Is the Midland MXT275 MICROMOBILE® Two-Way radio compatible with the Wayalife CB Bar overhead mount?
Midland MXT275 MICROMOBILE® Two-Way radio
- Thread starter jmkurt
- Start date
meljr
Caught the Bug
Although this reply is almost 3 years too late to be of any use to the original poster, I'm about to do this exact installation on my 2023 Gladiator. I have already purchased Wayalife's overhead ACC BAR for the JL/JT with the ACC Switch Mount, JT Truck Bed Antenna/Light Mount and NMO Antenna Adapter . Even before installation, the appearance of these parts have exceeded my expectation as they seem to be well engineered , nicely finished and crafted from high quality materials.
In addition to Midland's MXT275 GMRS radio, I will be using their MXTA26 6DB Gain Antenna, MLRMXTA24 MicroMobile low power antenna cable and 21-404C Extension speaker. I bought all this gear several years ago for my JKU, but never installed it, and just kept using the Cobra 75wxst I installed in 2009.
Soon after buying my JT, I installed the Mopar in-dash trailer brake controller, which required removing the old school cigarette lighter type power supply and replacing it with the gain control knob for the brake controller. However, the 12V supply cables are still behind the dash, so the plan is to use that as a power source for the radio. I also have a pair of hand-held Baofeng UV-5R+Plus radios that I hope to program for the race radio channels that Eddie likes to use on group runs. I might be able to use the usb port on the MXT275 to charge the Baofeng, but my JT also has the factory on-board DC-AC inverter, so I plan on securing the Baofeng dual charger somewhere under the rear seat.
In any event, I will post another reply to this thread after I have done the installation with pictures and commentary on the process itself and how well the MXT275 performs on the trail.
In addition to Midland's MXT275 GMRS radio, I will be using their MXTA26 6DB Gain Antenna, MLRMXTA24 MicroMobile low power antenna cable and 21-404C Extension speaker. I bought all this gear several years ago for my JKU, but never installed it, and just kept using the Cobra 75wxst I installed in 2009.
Soon after buying my JT, I installed the Mopar in-dash trailer brake controller, which required removing the old school cigarette lighter type power supply and replacing it with the gain control knob for the brake controller. However, the 12V supply cables are still behind the dash, so the plan is to use that as a power source for the radio. I also have a pair of hand-held Baofeng UV-5R+Plus radios that I hope to program for the race radio channels that Eddie likes to use on group runs. I might be able to use the usb port on the MXT275 to charge the Baofeng, but my JT also has the factory on-board DC-AC inverter, so I plan on securing the Baofeng dual charger somewhere under the rear seat.
In any event, I will post another reply to this thread after I have done the installation with pictures and commentary on the process itself and how well the MXT275 performs on the trail.
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meljr
Caught the Bug
Installing the WAYALIFE ACC Bar in my 2023 Sport S Gladiator
A few of the many things I like about Eddie and Cindy are their willingness to clearly share their knowledge and experience with all of us, from noobs to the very experienced, in such a way that I am motivated to continuously improve my skill set. The videos in particular are excellent documention of off road adventures, unbiased product reviews and installation tutorials.
When I bought my JT a year ago, I decided to focus on practical, functional and cost-effective upgrades. The popularity of CB radios off-road appears to be fading (no pun intended) in favor of GMRS and/or Amateur (HAM) radios. I can't source a radio that does all three and FCC regulations seem to prohibit radios that can transmit over more than one frequency type. Because I wheel with a number of different groups and their communication methods vary, I feel the need to have three radios in my jeeps. How can I practically do that and maintain some vestige of sanity? (I am a high functioning Jeep-a-Holic).
About 5 years ago, I saw a Wayalife installation Video of an overhead CB mounting bar for JL and JTs, but since I did not own either of those new generation Jeeps at the time, I just filed the information away for future reference. Now that I have a JT, I ordered one of the ACC Bars from Wayalife along with a few other accessories. On the first clear afternoon after receiving those goodies, I installed the ACC Bar and test fit a Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB CB radio which still needs an antenna installed and to be hard wired to power. Bulletpoint mounts have been ordered along with their branded accessory switch panel, which I suspect is an Auxbeam, but should serve me well as I do not need the extra programming functionality of an S-Pod or Switch Pod and do not think it is time or cost effective to build my own, even though I have an electronics background.
