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
    Quick Links: The "Thought I'd Keep It Stock" Wedge Camp Thread 2006 Limited Slip Differential - Mobil 1 Exhaust Steering Rack Corrosion - Options? 2nd Gen Brake actuator replacement Diode Dynamics SS3 Sport fog light kit

Stubby Radio Antenna

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Sprig, Jul 7, 2021.

  1. Jul 7, 2021 at 2:39 PM
    #1
    Sprig

    #1
    Sprig [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2017
    Member:
    #231426
    Messages:
    2,258
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ken
    N. Calif. The Twilight Zone
    Vehicle:
    Tacoma TRD double cab 4x4, Barcelona Red
    I’m thinking of replacing my radio antenna with a short/stubby one. The one that came with the truck broke off in a car wash recently. (I usually remove it when going thru a car wash but forgot last time). Any information on them? Do they work as well as the long antennas? Any brands better than others? Any recommendations?
     
    Sprig, Jul 7, 2021
    #1
  2. Jul 7, 2021 at 2:48 PM
    #2
    outxider

    #2
    outxider Never stop exploring. Rest in Paradise Big Bro.

    Joined:
    May 9, 2010
    Member:
    #36858
    Messages:
    2,083
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Sang
    East Bay, CA
    Vehicle:
    06 DCSB 4x4
    A few mods here and there and counting....
    I swapped both the trucks' antenna out to this and honestly reception loss isn't very much for me to noticed however I rarely listen to the radio.
    $19 6 3/4" ANTENNA MAST - FITS : TOYOTA TACOMA 2005 06 07 08 09 10 11 2012 2013 2014 2015
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0721Z75Q9?ie=UTF8

     
    outxider, Jul 7, 2021
    #2
  3. Jul 7, 2021 at 4:25 PM
    #3
    Wattapunk

    #3
    Wattapunk Stay lifted my friends !

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2010
    Member:
    #30098
    Messages:
    4,077
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Uncle K
    TX
    Vehicle:
    2005 DCLB 4WD
    I haven't came across a stubby that perform as well as the OEM. You will notice a loss in reception. My eBay TRD stubby antenna is somewhere at the bottom of my glovebox after having installed only 2 days. You are better off trimming a little off the OEM versus running a stubby antenna. Doesn't matter though if you don't listen to AM/FM radio.
     
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    Wattapunk, Jul 7, 2021
    #3
    TRDSport10 and Sprig[OP] like this.
  4. Jul 7, 2021 at 4:29 PM
    #4
    AJKlug1

    #4
    AJKlug1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2021
    Member:
    #360972
    Messages:
    1,166
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    AJ
    SE Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2010 ACLB 4x4
    Full sound system, 3rd gen OR suspension, pro headlights & more
    Never listen to the radio so I don't know about reception but I have a black .50 BMG antenna that I love. Had for quite a while and has held up good.
     
    AJKlug1, Jul 7, 2021
    #4
    Sprig[OP] likes this.
  5. Jul 7, 2021 at 4:43 PM
    #5
    TacoTime10

    #5
    TacoTime10 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 15, 2020
    Member:
    #334522
    Messages:
    119
    Gender:
    Male
    Massachusetts
    Vehicle:
    2010 ACLB 4x4 SR5 2.7L 5MT
    TacoTime10, Jul 7, 2021
    #5
    Sprig[OP] and Caboose69 like this.
  6. Jul 7, 2021 at 5:11 PM
    #6
    Caboose69

    #6
    Caboose69 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2020
    Member:
    #350028
    Messages:
    70
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2011 Black DCSB Off Road
    Caboose69, Jul 7, 2021
    #6
    TacoTime10[QUOTED] likes this.
  7. Jul 7, 2021 at 5:22 PM
    #7
    Gr8rSherman8r

    #7
    Gr8rSherman8r OKLA•YOTA

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2021
    Member:
    #368918
    Messages:
    193
    Gender:
    Male
    Owasso
    Vehicle:
    2015 MGM TRD Sport Longbed
    Done by me: decals, plastidip, and vinyl. More to come. Not done by me: Icon front/rear suspension; Total Chaos UCA’s; Method wheels/34” Falken tires; Prinsu cab rack/LED light bar; V1Air compressor piped to a 2.5 gallon underbed tank; Pelfreybilt front/rear bumpers; Smittybilt front winch.
    Thanks for asking this due to the responses below!

    Thanks for these replies to the OP. Mine was broke off also and I had been looking at a bunch of stub antennas, but the reception on them all seemed to be bad. I’ll give this a shot!
     
