How to install a GMRS/HAM/CB Radio in a Nissan Xterra/Frontier/Pathfinder 

On my first X, I had my CB in my center console since I didn't use it too much. (both the center and the CB). I had found a cig lighter power connector in my garage and wired that in, so that covered power - but it was messy in the center console. For my GMRS radio, I had screwed it into the plastic on the passenger side of the lower storage area / shifter area plastic, and turned it vertical. Had the mic hanging next to the radio below the vents. Again, used a cig lighter port for it, but would unplug it when I needed to charge my phone. That was back when I was uncomfortable doing even moderate electrical work. But now that I'm on my 2nd X, and more experience - (and your good videos) - I'm definitely going to use your add-a-fuse method, soooooo much cleaner than my ideas. I'll probably put them in the same spots, as I'm in CA and the sun is constantly in the windshield, but I'll spend time drilling and routing cables better and use that add-a-fuse thing you showed us. Pretty cool. As far as antennas go, made a custom mount for the CB in the rear of the vehicle, a steel plate sticking out underneath the drivers taillight, and using a 3' truckers whip. Not a fan of firestiks, too heavy and smack around too much, was making marks in my paint. My GMRS I mounted the antenna to my custom roof rack (poor mans, used steel ceiling struts and ubolts) on top, wired it around the weather seals on the rear hatch. For those curious - Uniden 520XL w/ 4' whip (unk) and heavy duty spring -------- Midland MXT400 w/ 36" whip, mounted thru the Midland pipe connector (connector bolted around the steel struts)

Good stuff! I just installed my GMRS radio, lookin good

I have a CB and a VHF/UHF ham radio that live in the tray forward of the shifter. For the antenna, I put the VHF/UHF antenna on a little mount located inside of the tail light. The CB antenna goes on a mount that is built into my Shrockworks rear bumper. Great video! It's helpful to see how you go through the grommet from the engine bay to the cab, and also to see how you set up the add a fuse! I need to wire my radios into the fusebox, since I've just been using the 12V lighter adapter so far.

Wow bro you do a excellent job

i have everything in my x, cb, uhf, vhf, gmrs, frs, sigh i got tired of wheeling with people that had something i didn't so now its all covered lol. The antenna is a 101" whip on the front bumper safari style looks freaking awesome and has a SWR of 1.0! the Comet do everything antenna, that's a work in progress, damn you Nissan for insulating the roof rack!

Great step by step. Been considering a CB every time I find myself in the middle of the mojave desert. Now you just need a good handle. Maybe just "8-ball"

Holy gopher balls, Batman! I have an old Galaxy 2100 in my basement, always thought about installing it but never did. CB was HUUUUUUGE back in the day. This video is a complete pisser!!! I'm glad you shared, Ry.! Thanks!

I have an '01 xterra with almost the same pioneer head unit. Currently indecisive where to mount my uniden pro510xl. It currently sits in the driver door panel. I am considering making a custom panel to cover the moon roof and double as a mounting location.

Do you know how to reprogram a ABS unit on a 2013 Nissan frontier 4x4

I was thinking about mounting a ham radio somewhere. Not sure if I would do it on top like that. I was looking at some way to put it in the overhead console. Just another thing on my list of things to do.

getting any alternator whine?

Thanks for this. My Xterra has a cb radio from the previous owner and it's never worked. Think I may work on getting it going as you made it look so easy. Side note, what size tires are you running on that?

I'm curious and jealous, where'd you buy that NISSAN emblem of yours in front?

Ry, I need your help. I was driving my Xterra and out of nowhere it lost speed and voltage. I emailed. Please help.

Big fan of the channel. Why not a gmrs? I took my cb out years ago!

Hey I upload video of my symptom of my 2012 pathfinder could you check it out & lmk what you think I’m lost at what could be causing rpm drop

I hope it comes in handy for your adventures!

I live in Alabama, I don't think I'll be putting one there haha! I have been wanting to install one though.

I put my CB on the shelf in the garage. Almost everyone out here has gone to GMRS or 2 meter ham. That being said, I mounted my GMRS radio on the passenger side of the shifter tunnel and put the ghost antenna on that side of the hood as well. My ham radio is under the center dash console and the antenna is on the left side of the hood.

That is so weird. I literally was just looking at a CB for my pathfinder this morning

Ok, I'm going to offer some criticism. I'm not intending to be mean, so please take this as constructive. For what it's worth I've used your video doing front suspension work when doing a lift on my 2015 Frontier, it was very helpful. Normally when radios are installed into vehicles the mounts are attached to something that is either part of the sheet metal body, or to something that is attached with strong fasteners to the body. This is to prevent the radio from being able to come loose. In a four wheel drive this is for more than a collision as loose accessories can dislodge on a washboarded or rocky road. I am not confident that your radio will remain in-place. In a future install you might want to consider if you could set riv-nuts into the metal structure under the top cover, where the fasteners holding down the radio bracket thread into these riv-nuts. They can even pass through the plastic that's predrilled for them. For antenna mount and cabling, there are lip-mount NMO adapters that can clip on to the sheet metal at the edge of the hood. I have an older Larsen unit on my Frontier up at the corner of the driver's side, and there are other manufacturers that do similar mounts. The current Midland offering looks fairly promising. I like your showing us the grommet, I didn't know it was there, I ran my wire in the body line between the fender and A-pillar and worked it through past the door jamb, but I'll probably change to something like you show. As for penetrating the grommet I'd probably use a drill bit slightly smaller than the cable so that it closes completely around it to keep any underhood gases from making their way through. As for extra cable, you would be better off cutting the cable to-length and soldering on a replacement PL-259 connector. They're not that hard to work with. Once done soldering one can test that one didn't accidentally bridge the shield to the conductor with a continuity test on a multimeter. One of the biggest issues with the power install is that you risk extra noise on your signal. You would be much better off running power straight to the battery. For what it's worth I'm aware this risks a dead battery, I've been looking at how to tackle this with a ham radio install, and I'm thinking about taking one of those IGN or ACC add-a-circuit things and using it to actuate a relay that's installed on the cable from the battery to the radio. The noise might not be as much of a problem on CB which is already AM to start with, but for services like GMRS and Amateur using FM radio, that noise from the vehicle's electrical system will be noticeable. If you want better reception, you should consider placing that mag-mount antenna on the roof, roughly in the center. It will offer a better ground-plane and that will help greatly, if you're unwilling to drill and install a true through-hole antenna mount. Either way, thanks for the videos on other aspects of these trucks.

any luck with the new rims ?