Try to use a SWR meter to check your installation of the antenna.
It is the only way to find out if the antenna will work right or
not. I tuned my antenna with a SWR meter. I was able to communicate
to another car 14 miles away with the CB in single sideband mode.
The CB has a standard 4 watt power. I could communicate to half
the distance in double sideband mode (the regular mode). My CB
radio is never modified in any way. It is a Radio Shack brand.
My friend and I spent a few hours to check how far the radio can
reach out. We were able to keep connected to about 7 miles apart in
DSB mode. We then switched to SSB and the distance extended nicely
to 14 miles. That was really great.

David

--- On Fri, 1/16/09, Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

> From: Stephen Grisanti <bike2vcu@YAHOO.COM>
> Subject: Re: mounting cb radio?
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Friday, January 16, 2009, 1:22 PM
> The PO of my Westy ran a CB and the antenna mount is still
> there.  It's a 6"x6" piece of sheetmetal
> screwed to the floor of the luggage rack (left front corner)
> to which the magnetic antenna base was stuck.  She said it
> worked fine, but it depends on how else you use your luggage
> rack.  I can post a pic if anyone is interested.
>
> Stephen