    Gr8rSherman8r, Jul 7, 2021
    #7
    TacoTime10[QUOTED], TRDSport10 and Sprig[QUOTED][OP] like this.
  8. Jul 7, 2021 at 8:07 PM
    #8
    Sprig

    #8
    Sprig [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2017
    Member:
    #231426
    Messages:
    2,258
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Ken
    N. Calif. The Twilight Zone
    Vehicle:
    Tacoma TRD double cab 4x4, Barcelona Red
    Since they aren’t expensive I’m going to buy one and try it. If I don’t like it I’ll just put the OEM one back on. I listen to mostly SiriusXM but I do occasionally listen to AM and FM. And I do have a small plastic wrench made for the antenna that I can quickly remove it. I just forgot this one time and the wash broke it off. Thanks all for the input.
     
    Sprig, Jul 7, 2021
    #8
    TacoTime10 likes this.
  9. Jul 7, 2021 at 8:37 PM
    #9
    TRDSport10

    #9
    TRDSport10 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2010
    Member:
    #43839
    Messages:
    203
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    John
    Rhode Island & Virginia
    Vehicle:
    '10 AC TRD Sport 4x4 - Silver
    TRD Exhaust, Tube Steps, Towing Hitch, Paint Protection Film, Bed Mat, Wheel Locks, Spare Tire Lock, First Aid Kit, Ashtray Cup, TRD Air Filter, TRD Oil Cap, TRD Radiator Cap, FJ TRD Hub Caps, FJ TRD Shift Knob, BackFlip F1, TSB Rear Springs, Coupe TRD Battery Hold Down Bar, KatzKin Leather Seats with W.E.T. Seat Heaters, WeatherTech: FloorLiners DigitalFit, Side Window Deflectors, ClearCover License, LampGard
    Tried one of those cool looking black 7-inch stubby antennas. After a couple months replaced the "cool looking antenna" due to very marginal AM & FM reception. For best AM or FM reception, hard to beat OEM on my JBL unit.
    However, it doesn't matter much if you don't listen to AM/FM radio.
     
    TRDSport10, Jul 7, 2021
    #9
  10. Jul 7, 2021 at 8:40 PM
    #10
    devkurf

    #10
    devkurf Member at Large

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2014
    Member:
    #121502
    Messages:
    911
    Gender:
    Male
    midwest
    Vehicle:
    2005
    I have a TRD branded stubby, it loses reception 10-20 miles before the oem antenna on the local stations I listen to. I never listen to FM though, so it dosent matter.
     
    devkurf, Jul 7, 2021
    #10
    TRDSport10 likes this.
  11. Jul 8, 2021 at 9:00 AM
    #11
    riparke

    #11
    riparke Member

    Joined:
    May 28, 2020
    Member:
    #329643
    Messages:
    12
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2006 blue Tocoma 4.0l V6, 6 speed manual
    Optimum reception is based on wavelength of the freq of the station is broadcasting on. The OEM is 30.5" which is a quarter-wave whip for American radio stations. Any thing shorter will be less (coil is a trick to get shorter), a half-wave would be better but twice as long.
    PS I'm a retired Broadcast engineer.
     
    riparke, Jul 8, 2021
    #11
    TRDSport10, TacoTime10, Sprig[OP] and 1 other person like this.
  12. Jul 8, 2021 at 5:05 PM
    #12
    bmcclain90

    #12
    bmcclain90 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2018
    Member:
    #245824
    Messages:
    85
    Gender:
    Male
    bmcclain90, Jul 8, 2021
    #12
    Gr8rSherman8r likes this.
  13. Jul 8, 2021 at 5:59 PM
    #13
    Varak

    #13
    Varak Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2021
    Member:
    #366349
    Messages:
    67
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2014 5-lug taco DCSB
    Wheels, tires, intermittent wipers, better rearview mirror...

    Say I want to get my favorite station 90.1 FM KPFT as far out as possible. Based on your advice would I be well served to construct a 61" whip antenna?

    That doesn't seem all that long to me. I could mount it on the rear bumper.
     
    Varak, Jul 8, 2021
    #13
  14. Jul 8, 2021 at 7:06 PM
    #14
    riparke

    #14
    riparke Member

    Joined:
    May 28, 2020
    Member:
    #329643
    Messages:
    12
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2006 blue Tocoma 4.0l V6, 6 speed manual
    yes go ahead you will love it, put a flag on it too, why stop there, go full wave-length-122"
     
    riparke, Jul 8, 2021
    #14
    TacoTime10, TRDSport10 and Varak like this.
To Top