1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Clean VHF/CB radio installs

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by FoleySwampPlotts, Feb 10, 2016.

  1. May 19, 2016 at 11:17 AM
    #61
    nortonian

    nortonian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Member:
    #165514
    Messages:
    195
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
    Does anyone make and sell that bracket?
     
    1madmnky likes this.
  2. May 19, 2016 at 1:29 PM
    #62
    nwAdamR

    nwAdamR Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2014
    Member:
    #135675
    Messages:
    911
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Adam
    SW PDX
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma TRD OR LB AT MGM
  3. May 19, 2016 at 2:45 PM
    #63
    nortonian

    nortonian Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Member:
    #165514
    Messages:
    195
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mike
  4. May 20, 2016 at 7:07 AM
    #64
    Garmin

    Garmin Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2016
    Member:
    #185791
    Messages:
    48
    Gender:
    Male
    QC, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2016 Silver Tacoma 4x4 DCab SR5 TRD Sport
    hi Strazz,


    it's hard to open the roof lining to drill the NMO hole and pass the RF coax?

    Some pics of this portion of your installation?

    thank's

    73 '
     
  5. May 20, 2016 at 7:16 AM
    #65
    Strazz

    Strazz Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2015
    Member:
    #157202
    Messages:
    35
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Anthony
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2016 DCSB TRD OR MGM
    Kenwood TM-D710G/roof mounted NMO
    Not hard, but time consuming. It's nearly identical to dropping the headliner on the second generation, so I didn't get pictures. I loosened both sides, but in retrospect I'd probably do the driver's side only and see if it works. I wanted extra space to look to make sure I wasn't going to interfere with the sunroof (there's actually plenty of room, my antenna sits above the glass when it's open). Running the coax down the driver's C pillar was pretty easy, but have some high temp duct tape on hand to secure it to the roof.
     
    Lures & Liberty likes this.
  6. May 20, 2016 at 11:58 AM
    #66
    oorah54

    oorah54 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 13, 2016
    Member:
    #186887
    Messages:
    568
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Darren
    Guyton, GA
    Vehicle:
    2015 Blue Tacoma Base
    I think it looks good on some trucks, however I don't really want to put it back at the tailgate. I would prefer to put it up front close to the cab.
     
  7. May 20, 2016 at 12:30 PM
    #67
    Garmin

    Garmin Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2016
    Member:
    #185791
    Messages:
    48
    Gender:
    Male
    QC, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2016 Silver Tacoma 4x4 DCab SR5 TRD Sport
    ok, thank's for this info! I installed my Kenwood D710 under the passenger seat, and my Taco hasen't no sunroof, I guess it will be faster.

    thank's for the cue!

    I am in a good way with this video ?
     
  8. May 24, 2016 at 5:43 AM
    #68
    Strazz

    Strazz Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2015
    Member:
    #157202
    Messages:
    35
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Anthony
    Tampa, FL
    Vehicle:
    2016 DCSB TRD OR MGM
    Kenwood TM-D710G/roof mounted NMO
    It's close. There are a few differences, but they'll be pretty obvious. Good luck!
     
    Garmin[QUOTED] likes this.
  9. May 24, 2016 at 5:50 AM
    #69
    KaptainH

    KaptainH Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2015
    Member:
    #161948
    Messages:
    2,274
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kris
    Gainesville, GA
    Vehicle:
    Black 2013 DCLB Sport
    I fab'd this one up in 30 minutes. *Note: full installation does include the stud mount.

    image.jpg image.jpg
     
    saf023, jetfishn, Volksparts and 8 others like this.
  10. May 27, 2016 at 11:17 PM
    #70
    FoleySwampPlotts

    FoleySwampPlotts [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2016
    Member:
    #177254
    Messages:
    434
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Klint
    Upper Peninsula, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    '16 MGM Tacoma TRD OR DCSB 4x4 V6 Std Trans
    '16 Tacoma- Avid side steps, LED interior lighting, yaesu ft-2900R VHF radio (KD8EHC), dog box, Garmin Alpha, Plott Hounds Wife's rig '12 Rav4 4x4 4cyl.... its a cupcake, but a damn good runner
  11. May 31, 2016 at 12:14 AM
    #71
    sdsmtengineer

    sdsmtengineer Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2013
    Member:
    #113316
    Messages:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Nick
    Rapid City SD
    Vehicle:
    2013 Tacoma TRD offroad
    Fog Lamp anytime MOD ABS Kill switch MOD Wet Okole Seat Cover Palsti Dip chrome grill Plasti Dip all badges
    NC Rick, Tacoman97, Mattchew and 7 others like this.
  12. May 31, 2016 at 9:37 PM
    #72
    Garmin

    Garmin Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2016
    Member:
    #185791
    Messages:
    48
    Gender:
    Male
    QC, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2016 Silver Tacoma 4x4 DCab SR5 TRD Sport
    I do the NMO hole for a Larsen NMO2/70B dual Band antenna


    For future roof bars, I decided to put the antenna back rather than in the center. Not ideal for antenna radiation, but it is a compromise.



