HAM and GMRS Radio Installs in 4th gen Tacoma -- Post Your Setups

[Romer]

I offroad a lot in my Land Cruiser which I am keeping. Next week I expect to pickup my Tacoma Off Road and will begin setting it up to also off road.

In my 200 series Land Cruiser I Have a Yaesu FTM- 400 and a Midland MXT-275 GMRS radio. Only the HAM is pictured. That is an aftermarket Android head unit which did a lot to update my technology.

Both hard installed. The HAM antenna is on the back tailgate and the GRMS antenna is on the front bumper. I also have handhelds, but they only work at a much shorter range

I found this antenna adapter that would work for either a HAM or GMRS antenna
https://www.victory4x4.com/product/VT3CB-BARE.html
Not sure it works on a 2024. I see @Victory 4x4 is on here and hopefully they will respond

Looking to see if others have installed either radio. Interested in Head Unit, Face plate and antenna installs.

I may install the HAM and stick with a hand held for GMRS. I likely would get a smaller HAM like a 200 or 300 for the Tacoma. It has to be dual band with APRS

Let see what you have or discuss options you have found

Sponsored

 

[Victory 4x4]

We haven't installed a radio in the 4g Taco, but we do make a mount that works with both ditch lights and antennas (1/2" hole.) I actually switched to this mount setup in my 3G Taco as well.

https://www.victory4x4.com/product/VTDLM-4G.html

 

[Romer]

We haven't installed a radio in the 4g Taco, but we do make a mount that works with both ditch lights and antennas (1/2" hole.) I actually switched to this mount setup in my 3G Taco as well.

https://www.victory4x4.com/product/VTDLM-4G.html

Thanks. Any thoughts on if a HAM antenna like 3-4 feet long would hit the pillar when the hood is opened?

 

[AltarBoy]

I’ll be mounting mine to my rago fabrications molle panel

 

[SAR Taco]

Am very keen to see installs on this thread. I currently use a ham and part 90 radio that I'll be installing in my new taco. Interested in radio body locations (getting the TH so can't have it under the rear seats), remote head locations, antenna mounts, and coax paths.

 

[geonerdist]

I have a Yaesu FT-8800 mounted with clicky Velcro above the rear view mirror and the microphone is mounted to a Molle panel from Rago. I also have two Motorola XTL5000s mounted to the passenger side molle panel with 67 designs mounts. All the radio bodies are under the back seat.

My antennas are mounted to a Prinsu roof rack.

 

[Victory 4x4]

Thanks. Any thoughts on if a HAM antenna like 3-4 feet long would hit the pillar when the hood is opened?

It should not be an issue at all, but I will verify for you tomorrow. They are currently shooting a front bumper install video on our 4G.

On my 3G I have my faceplate on my dash mount with magnets. Works awesome. Our dash mount for the 4G is behind the screen though, so I will have to figure something out for that.

 

[UndergroundTRD]

I have a Yaesu FT-8800 mounted with clicky Velcro above the rear view mirror and the microphone is mounted to a Molle panel from Rago. I also have two Motorola XTL5000s mounted to the passenger side molle panel with 67 designs mounts. All the radio bodies are under the back seat.

My antennas are mounted to a Prinsu roof rack.

nice setup! This looks nice and accessible while driving. I need to get me at least one of these comms. I use a handled sometimes but that thing is a hit and miss or forget to charge it.

 

[SAR Taco]

I use a handled sometimes but that thing is a hit and miss

Vehicles are pretty much faraday cages. Need to make sure you have an external antenna if you can.

 

[bigd9247]

I have a Yaesu FT-8800 mounted with clicky Velcro above the rear view mirror and the microphone is mounted to a Molle panel from Rago. I also have two Motorola XTL5000s mounted to the passenger side molle panel with 67 designs mounts. All the radio bodies are under the back seat.

My antennas are mounted to a Prinsu roof rack.

Nice setup! Forgive my ignorance, but why would you need three radios? I imagine you must be using them for different things. I haven't dabbled with HAM or GMRS but I've always been curious and it looks like it could be a fun hobby.

 

[SAR Taco]

In the US the FCC regulates what type of radio can access what frequencies. Ham, GMRS, CB, and commercial (part 90) radios all transmit/receive on different frequencies and at different power levels. Some required licenses while others do not.

The benefit of having more than one of the same type of radio allows you to monitor multiple frequencies concurrently, and simply pick up the mic for whichever radio you need to transmit.

 

[geonerdist]

Nice setup! Forgive my ignorance, but why would you need three radios? I imagine you must be using them for different things. I haven't dabbled with HAM or GMRS but I've always been curious and it looks like it could be a fun hobby.

The ham radio is used for ham stuff and traveling. The other two are used for search and rescue.

 

[Independence Overland]

I have a Yaesu FT-8800 mounted with clicky Velcro above the rear view mirror and the microphone is mounted to a Molle panel from Rago. I also have two Motorola XTL5000s mounted to the passenger side molle panel with 67 designs mounts. All the radio bodies are under the back seat.

My antennas are mounted to a Prinsu roof rack.

Would you be able to post a more detailed photo of this? I have the FTM500 I was planning on mounting where the sunglasses holder is by using RAM mounts. Yours looks pretty interesting.
Thank you

 

[geonerdist]

Would you be able to post a more detailed photo of this? I have the FTM500 I was planning on mounting where the sunglasses holder is by using RAM mounts. Yours looks pretty interesting.
Thank you

I tried using ram mounts to the rear view mirror arm and could not get it the way I wanted it. Always blocked the sunglasses compartment. I decided to just use some clicks Velcro on the control head and the trim piece around the mirror. Wire running was super easy. It works ok since those trim pieces are not very rigid.

 

[brentbba]

My Yaesu FT-8800 mounted in my Tacoma Trailhunter. I scavenged my mounts from my old Prius. The same Yaesu in my old Landcruiser was built into the dash and just left it for the new owner. It uses a Ram suction cup mount for the head unit. The body of the radio barely fit under the driver seat. The antenna uses an old Diamond 400 hatch mount that attaches to the lip of the hood. I tried a Caliraised ditch light mount, but it was so stealth that the PL-259 antenna off the Diamond mount was just too deep and hit the hood lip. Speaker just sits in the center console. Not great, but I still have access to the phone charger and usb/12v port to the right. I haven't figured out a good mount for the mic and don't particularly want to be drilling holes for the mic clip. Looking for ideas there.

Sponsored