Shark fin antenna relocate to inside dashboard

[dougthescience]

I needed to remove my shark fin antenna so a slide-in camper would have enough clearance above the roof. Here's some of the highlights of what I did:

First, drop the headliner near the rear window:

Unlike past generations, the rear hangers don't twist to remove. You need to pop off the cover and then remove the metal clip that holds the hanger. Two small screwdrivers or spudgers will do the trick on the cover.

Release the hanger from the metal clip. Needlenose pliers help.

Here's the hard part. Lift the clip and squeeze so the bottom retaining portion of the clip is released from the square hole, and simultaneously use a small screwdriver to release the upper portion of the clip from the top.

Here's what a removed clip looks like.

Remove C-pillar covers on both sides for ease of access to antenna connector. The driver's side C-pillar covers the white connector that can be disconnected to make the process easier. Also, cut or remove the tape that holds the antenna harness to the edge of the headliner at the top of C-pillar.

Drop the rear portion of the headliner that is above the rear window so you can see the antenna harness/antenna connection.

Remove the 10mm bolt that holds the antenna harness to the roof above the rear window. This bolt appears to act as a ground for the harness as well. You will re-use this bolt later on when stashing the shark fin antenna in the dashboard, if that is where you choose to put the antenna.

If anyone is interested in camera removal or relocation, the grey connector next to the white connector is where the camera near the 3rd brake light camera connects.

Remove the 10mm bolt holding the antenna harness to the bottom of the shark fin antenna. At this point you can remove the shark fin from the top side of the roof as well. Unclip the wiring harness between the antenna and white connector.

Bottom view of shark fin antenna. Bolt is an M6 x 1.00 thread pitch.

Hole in roof is approximately 20mm x 32mm rectangular hole.

I purchased these plastic plugs to cover the hole.

I had to shave off most of the ribs/fins to fit the plug into the hole using a box cutter. I then sanded the plastic surfaces that would be seeing the adhesive because the otherwise shiny surface doesn't allow for a great surface to adhere to.

I taped off the roof about an 1/8" away from outline of the plastic plug, loaded the plug up with Sikaflex 291 and pushed the plug into the hole.

Here's the final product. Not super pretty but it's held out a couple of North Oregon Coast deluges, so I'm happy. Plus my new Kimbo camper won't need a spacer below it to lift it above the shark fin.

Then, I removed the top of the driver's side B-pillar cover and released the headliner along the driver's side. That allowed me to pull off the glued-down antenna wiring harness that runs along the topside of the headliner near the driver's side edge of the headliner.

I removed the A-pillar cover and dashboard speaker cover and the speakers (tweeter and ~3" dashboard speaker). I kept the antenna harness bolted to the A-pillar (about 2/3 of the way down the pillar).

I then reconnected the white connector, connected the shark fin to the antenna harness, spooled up the harness and shoved the shark fin and harness through the dashboard speaker hole. Sorry, forgot to take a picture of this!

The fin fit just perfect in a section of the dashboard directly to towards the centerline of the dashboard behind the gauge cluster, and miraculously there was an unused threaded 10mm bolt in a metal piece that runs between the dashboard speaker location and the place where the shark fin was nestled. I used this to attach the harness bolt from the rear-roofline above the rear window.

Attach all pillar covers and drink a beer!

Reception isn't quite as good as before but for me the new out-of-the-way location is worth it.

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[Miqie]

Is the shark fin just for satellite reception or does it also function for AM/FM and HD radio?

 

[Sner]

Seems like a ton of work, I know the aftermarket makes a low profile shark fin antenna for many different applications.

 

[dougthescience]

Which aftermarket part? I didn't see any for gen4 tacoma

 

[SnowmanJPS]

Seems like a ton of work, I know the aftermarket makes a low profile shark fin antenna for many different applications.

Well now I want an aftermarket one, any links?

 

[Sner]

Well now I want an aftermarket one, any links?

Don’t know a lot about them…. But here you go. - would just seem to me there has to be aftermarket solotions.

 

[dougthescience]

That's better than any I found, but it looks like about the same height as ours, except that the wiring to connectors is totally different.

I think when they say "low profile" they are talking about lower profile than a whip antenna.

 

[dougthescience]

Is the shark fin just for satellite reception or does it also function for AM/FM and HD radio?

I think it is an all purpose antenna for GPS, am/fm and HD radio and satellite radio.

 

[dougthescience]

I'm sure there's better ways to deal with the antenna if you don't have to completely make it disappear like I did. Just thought I'd post this for those that need to get it out of the way entirely.

 

[h2o-bar]

Great write up. I never thought about re-locating the antenna to the inside/dash of my truck. How about a pic of the final instal? I'll be looking to do the same since I also have a cab-over camper.

 

[Dirt]

That's a heck of a project and mighty good write up with the pictures. A couple of questions - Did you have any problems re-attaching the head liner? Do I understand correctly that the antenna is now under the windshield glass and dash board amongst the other wiring back there? You kinda answered my concern about the last part - if you have pretty good reception on the N. OR coast that's pretty normal

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