F#*%ing Power Antenna

[Gauge]

I cannot image that everyone else on this board actually replaces the crappy power antenna mast with the plastic toothed gear every few years when it breaks.

I've thought about replacing it altogether with a stationary one, but I like the ability to retract it so it doesn't snag up on trees when I'm off road.

Does anyone have any ideas for a "better than original" replacement for the antenna?

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

You actually have replaced yours how many times?

 

[Beowulf]

My 3rd one needs to be installed but I keep putting it off. I think those things hate me.

-B-

 

[T Y L E R]

Isn't there a thread from a ways back on those stubby antennas ?

I used to run one on the 4Runner .. worked fine . Car wash safe ..

TY

 

[Mudshack]

I would be interested too. After my mother acted as a live in nanny for a month (and drove the truck) the antenna seemed to stop working. All it does is whine for 30 sec when ever you shut it off. There has to be a better way.

 

[TX_TLC]

Mine is 11 years old...still works...*knock on wood*

I think I remembered seeing replacement power antennas in JC Whitney but just went to their site and searched for "Power antenna" and all I got was some cell phone antenna. Searching just for antenna returned a couple more choices...if you wanted one with a green, red, or blue LED glow..TYLER?

I know I just saw them at Advanced Vato Parts as well...don't know if these generic ones would fit in the fender, but surely they are cheaper than OEM...sorry Dan.

D

 

[Koffer]

Here comes stupid ? #523

What about "upgrading" to the older style power ant ?

The one on the Cruiser 92 fj80 has been replaced once but just the mast. (tree got it ) Its not a toothed type . Its a nylon round pipe type of thing .and the motor/gearbox looks and works alot like a fishing reel (the 96 is the same way and it came unscrewed from the bottem of the mast as the dealer didnt put the lock nut on it so I got the truck cheaper just like the "waterpump was going bad" from the aftermarket belt wine )

 

[Trapper]

My antenna bit the dust for the second time several months ago and I replaced it with a black rubber one from Advanced Auto Parts. I want to say it cost around $12. Do yourself a favor and remove the factory unit and throw it in the bushes. The rubber ones will not break off in the woods, are carwash safe and look cool too. Here is a pic of the antenna.

Mike

 

[ginericLC]

I used a universal one on my 91 and it works great. I think I even get better reception. I did have to do some funky things with the wiring. To keep my Up/Down Switches I wired it so you have to push both UP and Down to go up and just down to make it go down. I cannot recall why I had to wire it this way. But it works and I'm not complaining. I think it was $56.00 or so at Schuck's.

 

[tiorio]

I've had mine for years, up a down all the time no problem...

But you know you're supposed to clean and lube the antenna shaft every once in a while, right? I think that's the main thing that causes them to break is all the gunk building up in there and binding the shafts. Wipe that crap off when you wash the truck and throw some sort of lube on the there. I'll bet yours lasts a LOT longer...

 

[merbesfield]

i just replaced my power antenna yesterday. today we got a bunch of ice and i did not see a tree branch hangnig low, which proceeded to bend my new antenna. argh. how do i replace the mast only? i have the part, just not sure how to get it out of the unit?

 

[T Y L E R]

My antenna bit the dust for the second time several months ago and I replaced it with a black rubber one from Advanced Auto Parts. I want to say it cost around $12. Do yourself a favor and remove the factory unit and throw it in the bushes. The rubber ones will not break off in the woods, are carwash safe and look cool too. Here is a pic of the antenna.

Mike

Mike ,

Thanx for posting up your pics . That was just the thing I was referring to . Looks damn good on there . Does it have a really good seat on the curvature of the hood in your opinion ?

Thanx ,

TY

 

[Scamper]

I've replaced my mast only once since new. The only thing that breaks them IMO is abuse: my wife would constantly take the truck into the garage while the mast was fully extended; unfortunately, there was less clearance than the hight of the mast allowed for, so the mast was bent and beat to hell over time. Welcome new mast...

I've replaced the power antenna unit on the Honda a while back and used an aftermarket setup. Despite the fact that it was only 1/3 the cost of the OEM, it really sucks bigtime. Never retracts fully, despite "training" as the owner's manual indicates. Just not built with the same attention to quality that the OEM unit was.

If I was going to put a fixed antenna on my truck, I'd be opting for one even smaller than the one in the post above--more like the ones on the Honda SR2000. I put one of those on my Spyder to replace the original fixed whip; it's only about 6" long and is dishwasher proof too.

 

[Cruisin'Carolina]

Ty, I'll let Mike answer your question, but I had 2 of em on prior rigs, and mine came with an assortment of flat and curved bases, and rubber grommets/gaskets to help make a good seal. I thought they worked better in some areas (if you had a good signal in town), and worse in others(when traveling and you lose stations, it seemed to take longer to pic them back up).....

I like them, but when I get an 80 I'd have a hard time installing one unless I could make a different use for the area where the switch is located......I just don't like having switches that no longer work....but I am weird that way......Maybe a dash blank for another area from Cdan?

 

[T Y L E R]

it's only about 6" long and is dishwasher proof too.

SO are you talking model cars here ??


TY

 

[T Y L E R]

I like them, but when I get an 80 I'd have a hard time installing one unless I could make a different use for the area where the switch is located......I just don't like having switches that no longer work....but I am weird that way......Maybe a dash blank for another area from Cdan?

What about tying the up/down switch into some other item , like the middle row lights . You could flick the switch easily to turn and look for soemthing back there . Just relabel the switch . Have a sign place (or razor here) print out some vinyl icons ; white print on black or brown .

Skies the limit .

 

[Trapper]

I think it follows the lines of the hood pretty well. It comes with a rubber gasket (red arrow) that sits against the paint. There are a couple of curved bases (blue arrow)cut at an angle to follow the fender. The antenna and bases are all held on buy a nut (yellow arrow) on top. The reception is just as good if not better than the factory unit.

I was thinking of rigging my antenna buttons to work the winch. I think I remember a wiring diagram or something on Slee's site. I'll have to look again. Hope this helps.

 

[concretejungle]

I guess one other advantage to swapping out the stock antenna (well at least 95 and newer i think) is you can remove the up-down antenna button and use that space for another gadget.

 

[merbesfield]

Trapper, where did you get your antenna?

 

[Trapper]

I got it at Advanced Auto Parts.