Taco Whip Mod

[Last Man Standing]

Just finished this the other day too. Toyota base and a 15 inch whip. Looks much better and reception is great. I listen to am/fm and Bluetooth radio adapter (stock radio for now).

I'm in the same boat as the rest of you guy's and like this short whip you have used especially with your recommendation of great reception. Is this one a Toyota part or aftermarket one? Would appreciate the part number and where you found it? Also, how has the noise level been? Thanks for any help you can offer.

LMS

 

[2TH4IST]

I'm in the same boat as the rest of you guy's and like this short whip you have used especially with your recommendation of great reception. Is this one a Toyota part or aftermarket one? Would appreciate the part number and where you found it? Also, how has the noise level been? Thanks for any help you can offer.

LMS

The I purchased both the base and whip from amazon.

Base:
Genuine Toyota (86300-35090)... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P2QI9M8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Whip:
AntennaMastsRus - 15 Inch Black... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KTFLX98?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

 

[toyotaspeed90]

My solution to the power antenna mast being MIA, no radio frequency, and the power antenna motor driving me nuts.

This did not require any new wiring to the radio.

Theres 2 couplers with the edges ground down in the middle to make contact with the antenna wiring and the bottom/middle couplers tacked in place. Its a tight enough fit that I had to tap it into the sheathing with a hammer.

The result is an antenna mast that will take any 1/4x20 thread or adapter. Seems to work exceptionally well.

All in all... $2 for the allthread, $2 for the couplers, and $11 for the shorty antenna with adapters.

First photo was test fitting and checking reception. 2nd photo is of the allthread cut down and couplers tacked on place and after tapping with a hammer into place in the original tube.

Last photo is sideways, for no known reason

 

[Last Man Standing]

The I purchased both the base and whip from amazon.

Base:
Genuine Toyota (86300-35090)... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P2QI9M8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Whip:
AntennaMastsRus - 15 Inch Black... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KTFLX98?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I did this mod Saturday and all things considered it wen't rather well!
I will have to pull it apart again when time permits as the bolt broke off
that supported the old / new antenna. The flange that holds the antenna
is just sheet metal so I guess I was lucky t have not broken it trying to
remove the old bolt. Maybe a consideration to order an extra one when
purchasing a the fixed whip setup. I was surprised the taped wire fit where
the snap holders were from original antenna wire mounted.

Thanks again 2TH4IST for the link to the short whip, as it sure looks better than the taller one from Toyota. FM has great reception and AM seems to be
not too bad either, but need to compare against a fixed radio and will let you
all know what I find today.

LMS

 

[medic0079]

....I hate shipping costs

 

[3bears]

Just finished this the other day too. Toyota base and a 15 inch whip. Looks much better and reception is great. I listen to am/fm and Bluetooth radio adapter (stock radio for now).

a BIT off topic, is that an original sticker or belong to something....reason I ask is I can swear I saw that same one ( or pretty darn near), larger, on a boat on the chitna river in Alaska
I talked with him, not about sticker, his name is Chris, he is military, based just outside of Fairbanks Alaska ( we have an army base and an airforce base nearby)

 

[2TH4IST]

a BIT off topic, is that an original sticker or belong to something....reason I ask is I can swear I saw that same one ( or pretty darn near), larger, on a boat on the chitna river in Alaska
I talked with him, not about sticker, his name is Chris, he is military, based just outside of Fairbanks Alaska ( we have an army base and an airforce base nearby)

Its "nose art" common on most ww2 aircraft, a company called victory girl makes the stickers and also does actual paintings on stuff as well. I'm a huge fan of WW2 war birds so this is my way of showing that. Don't know the person with something similar on the boat you mention though.

The "In The Mood" is from a B-25J Mitchell and a B-29 Superfortress, but mine is a different variant of the image.

 

[octanejunkie]

While my retractable antenna was working fine, I just replaced it with a Metra internal windshield-mounted antenna. Works great, and installed in abotut 20 minutes. Completely out of the way (behind the rear view mirror), and was less than $20.

Late to the game here, but I was intrigued by the title of this thread #followed

My factory antenna was also working fine, but I didn't like how it powered on and went up when turning my aftermarket head unit on (vs only raising when using the tuner on the factory radio) so I put a switch on it.

I also added a Y adapter and an adapter for the in-window antenna in the rear passenger glass (it's a micro antenna plug) and you know what? I never raise the main antenna when using the radio unless I'm out in the boonies. Cheap diversity and the option to raise the antenna IF needed, saving the 23 year old motor.

You might want to try a quick $9 antenna adapter for the rear antenna and forgo the mast up front - might just work well enough -saving the expense and time of a taco whip mod project.
(which reminds me of the scene from the Blues Brothers where John Candy's character orders an orange whip)

 

[wrpsuite]

Can you go through car wash with the taco whip or have to unscrew it ? My mast is broken and don’t hear the motor anymore. Need a new head unit and will get anew antenna when they install, trying to figure out best solution and have parts available.


