Toyota Tacoma: Best CB / Ham Radio / GMRS Install?

[@richardn5263]

Clear and to the point! Thanks for putting this up. My 2nd gen Tacoma had a 2m antenna on the driver's side rear corner of the bed. That setup worked really well, but now it seems more people are going with the hood mount. Maybe I'll give this a try.

[@k.howard5927]

Thanks for posting! Found this helpful as I get ready to install a mobile in my truck.

[@Rumeel12708]

Awesome!!! I want a cb in my taco as well!

[@debandpete]

Great video! I just purchased a 2023 Tacoma. I went with Rugged Radio's mount instead of Victory because Victory has a delay of up to two weeks, I may order the Victory because it looks flat meaning lower base of the antenna. Rugged Radio has a bend in it raising the actually point where the antenna mounts by about 1". Unfortunately, I did not notice that both the Victory & the Rugged Radio mounts are 3/8". So now my antenna and cable will not work. I will `reach out to Comet, Diamond & Rugged on Monday to determine my options. Maybe I can just ream the Rugged Radio mount out to fit my standard NMO cable & antenna...

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

The Victory mount did not fit my antenna mount either. As I mention in the video, I reamed the mount to fit the SO-239 base. If you go with the Victory mount do some research first. Some have reported that it raises their hood a little, so it's not even with the fender. I did not have that problem. I think their issues came from inserting the mount in the wrong order on the hood.

[@MarioMartinez-is1cg]

Thanks for the video! Very informative. Very clean install 😎

[@Taco_Syndicate]

It’s been said, but I have to say it again, Great video!

[@thecrakmasta]

Thanks for the video. New to a lot of this. Does that antenna mount do a good enough job of being a ground plane ?

[@flyingdorito1351]

Nice Video! Q: With the antenna installed, can you open the hood without the antenna coming in contact with the vehicle? Thx.

[@5ksam]

Great video and really great design on the faceplate mount. I have a Tacoma and an FTM-400 mounted in the same spot (my faceplate is velcro-ed in place which is a real pain to remove). Does the 5 degree or 14 degree fit the cubby better? Currently, I have my antenna on a mag mount on the roof but I am wanting to switch to the victory 4x4 so this will be very helpful!

[@debandpete]

Would iy be possible for you to provide photos or comment on the difference between the flat, 5 degree & 14 degree 3D prints or explain what the difference is when installed? Again, thank you for such a great video!

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

I no longer have the other prototypes, just the one mounted in my Taco. However, check the item on Thingiverse as someone made an improved version of my design. I admit it is better than my original.

[@DrivinwithJoe]

Looks great. Any trouble with interference? I am getting interference on 2 meter when I start my 2017 tacoma.

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

Thanks for your response. I have zero noise of any kind in my 2022 Tacoma. If you notice in the video, I use 240 size toroids with both power and coax cables wrapped multiple turns as chokes for common mode current and other sources of interference. I do the same in my shack. Wrap all my cords and cables around 240 size toroids. The clip-on ferrites do very little for suppression of noise. Also, that's one of the benefits of running the power line to the battery instead of to the fuse box. Less noise.

[@DrivinwithJoe]

@@tekspeditionplanet9109 thank you for your reply. I will try the 240 toroids and see if they help.

[@joekalilikani]

Great video and sweet set up with the mounting block. My question is, what are you using for a speaker? if external, where did you mount it? Thanks in advance!

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

Since my radio body is mounted on the passenger side of the console, I'm just using the radio's speaker. I have heard that some people use BlueTooth to connect their transceiver to the truck's audio system, for those radios that have BlueTooth. I haven't tried that, but sounds pretty sweet having no cables.

[@TractorsNStuff]

What did you print your mount out of? PLA or PLA+ will melt when the interior of the truck gets hot. I can print ABS in my enclosure, but it SUCKS! Nice video and very informative. Gives me some ideas. Thank you.

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

PETG or ABS works better than PLA, but I've tested all three plastic types. For this model, I find it isn't that susceptible to heat because it's very stout. So far I haven't had any heat issues, although I always warn against using PLA for fixtures to be used inside a car/truck. Use what you feel most comfortable with in a hot car.

[@hunterstokely8438]

Love the video!!

[@allencummings3445]

Great video! Im gonna set mine up like this! Only problem is I do not own a 3D printer. Any chance you will sell your mounts at some point?

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

Unfortunately my 3D printer is boxed up and in transit to my next home. If you search around Thingaverse, there are many who offer 3D printing.