The installation was fairly straighforward, but the design and apperance of the ACC Bar varies quite a bit from the video when it was called the CB Bar. I suspect these differences are are actually improvements over the original design, allowing the bar to be mounted closer to the windshield without blocking the Freedom Top releases or the rear view mirror. Mine has many more slots and holes than the original and where the bar attaches to the sport bar brackets, the holes are now square allowing the use of a carriage bolt on each side to secure everything and only requiring a standard socket to tighten the nylock nut from the top where the bar is beveled for easy access during installation. The only modification I had to make was to use a step bit to open up the Uniden supplied bracket holes in order to use the Wayalife bolts instead of the inferior Uniden self-tappers.
So, this part of the installation is done and I am waiting from some other vendor products before completion. I will be adding a Midland GMRS radio and program a handheld Baofeng unit for the Amature/Race radio frequencies used on the Wayalife runs.
A few of the many things I like about Eddie and Cindy are their willingness to clearly share their knowledge and experience with all of us, from noobs to the very experienced, in such a way that I am motivated to continuously improve my skill set. The videos in particular are excellent documention of off road adventures, unbiased product reviews and installation tutorials.
When I bought my JT a year ago, I decided to focus on practical, functional and cost-effective upgrades. The popularity of CB radios off-road appears to be fading (no pun intended) in favor of GMRS and/or Amateur (HAM) radios. I can't source a radio that does all three and FCC regulations seem to prohibit radios that can transmit over more than one frequency type. Because I wheel with a number of different groups and their communication methods vary, I feel the need to have three radios in my jeeps. How can I practically do that and maintain some vestige of sanity? (I am a high functioning Jeep-a-Holic).
About 5 years ago, I saw a Wayalife installation Video of an overhead CB mounting bar for JL and JTs, but since I did not own either of those new generation Jeeps at the time, I just filed the information away for future reference. Now that I have a JT, I ordered one of the ACC Bars from Wayalife along with a few other accessories. On the first clear afternoon after receiving those goodies, I installed the ACC Bar and test fit a Uniden Bearcat 980 SSB CB radio which still needs an antenna installed and to be hard wired to power. Bulletpoint mounts have been ordered along with their branded accessory switch panel, which I suspect is an Auxbeam, but should serve me well as I do not need the extra programming functionality of an S-Pod or Switch Pod and do not think it is time or cost effective to build my own, even though I have an electronics background.
The installation was fairly straighforward, but the design and apperance of the ACC Bar varies quite a bit from the video when it was called the CB Bar. I suspect these differences are are actually improvements over the original design, allowing the bar to be mounted closer to the windshield without blocking the Freedom Top releases or the rear view mirror. Mine has many more slots and holes than the original and where the bar attaches to the sport bar brackets, the holes are now square allowing the use of a carriage bolt on each side to secure everything and only requiring a standard socket to tighten the nylock nut from the top where the bar is beveled for easy access during installation. The only modification I had to make was to use a step bit to open up the Uniden supplied bracket holes in order to use the Wayalife bolts instead of the inferior Uniden self-tappers.
So, this part of the installation is done and I am waiting from some other vendor products before completion. I will be adding a Midland GMRS radio and program a handheld Baofeng unit for the Amature/Race radio frequencies used on the Wayalife runs.
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Sean Harts
New member
Hey, Do you have a tonneau cover? Been trying to find out if that "JT Truck Bed Antenna/Light Mount" will work with a trifold tonneau cover. Awesome looking setup BTW
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meljr
Caught the Bug
Hi Sean,
No my JT has a Decked Cargo Tray that is beneath the level of the bed rails. However, the Wayalife Antenna/Light Mount sits ahead of the bed, leaving the bed rails clear all the way around. I'll post some detailed pictures in a day or so that might help you decide.
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