Tacoma Stealth XM Satellite Antenna Install

Purchase a Metra ultra low profile antenna model 44-SIXM (it is only 1/4 inch height).

Carefully remove the plastic insert with a small flat screwdriver, and slowly lift the plastic cover from the top of the bed. Only lift plastic high enough to install antenna, and it does take a little work to get the plastic to lift and disengage fasteners. You do not need any tools to lift the plastic rail cover.

Place the antenna in the location shown in the photo and run the wire down the square opening. Then, run the wire over the wheel well toward the back of the cab. Locate the rubber gasket behind the cab on the drivers side and remove. Run the wire inside the cab. Take your time and be careful not to damage the wire. I am also going to install a wire protector similar to the other factory wires under the truck.

Excellent reception in my 2013 Tacoma Regular cab. I also installed Toyota part# 00016-00076 to add the XM Satellite Tuner kit to my factory non-JBL touch screen radio. Antenna fits perfectly, and there is more then enough room under the plastic to hide the antenna.

 

Freaking awesome!... Thanks for posting this... I need to see if my sirius ant will fit here as well!

This: http://www.xm-radio-satellite.com/SUVA2_SIRIUS_Dot_Car_Antenna.aspx

Thanks again..

 

I think you'll need a square antenna to fit since the surface under the plastic is uneven and there is just enough room for the square low profile metra antenna.

 

Here are two photos showing the antenna radio wire entering the cab.

 

Just did this Mod today... Very Cool! the recommended antenna works very well, it fits perfectly in the hidden cubby beneath the bed rail as Hunterwil indicates.

Method: I used a standard fish tape slid it in to the hole at the top of the edge of the bed where the wire will be fed. After a few tries, it popped out in the front of the bed down by the bottom corner off the bed/fender.

I hooked a piece of string (cord) to it and pulled the string back out the hole at the top of the bed as shown in the first few pictures in this thread. I then used this string to pull the antenna wire back towards the front of the bed and pulled all the slack through until the antenna was situated as shown in this thread.

I removed the inner paneling behind the drivers side rear seat which required removing 3 bolts to the panel, and 2 bolts to the rear seat back. I then popped the kicker plate trim and rear lower panel to gain access to the rubber plug shown in the pictures.

I popped the plug out and drilled a small hole in the center, and split the plug on one side to fit it around the antenna wire, and then reattached the plug and wire back into the body.

Finally, I ran the wire along the drivers side kick panels, routing it through all of the factory wiring loom connectors up to the drivers side lower kick panel and finally, up and over the column and into the radio area.

connected it up to my sirius / xm tuner box and connected that to the stereo. the antenna works very well in this location!

Kudos to Hunterwil for posting this mod!

The whole process took about an hour for me to do.

 

I just stuck mine to the top of the AC duct right next to the head unit.
Used 3M tape to stick a fender washer to the duct and slapped the antenna onto that.

No problems at all in Los Angeles. Out in the middle of BFE, I'll sometimes drop out briefly going under a bridge or next to a semi if I don't have a view to the south.

 

Yep I did that on XM Sat Ant install Ver 1.0, but heading north, the damn thing kept dropping out so it drove me bonkers. So I was looking to move the ant and was considering making a small bracket to attach to the rear bed pillars. This mod solved all those issues, and is stealthy just like I Like it!

Works well!

 

I'd suggest putting a drip loop in the wire before going through the rear grommet into the cab. I had a cb wire ran in there in my first gen and the wire got pulled up above the grommet causing water to run down it and into the cab. Got in one day and smelled something, I looked under the front floor mat and it was soaked with water.

 

^^^This

 

Will do.. good Idea, Although when I drilled and split the grommet and re-fed the wire through and plugged the grommet back in, it was pretty snug. but you sure cant be too careful on that! I dont want a stinky moldy carpet situation for sure!

Thanks!

 

Did the stealth antenna install this afternoon. Found that you can use the standard XM antenna. Popped the bed rail cap off, mounted the antenna at the rear, fed the cable forward and into the cab as instructed. Snapped the bed rail back in place, reattached the push pins, and I'm good to go. No signal lose going north or under overpasses like before. Thanks, Hunterwil. Never would have thought of that on my own.

 

Nice - I just mounted mine on the roof- routed up through the 3rd brakelight, but would have tried this if I had thought of it.

 

I just did this today. Might I suggest a better (and easier) location for routing the wire into the cab? Come in under the driver's seat. There is a rubber gasket there where all of the tail light wiring comes out. Drop a bent coat hanger through it and out to the bottom of the cab, insert the end of the XM antenna wire, and then pull up. It is much easier than coming in behind the cab, plus you don't have to worry about water getting into the cab. You will need to remove some electrical tape on the gasket and replace it when you are done.

I forgot to mention, this works with the antenna that came with the SXV200 SiriusXM Connect module. No need to buy the low-profile antenna.

 

Would this work with a cap sitting on top of the bed side rail? My cap is fiberglass.

 

I cant speak 100% about the signal loss with a fiberglass shell (I think you would be ok...) but mine works fine with my Extang Trifecta topper on the truck. I was concerned that the aluminum frame of my Tonnau cover would block the signal, since it literally sits right over the antenna, but I have not experienced any issues. So with that said, as long as you don't have any sort of metal or aluminum framing on your cover that completely encloses the antenna, you *should* be ok.

My .02

Good luck with the install.