Clean VHF/CB radio installs

Very little chance of damage to the mount by the slight bend. Also, you better check your coax. Your coax looks smashed exactly like mine was before I replaced and re-routed it.

 

After reading through 103 pages, I'm sticking with my thirty year old IC-W-32A.

 

I'm curious. Is that your coax going through the passenger side firewall? If so, where is it coming out in the engine bay? I just finished running my power lines for my HAM and ditch light switches to my Powertray on the driver's side through the grommet hole up and left of the wiring harness (afraid to nick something lol). Planning on running my coax this week but when I looked under the passenger side dash, there's obviously less with the glove compartment and takes a little more thought than it did on the driver's side.

 

Ok... so I need to update this. Upon further research, I found that this is the AC drain as well as an easy access point to get where I needed to anyways. I had just never removed/seen this piece prior to today but will probably be my future coax point in this next week.

 

Late reply, but the coax enters the firewall through the factory "nipple" similar to the drivers side. Just remove the kick panel and it's easy to grab when you feed it through. Toyota made it easy.

 

Doesn't the manual say short wave radio can interfere with the trucks computer.?

 

I haven't seen that. I need to look further...

 

Has anyone dropped the headliner on a 3rd gen yet? Looking for a good how to. NMO antenna is the only way to go IMO.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/posts/15166598

 

Thanks for the tip. I'll need to do this eventually for my CB mount. Here's a post with a link to a template of the Victory mount for those who need a steel plate like I did for a magnetic XM Antenna.

 

Need a good place to secure my cb on a Gen 2 Tacoma?

 

Guess I never posted these pictures here. I was sick of replacing my antenna cable and having to pull panels and carpet to do it (winter here destroys the cables)

So I put a antenna jack inside the engine bay that I can just plug the new cable into.

 

That's brilliant! Good idea.

 

GMRS but whatever. Just replaced the rack with a alu cab shell, so I’ve got to figure out a different antenna mount solution.

 

I don't know if this counts because I don't have a receiver, but I've tried to hide what I do have as best I could.

I use velcro to store it when not in use




And under the velcro is a metal plate so I can use a magmount when in use. The mount is more than strong enough.


Velcro wrap to hold the cord out of the way and everything run into the centre console.



Caliraised antenna mount with 4' firefly antenna

 

Help req.

Managed to get the power and coax through the passenger side. Waiting to do the final install of the radio.

Powering a Rigrunner 4004USB unit (soon to be mounted on a Desert Does It seat molle). There’s a powerpole connector inside on the passenger side kick plate for some future split/flexibility, another segment routed through to under the passenger seat.

Realizing now the Rigrunner is always on and not sure if that’s ideal. Have fuse taps on order from Powertrays with the intention of switching the power flow.

Qs: are there recommended relays that will work for this application?

If routing to a tall switch, where do we source them? I noticed tacomabeast had some harnesses that would also provide illumination. Edit: found a switch: https://www.ebay.com/itm/CH4X4-Toyota-Push-Switch-Radio-Symbol-3-Blue-LED-/192895379517

What are some other thoughts regarding wiring, switched via ignition or mechanical switch? Other installation thoughts?

2nd Edit: http://www.aprsworld.com/apo3/ Cool option! But I'm leaning toward hot--> relay switched to ignition --> radio

thank you!

 

So there is no power switch on the unit?
There are switches that require power on power off. These do not hold a field in either position so are excellent for applications where you want to avoid interference. You can get clever and wire it to receive the power off on vehicle shutdown with some fancy thinking.

A while back I drew up some pics but so many people trashed me as a amateur (I only have been doing wiring for 53 years) that I figure people can try it first and ask questions.

 

On the Rigrunner, no. They mailed me back and mentioned that the unit (likely the LED) draws 18mA at 13.8V. Can you elaborate on the switch?

 

Google latching relay.

 

I think I understand the concept, but unsure of the application. So if the engine turns off, and the switch was off it will be off. If the engine turns on and it was on, the circuit will be on. But can you still close it (I would think so)? Is that basically the idea?