Well, after feeling really proud of my self for having come up with such a
cool-looking mount for my K40 CB antenna, I am sorry to say that it does not
work at all.  :-(

I fabricated a mount that clamps around the top horizontal tube of my new
Paulchen rack, and then mounted the CB antenna to that.  I used a K40
because #1 they have a great reputation (and my CB is a K40) and #2, the
antenna base and mast come of with a 1/4 turn bayonet mount.  (Easy to jump
out and pop it off to get under parking structures, etc.  I stow it in the
long area above the sink and cabinets).

Well, after spending many hours running the cable behind the cabinets,
fabricating the mount, grounding it to the body, etc. I was rewarded with
how really spectacular the antenna looks mounted to the top center of the
Paulchen rack.  Unfortunately, there is NO reception.  Nothing.  Nada.  I
tested it for ground, and yes, it is properly grounded.  I tested it with an
SWR meter and it is off the scale (bad).  However, I did suddenly get some
weak reception when I had the SWR meter attached.  (???)  I tested out a
cheapie magnetic-mount Radio Shack antenna and it got reception, but poorly
(until I went and stuck it to the roof of the Cherokee).

I didn't realize that the lack of a real ground plane would have such a
PROFOUND impact on reception.  How do bumper-mounted antennas work?  I
thought the rack and the body would at least provide a LITTLE bit of
reception, but I mean there is NOTHING!

Any suggestions???

Brent Christensen
'89 Syncro Westy "Klaus"
'95 Cherokee Sport