Cause of ground issues?

So, I've been investigating my mount to look at modifying it with a vertical dipole setup. I found this about my connector. It doesn't have a nylon washer to insulate the center connector from the ground plane. It's the connector that's sold in most truck stops. I bought it before understanding ground plane. Possibly the cause of many SWR issues?



You can see it has a metal washer. There's nothing keeping the center conductor from contacting the same surface as the outer conductor.

Correct me if I am mistaken, but this is a bad set up, correct?

 

Holy dog #### batman. As an experiment, I wrapped the washer in electrical tape and punched a hole. After mounting it, I did a test and holy hell. SWR suddenly became a 1.2.

 

Don't remember where I bought it.

 

No #### Sherlock. What do you think I did? Just left it half assed?

 

Don't be so sensitive. That's how I talk to all my buddies. It's nothing personal. I'm a smart ###.