3rd Gen Stubby Antenna Mod

[BondoMN]

Hey all! I'm not sure if this has been done before or not. My retractable antenna was bent, broken and not doing much for retracting anymore so I figured out a way with some hardware to make this work. I figured I would make a post anyway in case others want to do this.

I started with buying a 4th gen stubby antenna.
Link: https://www.cravenspeed.com/the-original-stubby-antenna-for-2002-2013-toyota-4runner/
It says it fits 02s, but it definitely does not so don't order thinking it will work.

Parts used:
(QTY: 1) #10-32 6" Threaded Rod
(QTY: 2) #10-32 Coupler
(QTY: 2) #10-32 Jam Nut
(QTY: 2) #10-32 Flat Washer

Step 1:
Remove the nut on the base of the antenna

Step 2:
Remove the retractable antenna motor by unscrewing/clipping the fender liner in the wheel well

Step 3:
Cut the bottom of the antenna stem off. I cut about 5" from the top of the antenna (the part you unthreaded the top nut off of).

Step 4:
Take the antenna, unscrew the little short threaded rod that comes with it. With a washer against the antenna followed by the coupler, followed by the jam nut, thread the rod into the antenna until it stops. Once you find that point, tighten the jam nut against the coupler to lock it in place.

Step 5:
Take the other coupler nut and thread it on the bottom of the threaded rod. Put that assembly you've made, with the threaded rod and antenna, through the base of the antenna that you cut. Thread the coupler nut down far enough to be flush with the cut you made (it is not flush in the pic, so you can see what I'm talking about).

Step 6:
Put the other washer you have onto the threaded rod after the coupler nut. It should be just about the same diameter as the antenna base/tube. Then thread on the jam nut on top of that washer and tighten it down.

Step 7:
Remove the stubby antenna and washer from the top of the threaded rod. The threaded rod will fall out, so you can tape it in place if you want to, I just held it in place. Now you're ready to put the antenna assembly back up through the fender. While pushing the antenna back up through the fender, put that top chrome antenna nut back on and tighten it down so that the top of the coupler nut is flush with it (not flush in pic).

Step 8:
Put the washer on top of the chrome antenna nut and screw on the stubby antenna until it's tight. BAM! Now you have a stubby antenna on your 3rd gen! My reception works just as good as before with no issues!

Thanks for reading, I hope this helps someone!

 

[BostonJon]

Bookmarked! Thanks for this. Mine is working today, but I’m sure only a matter of time before the motor quits.

 

[BoomerBob]

You have essentially done the motor bypass mod without paying the outrageous $60 like I did.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07B8XSTG6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I found the stubby antenna didn't give a good enough reception. Fortunately I had a 13" flexible antenna in my shop not doing anything. Now it gets good reception.

 

[AKAtheWiz]

Most people end up replacing the whole antenna assembly, running the new cable all the way back through the firewall into the back of the head unit. Search taco whip mod and you will find dozens of examples. But if your mod works then it would be much less expensive and much less of hassle than disassembling half of the passenger side interior to route the cable.

Is this functional? Does the new antenna you installed make a connection with the old antenna wire?

 

[toyotaspeed90]

OkWeird, I did the same thing about a month ago and posted about it in the other antenna mod thread (and on Mud).... except I used longer allthread, longer nuts (meant for allthread) and tack welded it....

Pictures aren't really in order or anything....


Requires no rewiring so long as you cut I the right place and place the nuts against where the stock wiring attaches to the stock tube - then you have a connection between the wiring (at the tube) and the mast (nuts pressed against the tube/wiring, screwed into the allthread - which connects to the antenna).

Works great.



Edit - looks like the OP rewired aa the stock doesnt attach to the bottom but to the side of the tube as shown in mine.

 

[BondoMN]

Most people end up replacing the whole antenna assembly, running the new cable all the way back through the firewall into the back of the head unit. Search taco whip mod and you will find dozens of examples. But if your mod works then it would be much less expensive and much less of hassle than disassembling half of the passenger side interior to route the cable.

Is this functional? Does the new antenna you installed make a connection with the old antenna wire?

Yea I didn't want to rewire the antenna so I figured out a way to do it without doing that. I looked up the whip mod and didn't want to go that route. This was pretty cheap to do. It is functional and works great!