    [​IMG]



    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
    Inside the back roof before drill the NMO hole (OEM Shark Antenna mount)

    For access inside the roof, I removed the central part of the C pillar and the rear (where are the seatbelts), only on the passenger side (central and rear)



    [​IMG]
    Rock on!


    [​IMG]
    NMO hole


    [​IMG]
    hole inside the roof


    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    I passed the coax on the completely back side of the seatbelt (rear passager side), not in the C pillar

    To avoid harming the airbags in the top of the C pillar

    [​IMG]
    C pillar passager side open
    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    antenna1.jpg





    [​IMG]
    SWR in the 70cm Band


    [​IMG]
    SWR in the 2m Band


    I'll be back with pictures of the Kenwood D710 installation under the front passenger seat.

    73'
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2016
  13. Jun 1, 2016 at 5:05 PM
    #73
    PeterVICEG

    PeterVICEG Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2014
    Member:
    #140741
    Messages:
    170
    Gender:
    Male
    image.jpg The head of a Kenwood TM71a mounted on a Tech Deck.image.jpg image.jpg
    A three inch NMO mount from Breedlove Mounts with a Larson 20/70 Antenna.image.jpg
    image.jpg


    The radio is mounted in the brackets for the inverter. I removed the inverter and the first section of it's wiring harness. Speakers are two tiny Roadpro units side by side in the alcove in front of the stick shift.image.jpg image.jpg
     
    gsubioguy, Elphane, NC Rick and 4 others like this.
  14. Jun 1, 2016 at 7:12 PM
    #74
    KaptainH

    KaptainH Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2015
    Member:
    #161948
    Messages:
    2,274
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Kris
    Gainesville, GA
    Vehicle:
    Black 2013 DCLB Sport
    Can you post where you mounted your speaker? I got one I gotta install looks like yours
     
  15. Jun 2, 2016 at 2:35 AM
    #75
    FoleySwampPlotts

    FoleySwampPlotts [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 5, 2016
    Member:
    #177254
    Messages:
    434
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Klint
    Upper Peninsula, Michigan
    Vehicle:
    '16 MGM Tacoma TRD OR DCSB 4x4 V6 Std Trans
    '16 Tacoma- Avid side steps, LED interior lighting, yaesu ft-2900R VHF radio (KD8EHC), dog box, Garmin Alpha, Plott Hounds Wife's rig '12 Rav4 4x4 4cyl.... its a cupcake, but a damn good runner
    Awesome write up and pictures. Look forward to more.
     
  16. Jun 2, 2016 at 6:23 AM
    #76
    HBGIBBY

    HBGIBBY Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2015
    Member:
    #162146
    Messages:
    1,895
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ian
    Huntington Beach CA
    Vehicle:
    2011 DCLB 4x4
    No Mods Yet
    I will get a photo later today, but I put it under the dash, facing down, on the drivers side, just above my shins. I tywraped it up so you can't see it or hit it with your legs, but it is flush with the bottom of the dash. I can hear it fine and it is up and out of the way.
     
    KaptainH[QUOTED] likes this.
  17. Jun 4, 2016 at 8:05 PM
    #77
    NotRed

    NotRed Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2014
    Member:
    #139429
    Messages:
    2,344
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jimbow
    Tennessee
    What are you using to take your SWR readings? Looks like a great way to do them!
     
  18. Jun 5, 2016 at 5:01 AM
    #78
    Garmin

    Garmin Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2016
    Member:
    #185791
    Messages:
    48
    Gender:
    Male
    QC, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2016 Silver Tacoma 4x4 DCab SR5 TRD Sport
    it's a Bird AT-500
    but it's expensive .... over $1K.... good toy for professional telecom technician..

    [​IMG]
     
    Mr-Paul likes this.
  19. Jun 5, 2016 at 5:35 AM
    #79
    DOSS

    DOSS Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Member:
    #165555
    Messages:
    197
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Scott
    Utah
    Vehicle:
    2016 Black Tacoma TRD Sport DBCB
    I do course management for a race company so having the ability to talk with the HAM's working SAG is always great. I was using my Yeasu handheld with a small magnet mount but it became cumbersome so I decided a little upgrade was needed.. Picked up a BFTECH UV 5001 and a better Mag mount I was originally going to place it in the QI charging area but it was a bit too long and would interrupt my coffee placement. I spent some time trying different placements and finally figured out that right next to my leg was the perfect spot for me. I didn't want to drill holes so I went with heavy duty double sided 3M tape and it is holding up great even in the heat. Ran the coax straight back under the center console and back seats right out the sliding rear window :) So far working great and 50W is much better than the 8W I was pushing with my handheld :) Currently I am wired straight to the battery but I am thinking I want to put a relay into the loop so that power is only available with the vehicle on (don't want to forget to turn it off and have the battery drained)

    2016-06-02 17.06.34.jpg
     
    jpm99338, cammerv8, Durango95 and 4 others like this.
  20. Jun 5, 2016 at 8:37 AM
    #80
    NotRed

    NotRed Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2014
    Member:
    #139429
    Messages:
    2,344
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jimbow
    Tennessee
    Thanks, sweet to have that!
     

Products Discussed in

To Top