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[busmup808]

Can you go through car wash with the taco whip or have to unscrew it ? My mast is broken and don’t hear the motor anymore. Need a new head unit and will get anew antenna when they install, trying to figure out best solution and have parts available.


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Yes you can. In stock form that is on the roof. Once you put roof racks on our 4Runners, most establishments wont let you in the moving parts car washes. The dryless companies like The Pink Elephant here in WA let you go in if your under the height of 7’ high with a roof rack. My truck is at 7’2” and I no longer fit in any drive threw car washes. I have to go to the self wash establishments or wash it myself at home.


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[Bad Luck]

Can you go through car wash with the taco whip or have to unscrew it ? My mast is broken and don’t hear the motor anymore. Need a new head unit and will get anew antenna when they install, trying to figure out best solution and have parts available.


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Typically not recommended

 

[phattyduck]

Late to the game here, but I was intrigued by the title of this thread #followed

My factory antenna was also working fine, but I didn't like how it powered on and went up when turning my aftermarket head unit on (vs only raising when using the tuner on the factory radio) so I put a switch on it.

Some, though not all aftermarket radios have an "ANT" wire that you can use instead of the "AMP" wire - meant for powered antennas (to power aa antenna pre-amp). My old Pioneer does this, and the antenna only goes up with the tuner.

Might be worth checking...

-Charlie

 

[snydmax]

Can you go through car wash with the taco whip or have to unscrew it ? My mast is broken and don’t hear the motor anymore. Need a new head unit and will get anew antenna when they install, trying to figure out best solution and have parts available.


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I’d recommend the taco whip mod but use a stubby antenna in lieu of the actual Tacoma one


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[3bears]

Can you go through car wash with the taco whip or have to unscrew it ? My mast is broken and don’t hear the motor anymore. Need a new head unit and will get anew antenna when they install, trying to figure out best solution and have parts available.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

couple of things.
I have the taco whip
1) the taco whip should be unscrewed in a car wash. easy to do, but I have found it is fairly flexible for out in the bush.....but would not trust in a car wash...
2) dont use a drive in car wash, do it yourself, I have seen them pull off window visors and other stuff. I have not used a drive in car wash in prob 20 years....other than a pull in one that you use their wands and sprayer
3) I tried the stubby, but got the full whip....prob due to my location as the tubby was low reception....again ...prob location.
4) my former 99 , 2000, 2001 and current 2000 had a splitter antenna, one on the fender, one on the rear pass window, its obvious if you have one, looks like heater wires for a rear defrost. but the factory radio had a plug in for both, you can get a adapter for hooking together and plugging into a single port on the back of most radios. Only advantage I can see is if your main mast is broken and your in the city and some rural you will still get reception. It worked for me b4 I did the taco whip and had a broken mast on a motor antenna. I have hooked each of my past up with the splitter adapter.
5) you also mentioned getting a new head unit, might get one that can also take a usb adapter....cause if your gonna get out there....like overland, radio might not work anyway..and ive been places with no cell reception either...so most new units will play what you have stored on your phone ( bluetooth) and if not the usb plug is helpful

 

[RodrickHeffley]

for those looking to do this mod "on the cheap", without the DIY solution that PhoRunner shows on YT (I did this, the JB weld broke during winter 2023), I ordered this mast on eBay:

Manual Antenna Base Kit W/Holder fit 1996-2002 Toyota 4RUNNER/without mast | eBay

28.95 shipped, worked great, and installed perfectly. Sure beats spending 70$+ on an OEM Tacoma assembly.

 

[Krommeweg]

OEM Whip Mod 2025

Friends and neighbors,

I did the thing. Went with parts from the dealer. $110 including shipping from WA to AK. The majority of the cost is the black whip antenna. I definitely have better reception now, and I'm hoping Toyota parts will work their magic and never break again.

"Antenna Assembly w/ hold" : 86300-35090
This is a 1999 Taco sub-assembly, no antenna included. You'll have to bend the bottom mounting bracket a little when you install.

"Pole sub-assembly, pull" : 86309-0C020
This is the black whip antenna from a 2005 FJ according to the dealer.

Buy some black plastic clips for the wheel well liner while you're at it.
90189-06065

Like everyone says, most of the work is running the cable to the back of the head unit.

When you unplug the old cable from the head unit, tie a long string to it before you remove it. Pop the old cable out of the two clips behind the center console air duct, and the two clips on either side behind the airbag. Then use your string to feed the new cable back into place. The job still sucks, but the string will help you.

This took me four hours to do, outside in the gravel, with my dusty corroded 4runner. Buy extra clips for the wheel well liner! Just do it.

I'm glad it's done... but I would rather pull the starter motor every day for the next week in stead of doing this ever again.

I found this video helpful, although he pulls the whole fender off, and there's no way in hell his flagging tape worked effectively like a string. Not possible. Still helpful.
YouTube Magic

Full Disclosure: I have a '97 Taco in my shed for parts, and if I didn't want the black whip antenna... and accidentally snipped the cable... I could have just pulled everything off that truck. Find one in a junk yard and do this for $5 I'll save my pennies and get rich in the next life.