 

[BondoMN]

OkWeird, I did the same thing about a month ago and posted about it in the other antenna mod thread (and on Mud).... except I used longer allthread, longer nuts (meant for allthread) and tack welded it....

Pictures aren't really in order or anything....


Requires no rewiring so long as you cut I the right place and place the nuts against where the stock wiring attaches to the stock tube - then you have a connection between the wiring (at the tube) and the mast (nuts pressed against the tube/wiring, screwed into the allthread - which connects to the antenna).

Works great.



Edit - looks like the OP rewired aa the stock doesnt attach to the bottom but to the side of the tube as shown in mine.

Looks like essentially the same thing! I would've used bigger all thread like you but I got the size made for the antenna so it was easier.

Great minds think alike!

 

[ProjectTrinity]

Nice! Mine did not have an antenna when I picked it up so this would be a good alternative!

 

[CT135]

Thanks for posting! Mine is in rough shape right now (bent and groans every time it tries to come up) and will probably go any day.

 

[BondoMN]

Nice! Mine did not have an antenna when I picked it up so this would be a good alternative!

Glad it could help!

 

[BondoMN]

Thanks for posting! Mine is in rough shape right now (bent and groans every time it tries to come up) and will probably go any day.

No problem! Mine did the same thing but was stuck in place, it needed to go haha

 

[trianburner]

My antenna has just been missing for the most part of the 2 years I have had my truck, and I want to do something to it, but I never use the radio, and if I do I get most of the stations anyway, without an antenna. So I've had no incentive to actually do it.

I've considered trying to mount a quick-connect CB radio antenna there, but I don't actually need CB and have HAM radios at the moment. So I don't know what to do. But after seeing how simple it could be from this post, I'm inclined to just put the radio antenna there cuz it's just so cheap. And I could replace it further down the line if I wanted to.

I think I'll do it this weekend, thanks for the instructions!

Edit: Where do you get new plastic clips for the fender liner, because as far as I know, you have to destroy them right?

 

[Ghostrider]

Yea I didn't want to rewire the antenna so I figured out a way to do it without doing that. I looked up the whip mod and didn't want to go that route. This was pretty cheap to do. It is functional and works great!

rewiring the antenna is a major pain. I replaced the motor on my 01 and discovered that the wire did not plug into the motor but was wired into it. It also was run thru the cockpit before anything like the blower ducts and stuff were put in. If you wanted to follwo the orignal path you had to pull almost everything from passenger footwell. I cut the old one and run new cable near the old path in about an hour versus probably 2 days to take everything out

 

[Sarki]

rewiring the antenna is a major pain. I replaced the motor on my 01 and discovered that the wire did not plug into the motor but was wired into it. It also was run thru the cockpit before anything like the blower ducts and stuff were put in. If you wanted to follwo the orignal path you had to pull almost everything from passenger footwell. I cut the old one and run new cable near the old path in about an hour versus probably 2 days to take everything out

Not sure if this is what you did but for me if running a new antenna best way to run the wire would be to attach to the old one with duct tape or whatever and just pull the new one through as you pull the old one out.
On my list of things to do but unfortunately the list is a bit long.

 

[MarkBlack]

Looks awesome! Im having the same issue with my antenna, ill be doing this tomorrow!

 

[BondoMN]

Looks awesome! Im having the same issue with my antenna, ill be doing this tomorrow!

Awesome! Glad it could help!

 

[Johnnie]

So my motor died as well but I took an even simpler path , I pulled up the top of the old antenna and when I got a good grip I pulled real hard until the antenna was forced up about 3/4 of the way up................. and I left it there , and there it stays and reception is great

 

[repo]

Simply chopping that thing is genius. I've been meaning to do the tacoma whip or something like this for ages but put it off because of the hassle with buying parts and fishing the cable through to the head unit.

 

[BondoMN]

Simply chopping that thing is genius. I've been meaning to do the tacoma whip or something like this for ages but put it off because of the hassle with buying parts and fishing the cable through to the head unit.

It's easy to do and no rewiring is needed! Give it a go

 

[ccampbell01]

One of the easiest mods yet! Thanks for the write up! Word to the wise...be careful using a flathead to unscrew the cover piece. One slip and you’ve got a nice gouge in the paint. I used a towel behind the nut just in case and glad I did!