where he tried to mount it.
Hole #1....comment was "put some putty in that".
Owner told me at this point of a really nice install he did on his Liberty with some brackets and a few sheet metal screws. Ran the coax inside...nice clean install. I told them to go for it.
No pilot holes for the screws, and Captain Kirk started going to town. Screws flying everywhere, along with a few good dents and scrapes in the paint. Starting to get a little sick to my stomach at this point...and a little pissed off. This guy didn't plan his route and instead of putting the coax inside like the owner did, he went for the easy route and ran it under the vehicle.
I asked him how he was going to get it back in the cab...and told him I didn't want any holes drilled below the top of the wheel well.
Next thing I see, is him with a 3/8" drill bit boring a hole from the inside through to the outside....at the bottom of the fvcking passenger side door jamb. Guess my water fording ability has been compromised, I can just imagine the water rushing inside the truck next time I get a little wet.
One more criticism. The bracket Captain Kirk used was different than the one the owner said he used. This guy was going for speed, and really didn't give a crap what he did to my truck...scratches all over, holes where I told him I didn't want them...and grease from door seals all over the leather interior. The best part was finishing up and closing doors. The damn back hatch doesn't close all the way now because the screws he used have heads that are too big. The rear hatch hits the screw heads when the door closes, shifting the alignment of the door and leaving a gap at the bottom.
Radio mount inside is solid, but I repeatedly reminded Captain Kirk about the need to leave space for the glove box to open without hitting the radio. It hits the radio.
Final thoughts:
NOT happy at all with the installation. My advice would be for you to do the installation yourself, and have them do the radio work. Not even sure the radio work they did was worth what I paid...I've yet to receive back a radio check. We'll see how it works out in the dirt with some people with radios in their vehicles.
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