I give up....

are you using the CB swr thats built into the radio? you need to test with an external meter you can put inline, make sure your ground is solid.

 

Post a picture of the antenna mount, that will help know what problems might be occuring. If possible.

 

There is a bit more to SWR than a meter reading.

more like 4 or 5 to 1 will cause problems, it isn't hard to get below 2 but more likely than not if checked properly, most may have closer to 2 to 1 or above.

 

The amount of the electromagnetic field on the SWR meter is defined typically from 1 to 5 it is best to keep it under 2, I have seen a new CB blown after a month of use on a standing wave of 3, I realize the is more that 1-3 but I wouldnt even think of using it beyond 1.8ish. Just my opinion. I may be new to the tread but not the age old technology, Sir.

 

My point was to keep his voltage as low as possible, and find the problem. So again, I ask. Are you using a inline swr meter or the CB meter thats built in. You said that you have made a good ground bond, and ran a positive line from the battery with a fuse terminal, so I would question either the coax connection or the meter, if you have tried other antenna's. As long as your ground is running to the chassis that will give you your ground plane.

 

Who tuned the radio? I suspect that is the whole problem....
If someone tells you "Excessive coax that is bundled in a small tight loop can cause problems and to form your coaxial cable into the shape of a figure 8 that is about 10-12 inches in length. Secure it with tape so that is maintains that figure 8 shape." just smile, say thank you for that and walk away. It is not worth your time to argue with someone that is misinformed. It simply prevents common mode current from traveling up the outside of the shield, and is actually beneficial and has no effect on the current traveling up the center conductor. I purposely roll my excess cable into a circle and tape it together and my station always blows peoples minds when they hear how well it works.....

 

I would agree with the above, but He has tried 2 radio's if Im not mistaken, a galaxy and a cobera, so Im questioning his ground as it can either kick up a high 4-5 or a near nothing .8 on the SWR, OR he is using an interal SWR meter on the radio which I did that once and found out it was a bad idea after it had been tuned the meter was like a self adjusting golden-screw on the back you should never touch. People say you must have 18' of cable and IMO thats BS, its not the distance of the cable, its the volts transfering from point to point and the elecromagnetiffield on the coax..

 

I would never trust an swr meter unless you understand how phase angle affects complex impedance. Unless you are using 2 electrical half wavelength jumpers, you will be unable to get an accurate swr measurement with a cheap swr meter which simply gives you a reading based on how close you are to 50 ohms, (which WILL change based on cable length)...
The only way to get an accurate SWR measurement without an electrical half wavelength of cable would be to use an antenna analyzer like an MFJ 259b...