Mobile Ham Radio Install \\ 2020 Tacoma TRD OR

These are the parts used:

• Icom IC-2730a
• Comet CP-5M Universal RS-730 Lip Mount w/Coax Attached
• Comet SBB-5NMO 2M/70cm Dual Band Mobile Antenna
• Expedition Essentials Tacoma Track Mount
• Ring terminals for 10-12 AWG wire
• Heat shrink tubing
• ABS Plastic sheet
• (1) RAM Ball Adapter with AMPS Plate
• (1) RAM Composite Double Socket Arm
• (1) RAM Track Ball with T-Bolt Attachment
• Wire loom tubing ¾”
• Zip ties
• 6x8mm machine screws

I took the power cable supplied by ICOM and routed it through the firewall in the same grommet the main wire loom runs. I cut off the in-line fuses on the power cable and crimped on ring terminals. The ring terminals were installed on the Blue Seas fuse block I already had in place.




The power cable and antenna wires were run under the plastic trim near the drivers left side on the floor, then run under the channel that the seat sits on.





The power and antenna cables exit the channel and connect to the main radio unit under the driver's seat.




I removed the dash bezel and installed the Expedition Essentials TTM (sorry didn't take any pictures of the setup). There are tons of walk-thrus on this in other forums.

I also removed the plastic trim on the center console that surrounds the shifter. Again I completely forgot to get pictures of this. While all the plastic was removed I routed the cable for the head unit up from under the driver's seat, into the center console, past the shifter, up behind the main radio unit. I then re-installed the dash bezel and made sure there was a good 4 inches of power cable poking through.

The radio's head unit was mounted to a DIY mounting plate that I created out of ABS plastic. The mounting plate was bolted to a couple Ram Mounts pieces and installed in the TTM. I re-installed the center console trim then fired up the radio. Turned on with no problems.




Going to be moving the hand mic in the future. Just going to enjoy it as it is for now though.

I've also got a more thorough write up on our blog Tacoma Ham Radio Install | Emergency Comms - Oak Abode

Let me know if you have any questions!

 

where did you mount the antenna? NMO mag mount or?

 

I have it on a NMO lip mount on the hood. Passenger side

 

Not bad, here's mine.

 

How do you like that mount? I've seen people with interference issues with those, might have been only one person though.

 

Works just fine. I was going to go with an nmo style the first time. I made this bracket out of angle iron. Rago fab makes a bracket but it has to be modified in order for it to clean when you open the hood.

 

There's a whole thread for this


https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/clean-vhf-cb-radio-installs.415584/

 

I don't care. My call sign is public info and so is the address.

 

There

 

I know this is an old thread, but any chance that video mentioned in the blog is available? I'll be installing an almost identical setup in my Tacoma and 3d printing some parts to make it work. Thanks for the info you've already provided either way!

 

I never did finish the video. I would try to do that this weekend, but I'm going to be a little tied up putting on a new suspension. If you want you can DM me on IG (@midwest_nightvision) or you can email me through the link in my OP. I actually had another guy reach out and tell me he was doing the same install. I think he's finishing it right now.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CB-UHF-Bla...ruiser/373152714296?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Supposedly this fits in the center stack. I have one incoming in the mail right now for a CMX760 CB radio.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...radio-2019-off-road-4x4.629984/#post-21587615

Could do the same with a VHF, I would think. Run a cat5 (cat6?? I dunno) jumper up to the center stack. That's my plan - and if I do install a VHF radio alongside my CB (instead of just using a baofeng with a mic) I will probably add another one to the other switch blank (I don't have heated seats).

 

Bringing this thread alive, how did you secure the under the seat to the floorboard?

 

No worries! Just figured I'd check. I'm sure I'll figure out how to run the cable up the dash trim, which is really the only part I'm a bit concerned about but I'm sure will be fine. I'll give you a follow in IG regardless (@mudhorn_tacoma).