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Short Antenna recommendations...

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by xguntherc, Feb 7, 2019.

  1. Feb 7, 2019 at 10:57 AM
    #1
    xguntherc

    xguntherc [OP] Taco Time

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    Looking for recommendations on a new Antenna for my 2011 Taco. I've tried a few different antennas and so far I've had pretty terrible luck.

    I want a short/stubby Antenna that isn't very long. I'm not too worried about a dip in reception.

    And please don't recommend the AntennaX... I've had two, they're trash.
     
  2. Feb 7, 2019 at 11:17 AM
    #2
    TacomaSport86

    TacomaSport86 2010 Tacoma/2016 4Runner Pro

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    I guess I can't help you, I have the one you mentioned and it has been great. I believe it's the 14" one that looks stock.
     
    gliderpilot likes this.
  3. Feb 7, 2019 at 11:19 AM
    #3
    BillsSR5

    BillsSR5 Looking out for #1

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    I think that the main drawback with the stubbies is lack of reception, although they do look a lot better than the standard mast
     
    Norton likes this.
  4. Feb 7, 2019 at 11:21 AM
    #4
    gliderpilot

    gliderpilot Well-Known Member

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    I agree. Had an AntennaX on my 2012 and it worked great. Now have a 2019.
     
    TacomaSport86[QUOTED] likes this.
  5. Feb 7, 2019 at 11:22 AM
    #5
    xguntherc

    xguntherc [OP] Taco Time

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    I think I'll go with this one. I'll let you all know how it turns out
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N9JZBSQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A30A036E461J8Q&psc=1

    The AntennaX stubby wasn't bad, and reception was manageable... it was the quality I had a problem with.

    Both of my AntennaX products turned a nasty dirty brass color, and the black paint completely faded in LESS than 6 months. Seriously. One summer and it was ruined. Plus, it looks like they use a pretty cheap "stainless" steel for the screws, because both of mine BROKE off and got lost. The first one snapped off while I was on the freeway on a 3-hour road trip and I had to buy a broken screw extractor to get the piece out so I could get a new antenna.

    The second AntennaX stubby did the same thing. Faded fast, so I added plasti-dip to get it black again, and eventually it broke off too. I'm not sure if someone broke it, or the same thing happened as last time.

    And yes, I actually still took the stubby off when I went through the car-wash. So it wasn't that.
     
    BillsSR5 likes this.
  6. Feb 7, 2019 at 11:24 AM
    #6
    hyper15125

    hyper15125 Headlight Retrofitting Hobbyist Vendor

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    Anyone have a link to the antenna x?

    I have a stubby but only because the auto carwash ripped my stock mast off and left the stud behind which I had to drill out, now have to replace the base and wire into the truck. Stubby reception blows.

    I got my stubby at Pep Boys it was a universal with various adapters
     
    xguntherc[OP] likes this.
  7. Feb 7, 2019 at 11:24 AM
    #7
    TacomaSport86

    TacomaSport86 2010 Tacoma/2016 4Runner Pro

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    Probably too short to get decent reception.
     
  8. Feb 7, 2019 at 11:28 AM
    #8
    xguntherc

    xguntherc [OP] Taco Time

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    See my post above regarding the AntennaX stubby... I know someone from the company lurks around the forum, but I wouldn't recommend them, honestly.
    I'm trying this, it'll be here tomorrow.
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N9JZBSQ?smid=A30A036E461J8Q
     
  9. Feb 7, 2019 at 11:32 AM
    #9
    hyper15125

    hyper15125 Headlight Retrofitting Hobbyist Vendor

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    Thanks. The only thing I dont like about my stubby in addition to the poor reception is that the base of the stubby is wider than the top of the antenna base it mounts to, looks “off”
     
    xguntherc[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  10. Feb 7, 2019 at 11:34 AM
    #10
    BillsSR5

    BillsSR5 Looking out for #1

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  11. Feb 7, 2019 at 11:58 AM
    #11
    BillsSR5

    BillsSR5 Looking out for #1

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  12. Feb 7, 2019 at 12:01 PM
    #12
    TheDevilYouLove

    TheDevilYouLove You can’t polish a turd, but you can polish a TRD

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  13. Feb 7, 2019 at 2:31 PM
    #13
    Beer-toe

    Beer-toe Well-Known Member

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    Cut your stock one however long you want it. I got tired of hitting parking structures height requirement signs. So I trimmed it just above my cab, so if I do hit a sign I know not to drive through it lol.
     
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  14. Feb 7, 2019 at 2:32 PM
    #14
    boogie3478

    boogie3478 Well-Known Member

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    I'm running this 13" flexible and it's great: https://amzn.to/2tdsH1z
     
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  15. Feb 7, 2019 at 5:54 PM
    #15
    WYJH22

    WYJH22 Well-Known Member

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  16. Feb 7, 2019 at 6:21 PM
    #16
    xguntherc

    xguntherc [OP] Taco Time

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    I ordered the one in my link.. when it comes tomorrow I'll let you know how it works out.

    P.p. @hyper15125 those headlights u recommended look great
     
  17. Feb 7, 2019 at 8:59 PM
    #17
    Taco-Obsessed

    Taco-Obsessed Wildlife Peeping Tom

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  18. Feb 8, 2019 at 1:46 AM
    #18
    lynlan1819

    lynlan1819 Well-Known Member

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    This is what I did ^ cut it to 15 inch's,still works fine.
     
  19. Feb 8, 2019 at 2:14 AM
    #19
    zero4

    zero4 Metal Cutter

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    I used to have a solid alumn 12". I hated it cause it wasn't flexible & it was thick. I now have a 15" flexible one (well not as flexible as stock because of the tapered base & short length) & I'm happy with it. Thin & looks similar to OE antennas. Even has the spiral wire for reducing wind noise but I never had wind noise with my other one.

    Can find em on ebay too with or without the spiral & in different lengths


    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KTFLX98/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
     
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  20. Feb 8, 2019 at 4:50 AM
    #20
    jbrnigan

    jbrnigan Well-Known Member

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    ^^^^^^^^ just cut the stock one in half - FREE
     
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