I wanted to install a CB antenna on my X that I could fold down easily so I could get in my garage. I also did not want to drill, cut, or in any other way permanently alter Daddy's little X.

Here is my solution. I bought 38.5" of electrical conduit (galvanized) threaded at both ends. I also bought 2 pipe-hanger clamps that clamp the pipe and can then be screwed into something - usually used to hang plumbing pipes.

I took the front two screws on the plastic stock basket out of the roof rack, and used two 6mmx30 screws to replace them. I screwed the pipe-hangers into the rack over the top of the basket, and then clamped the pipe into them.

So now I've got a pipe running across the middle of my basket. That's fine.

Then I take this quick-release aluminum antenna mount and hand-screwed it onto the pipe. I slapped my new Firestik II antenna into it and set about tuning the SWR.

My SWR is in the toilet. Through some expirementation I discover that if I isolate the antenna mount from the pipe it's mounted on with electrical tape my SWR is fine.

This is weird though. My understanding was that you WANTED your atenna mount to have a connection to the metal body because it provided a ground plane, and that was needed?

As I have it now, the antenna isn't grounded at all. Although the radio itself is.

Have I just misunderstood the need for the antenna to be grounded?

Thanks.
Hedron