[@waynetherrell8253]

After seeing the mount on big screen It seems I would need pass-throughs for the usb and 12 volt lighter cable.

[@UniquelyUsAdventures]

Perfect!!!

[@emsartifact9303]

I have a Victory 4x4 mount on my Tacoma, but I'm looking to replace the current NMO mount with a thick surface mount. My worry is that it might be too long and break the windshield when I close the hood. How deep is the SO-239 mount that you used? Thanks.

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

My SO-239 mount was kind of tight slipping it in, but once it was in it cleared everything with no problems. It's hard to tell since each antenna mount is a little different. More of a trial-and-error approach.

[@bretcorey5680]

victory 4x4 states that on the 21+ Tacoma the mount needs to go between the hinge and the hood which will "raise" the hood up slightly. That is just no bueno. What year is your Tacoma? Looks like you put it where it should go and that it worked just fine.

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

Interesting. I did not see that stated anywhere, but during installation it was pretty obvious putting it between the hinge and the hood would alter the height of the hood. Equally odd that they would not mention running the coax on the outside of the hood mount. With my first install attempt the coax was seriously compressed by the weather stripping. I resolved by running the coax around the hood mount on the outside. Mine is a 2022 Tacoma.

[@SuperUncleRyan]

I am not sure but I think they say to put it that way so that the mount clears the windshield a little more. I just wonder if you could put the mount in a vice and bend a slight offset in it and accomplish the same result, while leaving it bolted under the hood bracket. Does this bracket still allow the hood to work as a good ground plane? I'd really prefer to use this over a lip mount to avoid marring up my paint.

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

@@SuperUncleRyan clearance was my biggest concern. You definitely want to eyeball everything for clearance before tightening. Having the hood raised slightly on one side would be a no-go for me, but everything cleared and sits flush. As long as the mount makes contact with the metal in the hood you should have a good ground plane. I think just screwing the bolts in will give good metal to metal contact.

[@waynetherrell8253]

I'm late to the game but wondering if this would fit 2022 Rav4 w/o wireless charging? The dash console recess looks to be about the same. Great work on both the video and on the design of the mount!

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

Sorry, I have no clue about the RAV4.

[@marcusalancate1782]

Sir, what year model is your Tacoma please? de KD5QNL

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

It’s a 2022 model.

[@joshdaniels2680]

⁠@@tekspeditionplanet9109Nice video! I’m about to install the same bracket on my 2023. The Victory site says that the 2021+ Tacomas must have the mount between the hinge and the hood instead of over the hinge, but it looks like you had no problem over the hinge. Can you comment on the fitment of the bracket relative to the hinge? Thanks, Josh N2JLL. Edit: I see now that @superuncleryan commented on the same thing above.

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

@@joshdaniels2680 as you see in the video, I don't have a problem with clearance, but it definitely warrants close scrutiny when installing. It was my biggest concern as well. If you did install this, please share how it fit for you.

[@joshdaniels2680]

@@tekspeditionplanet9109 Thanks for the response. I installed on a 2023, and this is what I observed: When I tried to install with the bracket directly under the bolts, there was unacceptable compression of the cowl and the rubber gasket of the windshield was really being pushed down. It made me nervous, so I installed per Victory 4X4s recommendation for 2021+ models with the bracket between the hinge and the hood. The difference in height on that side is barely visible even if you are looking for it. It's a little annoying, because Victory could have just put a slight bend in the bracket to compensate the difference in the 2021+s, but I'm OK with the way that it turned out.

[@Power-Ads]

Nice video and install, However I would not recommend any kind of choke on antenna coax. RF doesn't like sharp bends in the transmission line as well as the fact that coax is already shielded so you don't need any kind of choke. Yes a choke is sometimes effective of stopping unwanted RF for a non shielded line, but your coax is designed to let RF pass freely, so a choke on a transmission line is the exact opposite of what you want in that situation.

[@tekspeditionplanet9109]

Thanks for the reply. I understand your concern about the coax choke. Although it varies slightly by coax brands, most manufacturers recommend bends no tighter than 5 or 6 cable diameters. If you look at the manufacturer specs, they normally recommend a turn no tighter than slightly under one inch for a single turn, or slightly under two inches for multiple turns. My choke is loosely wound and meets the two inch limit. And as for coax common mode current / line isolator chokes they are ubiquitous.

[@justsayingforafriend7010]

My install is better... cleaner...