HELP 2012 shark fin XM antenna removal???

Ok, so I just got my BAJA roof rack (the one that mounts directly to the roof not the OEM roof rack) anyway, the rear of the rack is resting on my shark fin XM antenna. The antenna is preventing the rack from engaging the mounting brackets. I plan on calling BAJA Racks Wed; however, I am not sure what they can do about it. The rack would need to be raised about 1" with spacers to clear the antenna. I would like to just move the antenna back about 1" and the rack can sit flush just fine.

So looking at the antenna I do not see any easy way to remove it. I need to know if I have to remove the interior head liner to get to it or is it just held on with double sided tape like the badges were???

Another option would be to simply cut the tip of the shark fin off, then refinish it with fiberglass and repaint it but this would also require it to be removed.

Any help would be appreciated

here is a picture of the fin and rack. I currently have the rack sitting on some foam until I get this worked out.

 

You have to remove the headliner and the left side headliner spacer. Then there is a nut with a plastic insulator you must remove to take off the sharkfin. Unfortunately there are 2 holes in the roof. 1 for an alignment pin (used to help align the sharkfin correctly) and another hole for the threaded part of the antenna to secure it to the roof.

 

Belt sander

 

Thanks for the information Tacomabuilder67, Zonks you may be closer to the solution than you think.
Ok so even with the two holes, are they close enought to the middle of the fin to allow me to move it forward or back about an inch? I can drill a new hole if needed but I would want the fin to still cover the old hole?

Another question is, is the actual antenna inside the fin or is the fin the antenna? Could I simply modify the fin without affecting the XM or is there wires inside the fin its self? I am guessing the fin is simply a cover but I could be wrong.

Depending on what BAJA racks tell me, I may end up cutting the rack, but I do not want to do that.

Thanks for the help

 

Hold on there you young whippersnapper. Thanks for the offer but actually I would like to keep the antenna and the stock look of the truck if possible. But thanks for the offer.

 

Would moving the rack forward 1" work? Should be relatively simple to make relocation brackets similar to those used for swaybars.

 

I sent you a PM Molon Labe. If someone has a 2010 Flat satellite antenna and is willing to trade you, I would trade them for it (whippersnapper02 you can thank me later ). These 2 antennas will interchange and use the same wire and connector as well as same mounting hardware. This way you can mount both the roof rack and satellite radio antenna without having to use a grinder and fiberglass to reshape the 'Fin.

 

Yeah your best bet is to swap the fin for the older style square xm antenna. Baja rack was designed around the older square style xm antenna. My 2009 had a square bump style xm antenna, and my 2012 has the fin style.

 

Well I spoke to BAJA racks and it appears that they will be sending me a new rack that will fit around the shark fin. Stay tuned.

 

WOW! I just spoke to the owner of BAJA Racks. They are sending me a new rack with the cutout for the shark fin. In addition (and I guess to prepare for the 2013s) they are now offering three 2nd gen racks. A whole new model for the shark fin. Well its the same as the other bolt on rack but it allows for the shark fin.
here is the link:
http://www.bajarack.com/toyota-tacoma-series

Anyway, I am really impressed with the customer service and their willingness to make me happy with the product.
I highly recommend BAJA racks if you are looking for a bolt on roof rack.

I will do a review or something on the rack once I get the new one.

 

Has your new Baja Rack arrived? I look forward to seeing pictures of it installed when your finished.

 

Crom, it has not. Its not going to ship till the 31st. I will do a full write-up on it and the install once I get it. Look for it in the 2nd gen thread. Thanks for the interest.

 

So super old thread revive, but just throwing it out there - I'm on the lookout for a >2010 satellite "flat" antenna to trade for my 2012 shark fin antenna. Got the same dilemma as Molon Labe did - my new Prinsu roof rack is gonna have clearance issues with the shark fin. If anybody wants to trade for the newer antenna, let me know.

 

Taking advice from you"all I bought a 2011 color coded stock fin, height about 1/2 inch, to replace the sharkfin on my 2012. I have an old Davlin overhead camper shell
that would not clear it. On one of the posts the gentleman suggested buying the nut also with the new replacement. Good thing I did cause the 2012 nut
was slightly bigger than the replacement 2011. Anyway I have found your site to be extremely valuable. thanks for the advice.....