Mobile Antenna Farm 2.0 - TW Transfer

Until today - Jan. 2 2017 I was the owner of a 2007 Speedway Blue 4x4 Tacoma Mobile Antenna Farm

I live near Austin, TX but grew up in South Eastern Wisconsin. I am active with Heart of Texas Off Road Club, as well as Texas Overland. I'm a ham radio extra (and more than willing to help any of you with any radio/communications related questions.) And am ultimately an all around geek. My Tacoma took me to the Rimrocker Trail in Colorado in 2016, which ended at Rock Therapy! I can't wait for next year to go back. Since then I've had my Tacoma on a steady high protein diet, with plenty of steroids, and now I have a 2010 Toyota Tundra TRD Rock Warrior - 4x4 in Black with the 5.7L V8

It's seen some use, which is ok! That makes it hurt less when I take it out and it comes home with pin stripes.

Here are a few photos from the day I brought it home.




I'll get a build thread started once I decide how I'm going to install my pile of communications gear, and decide on off road enhancements that make sense for how I'm likely to use the truck. Looking forward to being an active member here and learning!

 

Welcome! Lots of us are former Taco owners. Be sure to check out @csuviper's build for any ideas for your Rock Warrior.

 

Welcome from AZ! Let us know if we can help set your rig up in any way.

 

Y'all got any of dem.... Winning Powerball Tickets?

 

You will have to come down and buy some to find out

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome Lars! I'm not far from your area of Texas. What part of Wisconsin are you from? I grew up in Wisconsin as well. If you can post some info on the HAM radio stuff.

 

I grew up in Waukesha (about 25m due west of the lake & Milwaukee)

Here's a good, radio focused post on my blog about the Tacoma I just sold. https://lnoldan.com/mobile-antenna-farm/
There were Three ham Radios, and a CB on board.

1. Dual Band - VHF/UHF - Kenwood TM-D700
2. All Band - HF/VHF/UHF - Icom IC-706MKIIg
3. APRS Transmitter - VHF - Byonics Microtrak-RTG
4. AnyTone Smart CB - This was the smallest thing I could find. It works pretty well and was cheap.

 

Looking forward to watching this get built up. I just got a Tundra CM and haven't figured out where to mount my TM-D700's and antennas.

 

I spent a little time out in the truck tonight, and I think I know where the control heads are going to live. I know for sure where that CB is going to live. (I'd prefer the bottom of lake Travis, but the off road club(s) still use them.) I'll see if I can get the mounts in place tomorrow when it's light out, and snap some photos.

Actually getting everything installed will take longer. In the Tacoma, removing all the gear required taking all of the interior from under the Climate Controls, to the back of the truck out. Everything was neatly stowed under the carpet, or behind trim panels.

EDIT: Bonus, I'm going to have to pull the head liner... I guess that'll make putting in the NMO mounts easy.

 

Here's a vid that shows the rear of a gen 2 headliner being loosened to replace the 3rd brake light. Might help.

Edit: BTW Lars, my father in law had his Extra Class. Not easy and not many around. Congrats!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYtliycn_zg

 

Welcome from CA!

 

Trust me, it ain't independent! That's what happens when you get married! LOL. I call it jointly independent!! LOL

So that's what happens when you get so close to retirement, you ramp up the shit stirring huh? LOL

Shhhhh. Keep it down and I'll get you some spyders and morimitos!!

 

Welcome from CO.

 

Welcome from eastern CO!

 

Is Headlight haze a common problem on these trucks? I think it shows in the photo but mine are pretty cloudy.
It looks like none of the aftermarket headlights keep the "in cab" adjuster. How big of a problem is that really?

 

Welcome Lars and congrats on your new ride.

 

Welcome from a fellow Ham. I'm still waiting for good weather and health to get my gear re-installed, but it'll happen. Keep us up to date on your progress.

BTW, I referred to my previous vehicle as my Rolling Bird Hazard. I heard birds hit the big antenna on two separate occasions as they flew by. The big antenna was a HI-Q 4/80. The smaller antennas were a dedicated APRS antenna, a 2m/440 antenna, and one for 900mhz. All on an S-10 Chevy.

 

This was the "Mobile Antenna Farm" (V1.0)

 

Any recommendations on aftermarket lights that aren't going to suck?

 

Welcome

 

Unless you LIKE giving away stuff, I'm not looking for any hand outs, even if they're trying to get you in trouble.
I would love a set of portable suns at the front corners of my truck though.

I'm glad I pulled the plug on the first truck, before I did the Long Travel Kit, with Kings all the way around.

 

Welcome from WI!

 

Where in WI? There's a good chance I'll be driving the Tundra up that way in a month or two.

 

Trust me brother, I'd love nothing more than to pay it forward, but my wife's still in post doc residency. We ain't making a ton of money.

These guys love to make it sound like I got cash to burn.

 

True true!

Man that's terrible! Honestly, every single area will have some kind of natural disaster. But I'd rather not push my luck so I don't blame you.

Hell im pretty familiar with that crap. Hurricane season in both south Louisiana and south Florida, flooding in La. here in TN seems pretty quiet but only been here 4 months so.....we'll see LOL