Yaesu FT-8800R Install on 05+ Tacoma

[barlowrs]

Well it is time to tackle communications, and what better to reach out and touch someone than a FT-8800?

The following are the parts I am using:

Yaesu FT-8800R
Yaesu YSK-8900 (Remote mounting kit)
Diamond NR770HB Antenna
Cheap HRO $12.00 external speaker

The location I chose to install the radio is underneath the driver’s seat. This was the easiest part of my install, so I will not get into much detail on this. Just run the wires, mount it and you’re good to go.

The head unit was a bit more difficult. First of all, I want to give credit to Wil for the idea on this install. Because I like having things look as stock as I can and clean as I can, I decided to recess the head unit into the headliner.

To do this, I first had to remove the headliner (meaning I had to take out practically every piece of plastic from the truck!)

In order to secure the head unit, I made a bracket out of some 18 gage stainless steel. This bracket spans the hole I will cut and has tabs that match the angle of the ceiling of my truck. This SHOULD secure the radio (I hope).

Next was to cut a the hole….MEASURE FOUR TIMES CUT ONCE

…..we have reached the point of no return.

I cut the hole slightly small, and then used a very high temp heat gun to heat up the headliner and mold it up. Then I used spray adhesive and rolled the grey lining around so you wouldn’t see the white crap on top.

I then used some 2 part epoxy to glue the bracket to the headliner and then fibreglasses over it just to be safe (the bracket is also sandwiched between the roof of the cab and headliner when installed, so it shouldn’t go anywhere)

And here is with all the wires routed.

You will notice that there are two wires coming from it, and the remote kit only has one. This is because I also wanted to relocate the hand control. I did not want to have it dangling from my roof, so one wire is from the radio to the head unit, and the other is from the head unit to the hand control.

And here is the head unit when everything is put back together:

Next up, installing the hand control and external speaker

 

[barlowrs]

Yaesu FT-8800R Remote and External Speaker Install on 05+ Tacoma

Because I never like to leave things the way they come and have an obsession with making installs harder than they need to be, I decided I didn't want to just mount the speaker; I wanted to try to conceal it and make it look as if it came from the factory that way.

To do this I decided to try to recess the speaker so that the grill was all that was showing and so that it was flush with the rest of the interior panels. I chose the center consol around my shifter. This gives it a low and discrete location, as well as allowing me to do one speaker per side (one for HAM and one for CB if I get one).

First step was to CUT A HOLE…..once again, measure MANY times, then cut.

Then it was a lot of filing and exacto knifing to get it to fit. Once I got the hole cut. I took the bracket that came with the speaker and cut it in half. This allowed me to flip it upside-down and use it to mount the speaker flush.

Once again, some 2 part epoxy and some fiberglass to be safe and here is the result:

I also decided to make a quick disconnect for the hand controller. This will allow me to disconnect it when not in use so I do not have a cord and stuff laying around.

To do this I got a simple 6 pin comm. Connection (female-female). I machined a bracket out of some aluminum so that I have a large flange and surface to glue and expoy too.

Then all that was left was to cut a hole, epoxy and fiberglass into place.

And here is the remote plug location and the speaker.

And inside the truck

 

[oz97tj]

Nice install. I just purchased the same radio, but will be installing it in a JK. Your a lot more dedicated than I with the install. However, seeing as you are obsessive as you are, you should have drilled holes for the speaker making a factory matching grill of sorts. That would have been cool.

Then again, you did a fantastic job the way you did it too. lol

 

[DaktariEd]

That's sick!!! :ylsmoke:
What a great install!
You should be quite proud of your work....well done! :victory:

 

[SilverBullet]

I love the install great work! On my ICOM, the screen is designed to be viewed from above, so yoru head unit location would not be visable, but I really like the speaker idea. I have to look into that... thanks for the idea.

 

[Jerseytaco]

sick! Excellent speaker location..:coffeedrink:

 

[stolenheron]

fantastic install

 

[AlwaysExplr87]

Very clean! Almost could pass for factory.

 

[spressomon]

Schaweet! Great job! If this is your first foray into Ham you'll find it difficult to go back to CB...let your trail buds come up to Ham

 

[TangoBlue]

Expert job! Meticulous craftsmanship - good-on-you!

 

[Cabrito]

That is one of the nicest install I have seen.

Great work.

 

[targa88]

sick! Excellent speaker location..:coffeedrink:

Professional install - excellent.

Where did you get your switches from?

 

[gary in ohio]

VERY NICE install.. I always prefer radio's up high but thats the best mounting I have seen.. Tip of the hat to you...

 

[barlowrs]

Nice install. I just purchased the same radio, but will be installing it in a JK. Your a lot more dedicated than I with the install. However, seeing as you are obsessive as you are, you should have drilled holes for the speaker making a factory matching grill of sorts. That would have been cool.

Then again, you did a fantastic job the way you did it too. lol

I actually looked into seeing if any of the stock (OEM) tacoma spoeaker grills would work, however they are all made to strange curves, so I couoldnt adapt one. This works for now, especially since its low and discrete.

I also thought about trying to jus drill small holes in a cirular shape directly into the pannel and mount the speaker behind it,however, even with a CNC, that would have been VERY difficult to make look right doing one hole at a time. I one hole a few tenths off would throw everything off, and I didn't want to risk it.....If only I had access to a mutli-drill bit maching..haha

 

[barlowrs]

Thanks everyone for the compliments. Now, lets see if I can learn how to use this thing! haha