UPDATE: Adding a Cobra 75 All Road AM/FM CB radio to the mix. I’m updating the pictures on this blob post and republishing it. The CB body is mounted to the front end of my Goose Gear full platform. The Bluetooth mic is kept in the glovebox.
Once I had my HAM and GMRS faceplates mounted securely to a Lido LM-L-MAX seat rail bracket bolted onto the front left passenger seat bolt, and my CB Bluetooth mic in the glovebox, the next task on my list was to put the three radio bodies in a secure and hidden location. At first I thought about mounting them inside the Goose Gear platform cubby hole behind the driver’s seat, I decided against it since I want my recovery gear in the closest cubby hole.
I decided to route power for all three of my radios to my LiFePO4 off grid battery. This made the wiring so much easier. It also helps preserve my the Jeep battery charge. I have my ARB Dual onboard compressor (CKMA12) mounted under the passenger seat, so I had to come up with a mounting platform so I could put the three radio bodies under the driver’s seat. I didn’t realize there was so much room under there. I decided to mount the HAM and GMRS radios on a piece of 3/8″ finished plywood, secured to a 2″ x 1/8″ aluminum strip, attached to the two rear driver seat rail bolts.
There was plenty of room to mount the radio bodies side by side, fans facing forward. This provided the best ventilation, and allowed plenty of room for cable management. There’s even enough room to insert/eject the microSD card used to back up and program the HAM radio.
Luckily I had a jigsaw with blades for all types of metals and wood. So cutting the plywood and aluminum bar was easy peasy. I used a Dremel to finish the cut sides to prevent sharp edges on the aluminum bar, and splinters on the plywood. I had plenty of stainless steel bolts of all sizes, and nylock bolts, and washers.
Once I had the 1/2″ holes drilled on the ends of the aluminum bar, and the two 3/8″ holes in the center of the wood piece, it was easy to put it all together. Mounting the radio brackets and the radios onto the brackets was a bit of a challenge (think race condition).
Once the new platform was all assembled, I used four M10-1.50 hardened steel bolts to reattach the seat rails to the floor of the Jeep. I placed the kit with the aluminum holes over the seat rail holes, and I put the seat rails over the aluminum bar holes. They aligned perfectly, so I put the bolts in but kept them loose until the end.
I put the two front driver seat rail bolts in and tightened them down, then circled back to tighten down the rear bolts. I was expecting a wrestling match with some contortionism, but I was happy that things just fell into place. I slid the driver seat back and forth, plenty of room over the radios.
After finishing the wiring, I was very surprised how easy it was to do. It’s true that Goose Gear platform is the overlander’s dream come true.
Overlander at large 