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Clean VHF/CB radio installs

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

  1. Apr 8, 2021 at 10:01 AM
    #1921
    5nahalf

    5nahalf I build dumb things

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    Erik
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    So there are 2 ways you can do it. You can get a trailer brake controller harness. There is clean power for the built in trailer brake behind the kick panel or you can run wires through the firewall to the battery.

    I need to redo my wires, and I intend to use the trailer brake harness and a relay that turns it on and off with the key.
     
  2. Apr 8, 2021 at 10:34 AM
    #1922
    Doc62

    Doc62 Well-Known Member

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    I would run power from the battery through the firewall to the radio. I’ve done that for all of my mobile radio installs whether it was 2m/440 or HF. Also fuse both the the ground and power wires.
     
    vicali likes this.
  3. Apr 8, 2021 at 11:00 AM
    #1923
    vicali

    vicali Touch my camera through the fence

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    Clean and simple, plus eliminates any potential of ground loops.
    Decent radios have auto shut-off, and can be run without the truck on..
     
  4. Apr 8, 2021 at 11:14 AM
    #1924
    GarlicFarts

    GarlicFarts Bang Ding Ow

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    @Naumoff42

    Couple notes

    The brake controller is always hot, so yeah you will want to have a relay with that. Secondly, it does also occupy the brake controller so if you decide you want to tow a trailer, you will need to redo it.

    qu35985_800-jpg_6c8e697666f65fd0b4a74fdd54841f54a44cc5cd.jpg

    It would seem the power is clean but I was getting a hell of a time trying this with a CMX760 a lot of static and a lot of feedback, not sure where it came from since I ripped the system out instead of trying to hunt it down - didn't have a big desire to keep CB after using it for a while.
     
  5. Apr 8, 2021 at 11:16 AM
    #1925
    5nahalf

    5nahalf I build dumb things

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    The CMX760 is very sensitive to antenna grounds. I spent weeks trying to get a good ground on mine so it worked right. Finally I just bolted the mount right to the metal body and it was good.
     
  6. Apr 8, 2021 at 11:31 AM
    #1926
    Naumoff42

    Naumoff42 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for all the info guys. All of this stuff is still very new to me. I'm probably going to just run it through to the battery since that seems to be the easiest source of clean power. I think I'll have to splice in some extra wire to get it there but that's okay.
     
  7. Apr 8, 2021 at 11:34 AM
    #1927
    GarlicFarts

    GarlicFarts Bang Ding Ow

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    https://www.amazon.com/MNJ-Motor-Ba...t=&hvlocphy=9002249&hvtargid=pla-681144456385
     
    CliffyDeuce likes this.
  8. Apr 9, 2021 at 7:32 AM
    #1928
    Naumoff42

    Naumoff42 Well-Known Member

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    Punching through the firewall - I assume the best place is just to go through one of the little empty grommets just above the fuse box wiring on either side? I'm not really seeing much else
     
  9. Apr 9, 2021 at 7:50 AM
    #1929
    GarlicFarts

    GarlicFarts Bang Ding Ow

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    Just use the wire pack already going through near the drivers footwell.
     
    HisDad and k8md like this.
  10. Apr 9, 2021 at 3:22 PM
    #1930
    mrCanoehead

    mrCanoehead Well-Known Member

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    I'm not sure if the gen 2 has it, but there is a pretty big hole above the passenger footwell for an A/C drain on the gen 3. You can easily stuff a pretty thick coax cable through it without interfering with the drain function. I'm going to go out that hole with two coax cables, and up the passenger side A pillar on the outside to the roof.

    My brain box will be under the passenger seat so that hole works well in my case.
     
  11. Apr 9, 2021 at 3:37 PM
    #1931
    JdevTac

    JdevTac Bawnjourno

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    Just use the 3/4” grommet by the booster. You can pop it out, punch a hole in the carpet and run your wire through.

    I’m not a fan of making a cut in the irreplaceable main firewall boot until I’ve used up all my other grommets. There is a nipple on the main boot you can snip off and run wire through but it’s still a pain in the ass. The times I’ve done it was with like 8awg and that needed some wire lube.
     
  12. Apr 9, 2021 at 8:58 PM
    #1932
    Naumoff42

    Naumoff42 Well-Known Member

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    I ended up feeding it through with the rest of the wiring harness. Somehow when I was looking around under the dash I totally missed it when I first looked.

    Still need to tune the antenna but sent and received signal today out about 3 miles in semi residential areas. I do still need to change my wiring a little bit since I have it all connected straight to the battery and don't have a fuse on the negative wire yet.
     
  13. Apr 10, 2021 at 8:27 PM
    #1933
    Naumoff42

    Naumoff42 Well-Known Member

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    I'm using a uniden 505xl wondering what a guy has to buy to get audio played through the handset speaker instead of the unit itself.
     
  14. Apr 18, 2021 at 8:58 PM
    #1934
    paranoiccritic

    paranoiccritic New Member

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    HAM radio install!
    With lots of googling, youtube surfing, and reading through this enormous thread, I put together a clean Ham radio install in a 2021 SR5 Tacoma :) Antenna hood mount from Victory 4x4, Nagoya NMO-200A 38.5" dual-band antenna, TYT TH-9800 quad-band radio. I punched through the large cable trunk grommet on the driver's side, tied the neutral into the neutral screw under the in-cab drivers-side fuse box, and tied the hot line directly into the positive pole of the battery. Control unit mounted to the windshield using a suction mount, and the radio unit mounted under the passenger's seat. After install, I tested the system and used a local FM simplex channel (2m) to make my second contact EVER - this rig is going to do good things :)

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  15. May 8, 2021 at 7:08 PM
    #1935
    Scrill

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    PXL_20210509_005410238.jpg
     
    foy1der likes this.
  16. May 9, 2021 at 5:37 AM
    #1936
    foy1der

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    Nice and clean, I like it. There's a chance that it might be overbuilt. :rofl:
     
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  17. May 12, 2021 at 4:24 PM
    #1937
    AlHago

    AlHago Well-Known Member

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    Stock as all get out.
    Required some cutting to get the bearcat to sit as far back as it is but I wanted to be able to use the cup holders so well worth it.

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    5FABD0EE-D35B-4391-9B7B-1CEB54D78E46.jpg
     
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  18. May 12, 2021 at 7:33 PM
    #1938
    DeanB519

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    Anyway to make this so the oem 3rd brake light can be mounted to it? Just move the oem out so there's room for an nmo antenna to mount behind it.
    Thanks,
    Dean
     
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  19. May 15, 2021 at 8:25 PM
    #1939
    Landpirate

    Landpirate Strong like horse, smart like tractor

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    Switched out my 7900 for a 400XDR.
     
  20. May 15, 2021 at 8:34 PM
    #1940
    FastEddy59

    FastEddy59 TTC #0061

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    Looks really good :thumbsup: Nice secluded place too. :anonymous:Think I'll let you two be alone now.
     
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