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

[brentbba]

My other FT-8800 stayed with the Landcruiser when I sold it. I don't want to do anything permanent until I'm more comfortable with the truck and where I want everything.

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[Independence Overland]

Any chance you guys will make a single side of this without a light mount? Id love the antenna mount, but don't have interest in a ditch light.

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]

I called them and they measured the bracket and it is big enough I can drill to enlarge the hole to 5/8" for thee antenna base. So I ordered a set. Likely only need the drivers side

I installed the faceplate and also the microphone using zip ties for the microphone holder

Thinking of running the main unit under the rear seat. Still pondering.
I ran the wires from the engine bay back to the rear cab, but haven't hooked them up yet. Left the fuse out of the fuse holder for safety

 

[SAR Taco]

I called them and they measured the bracket and it is big enough I can drill to enlarge the hole to 5/8" for thee antenna base. So I ordered a set. Likely only need the drivers side

I installed the faceplate and also the microphone using zip ties for the microphone holder

Thinking of running the main unit under the rear seat. Still pondering.
I ran the wires from the engine bay back to the rear cab, but haven't hooked them up yet. Left the fuse out of the fuse holder for safety

That's a nice looking install

 

[Romer]

Installed the main unit under the rear seat.

I did drill a hole at the bottom of the seat molding. I pulled up the carpet and felt underneath to make sure there wasn't there. I also routed some cables under the carpet

I used one of the coat hooks on the back wall to mount the Speaker. The Icon one is rectangle and once you get it on the hook, it is wide enough to overlap the depressed area putting pressure on it making it a stable mount. For some reason I was able to get it over the hook upside down, but not right side up. That only effects the label, so no real issue

It works even without an antenna in my garage to my Land Cruiser

Just need the bracket to install the antenna. I ordered the ditch light bracket from Victory 4x4 and bought a 5/8" bit to widen the hole. Likely have to Dremel a touch to make it slightly bigger than that. We will see

 

[Romer]

Completed the install for the antenna and radio is now setup. Only able to test it so far 200 to Taco in the garage. Maybe I will run an errand tomorrow and have my wife LISTEN on a hand held and text me if she hears me

I bought the Bracket from @Victory 4x4 pictured above. I drilled out the hole with a 5/8" bit and then used a dremel to remove a little more until the antenna mount fit

I then installed the bracket without the antenna mount. Need to be careful here and remove one bolt, put the bracket on and hand tighten. Hold the bottom of the hood while removing the second bolt as it will shift. Slide the bracket over the 2nd hole and put the bolt back in.

Tighten both bolts and ensure the hood is aligned when down.

Put hood back up and feed cable and mount through back of hood and into the antenna mount. I bent it slightly to give a bit more room before installing it.

Install the mount and tighten it down. It looked like there was clearance underneath, but I added a piece of felt to the bottom of the mount as an extra precaution against scratching the paint.

Screw on the antenna

It doesn't obstruct anything up or down and it isn't in the way out the front windshield

 

[Victory 4x4]

Looks great! Just curious why you choose 5/8 over a 1/2 hole antenna mount? Just more mount/cable options?

Good call on holding the hood. Sometimes I mark it with a sharpie just in case.

 

[Romer]

Looks great! Just curious why you choose 5/8 over a 1/2 hole antenna mount? Just more mount/cable options?

Good call on holding the hood. Sometimes I mark it with a sharpie just in case.

That was what the HAM guru at HRO recommended. Not sure if HAM antennas come in 1/2"

 

[Victory 4x4]

https://www.walcottradio.com/nmo-mo...R3Xmq1gVEIzxoPNOax1O3ZjpUfPwi-oQaAhn6EALw_wcB

 

[Romer]

That's a different kind of mount, an NMO which is what I have on my other vehicle. When I described my setup and the bracket I was recommended this mount instead. I don't recall the reason. This antenna setup is lighter weight with the mount and the antenna, likely not by much though.

In any case I showed your bracket works with the 5/8" mount

 

[Victory 4x4]

That's a different kind of mount, an NMO which is what I have on my other vehicle. When I described my setup and the bracket I was recommended this mount instead. I don't recall the reason. This antenna setup is lighter weight with the mount and the antenna, likely not by much though.

In any case I showed your bracket works with the 5/8" mount

No problem, appreciate you showing the research on that, just curious so we can let any other customers that ask know.

 

[StreeTaco]

Almost finished with my radio install today, just waiting on my antenna to arrive. Radio is under the rear seat next to the battery. Stealth install by me, love this stuff! Sunglass holder retracts as normal. Fabricated a switch blank to accept a female mic cable, tricky. Removing the spoiler wasn’t too terrible.

 

[WØRTA]

Having a brother that is an electrician and a radio operator as well came in handy... He helped me get this set up. I love having that molle panel in the cab.

Ran out of time to hard wire the power, but will be a project for another day. Thinking about using one of the aux pigtails for it and on the same circuit in the bed putting anderson power poles on another pigtail to run an HF radio from the tailgate occasionally. We are also brainstorming where to run a GPS antenna for APRS either to the top of the dash or outside.

• Radioddity DB-25D Dual Band FM/DMR
• Dual Band NMO Antenna mounted using bed rail T nut/bolt

Minimally invasive even with the cigarette plug power. Just have to figure out what to do with the mic.

Very little coax exposure in the bed. Spaced back from the cab a bit for RF efficiency. Using a T nut/bolt removed the need for any drilling which was a thought that gave me heartburn… lol.

We ran the antenna coax through a grommet right behind the front passenger seat. There was already an opening in the carpet under the seat, so no cutting any holes! Just took a little bit of my brother's electrician ingenuity to fish the cable through to the opening in the carpet. Cable then went over the frame and up where the bed is separated from the cab. Last step will be to add a bit of silicone sealant to the grommet.

Don't deserve my awesome brother. Thanks bud!

 

[geonerdist]

Having a brother that is an electrician and a radio operator as well came in handy... He helped me get this set up. I love having that molle panel in the cab.

Ran out of time to hard wire the power, but will be a project for another day. Thinking about using one of the aux pigtails for it and on the same circuit in the bed putting anderson power poles on another pigtail to run an HF radio from the tailgate occasionally. We are also brainstorming where to run a GPS antenna for APRS either to the top of the dash or outside.

• Radioddity DB-25D Dual Band FM/DMR
• Dual Band NMO Antenna mounted using bed rail T nut/bolt

Minimally invasive even with the cigarette plug power. Just have to figure out what to do with the mic.

Very little coax exposure in the bed. Spaced back from the cab a bit for RF efficiency. Using a T nut/bolt removed the need for any drilling which was a thought that gave me heartburn… lol.

We ran the antenna coax through a grommet right behind the front passenger seat. There was already an opening in the carpet under the seat, so no cutting any holes! Just took a little bit of my brother's electrician ingenuity to fish the cable through to the opening in the carpet. Cable then went over the frame and up where the bed is separated from the cab. Last step will be to add a bit of silicone sealant to the grommet.

Don't deserve my awesome brother. Thanks bud!

How do you like that radio? I love the size for a go box or something.

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