TomTom's '03 TRD Xtra Cab (SOLD!)

Looks awesome. One of the many mods I want to do!

 

it was trail tested today. Didn't budge. Can't wait to get it wired up so I can talk to peeps on the trail next time.

 

Working on mounting the antenna. Can't put it where I originally wanted to. Here's about as good as it gets unless I want to put it smack dab in the middle of the TRD sticker:



The cable was actually pretty easy to run. Just need to zip tie it in place.

Yay or nay on the antenna mount location?

 

Personally, I'd have to say nay on that particular location. Tuck it up behind the back glass and the bed. That far in the back and you're likely to catch something and of course there's the drilling into the bed thing... Just my $.02

 

This is where things get confusing. From what I've read, for xmitting, mounted behind the cab is a bad place. Too close to parallel surfaces and the SWR goes to shit. I've read the best is on top of the roof and the second best is the rear driver side stake hole. Why, oh why, does Toyota not believe in stake holes. Would've made this all very easy.

 

Yeah, I used to wonder the same thing, then I got my camper so my bedrails became unusable. I do know that the parallel surfaces might interfere with SWR but if you are just using the CB for trail rides where the communication is very close by, you might be alright. I am by no means an expert with CB's just giving personal experiences.

I used to have my CB antenna mounted on the back of my camper in the same location you are thinking about putting yours and it got caught by more than a few trees while out wheeling and I actually broke 2 before I figured I best relocate mine.

As another option you could go up to the front bumper and mount it like BoxRocket and many others have done.

 

Well, I said to hell with it and I might be seeing a body shop in the near future. It looks good but after getting it assembled, not sure how well it will hold up.





Sometimes I tell myself I'm too cautious. Then I find out why I'm too cautious. I think I'll run it until it breaks then move the antenna to the front bumper like you suggested.

Live and learn.

 

ah-ha! Had time to relax the brain and think I know how to fix it.

It might still be in a shitty spot but I'm hitting up Lowe's tomorrow to pick up some stuff to do a better installation.

 

I'm surprised you didn't see how my antennae was mounted during the wench meet. Kinda like Jerry's but a little more permanent.

 

I was a wee bit drugged up on zyrtec and benadryl. I wasn't noticing much of anything.

 

I looks good and only the test of time will determine if the placement is going to work. Looks good though

 

Yup, nope. The mount has too much wiggle. Drove in to work with the antenna on. Checked it when I parked and could see the rubbing in the clear coat around it. Hoping to find the right spacers and nuts at the hardware store otherwise, off to the body shop. I've already got a recommendation from a friend...

 

Fixed! Did it with a $0.26 part.

So here are the holes I drilled. You can see there is a ~3/8" gap between the outer and inner skin.


Here's the inside of the taillight pocket


So I got some nylon spacers to go over the signal bolt, snug it with the holes drilled and bridge the gap. The one on the left is stock, the one on the right shows how much I drilled it out to fit:


Here it is mounted on the signal bolt of the antenna bracket:


Mounted up with the rubber gasket installed. I found out this is more for mechanical isolation than electrical.



Here's the inside all bolted up:


And here it is with the antenna threaded in:


Feels a lot more solid. I give the antenna a good twang and only get a tiny bit of wiggle in the bracket. The rubber gasket soaks it up easy.

Glad I got this sorted out. Happy with the result and $0.26 is a lot less then a body shop would've charged for filling the holes.

 

Looks good! Hopefully that mounting location works out for you!

 

Ha! The true test! After picking out the mount spot started thinking I'd be better off with a 4' antenna to get the top above the cab roof. After some peeps have posted about the mount spot, thinking 3' might have to be the compromise to avoid trees as best I can. I'll have to live with whatever range I can get.

 

I would have done it the same way. The 882s are tall. Don't know exacts but I really would have been pushing the CV angles (even with the 1" diff drop I have installed) if I hadn't have waited.

I did have the shop that installed the 882s install the extended studs at the same time. Saved me some cost there.

Not sure why the passenger side was so hard. The driver side took 30 minutes. If they would have both gone that easy, it's a no brainer. I got to learn how to take the struts out.

If you are getting the 881s and the Dakar leaf packs, might be worth it to get the spacers installed at the same time. I had the 881s prior to the 882s and had enough rake that I wanted a spacer.

 

As long as they come out easy-peasey, there is no agony in pulling the coils. Still unsure why the passenger side on mine was so damn hard. Driver side took 30 minutes.

With the 882s and a top plate spacer, I'd highly recommend an aftermarket uniball type UCA. You may be fine so might want to wait to see how your UCA/spindles clear the coil but I had problems with the top of the spindle hitting the coil once I installed the top plate spacer. Check through my build. I went with Icons. Cleared it right up and the suspension actually performs better.

 

Also, don't pass judgement on the OME suspension until you get the bumper+winch on there. It settles in and rides like OME should when enough weight gets added to the front.

I think you're going to love the lift once you get it broken in.

 

Going to post this in your build thread and carry the conversation over there. Should make this conversation a bit easier.

 

Drove in to work this morning. Antenna mount is solid. Even tested it out on a tree, already...