Here is the pic of the antenna. The height is 51" (fully extended) from the top of the fender which seems to be a good height functionally and asthetically. This has whipped many tree limbs without damage (at full extension).



JL <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Am I missing some detail on this? Please post more info... I am interested as my factory one is now aerodynamically shaped and the base has just about rotted out completely...

roger that transmission.

my original was aerodynamically shaped as well (previous owner). <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> Not being one to leave an antenna in this condition, I set out for elcheapo replacement that could take the beating from tree limbs. I think this one works really good.

Go to auto-zone. Look for antenna. I am pretty sure I have the receipt in the truck. I could look for the part number and price. Right off, I cannot remember.

I did have to slightly enlarge the hole in the fender. A hand file will do the job just fine. It doesn't take much. HTH - Jackleg <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Were the original Trooper Antenna's power?

Factory ones were not power, at least not in the US. Not on any 88-91's, at least. Factory was a telescoping whip that generally gets shaped like a bow with age.

Thanks for the info JL. Will hit Autozone.

How much trouble was it to get in? How do you get to the underside/wiring? Does it have a jack on the antenna, or do you have to fish the wiring into the cabin?

So you know, the AutoZone's here in Jersey carry absolutely ZERO antenna replacements. I know this because I went to about 6 of them trying to track down an antenna for my truck about a month ago. I had to go to Pep Boys. This will vary by location, it seems, so just keep it in mind. AutoZone here couldn't even order me one.



I'll jump in here since I just did mine recently... It was easy as pie to put in, did it in about 10 minutes one day before work -- and anyone that knows me knows I'm ALWAYS late for work, so to get something like this done before work means it's very very easy. To get to the underside I had to remove about two screws that held the fender lining in place (might be different on yours) then contort my arm up into place to get it to seat right. Not difficult at all. As for the wiring, I pulled mine out of the fender long ago, so I just fished it through, then reached up under the glove box and found the end, routed it over to the radio, no big deal. If your antenna wire is still in place, tho, just cut it off the end, tape the new wire to it (use good tape) and pull it through from the back of the radio, nice and easy.

HTH, your truck may differ slightly but I'm sure it will be very close to the same thing...

-Chris

Chris is correct. However, this specific antenna is larger at the base and requires field fit to the fender (enlarge hole in fender). Once you remove the highly effective original antenna, you will notice that the fender hole looks like a hole (DUH!) with a key way in it. You will need to enlarge this key way to accept the keeper pivots on the new antenna that come up from the underside of the fender. This was easily done with a hand file. I then put paint back on the bare metal and installed the base.

Do as Chris said for the cable.

Here is the part # for the antenna that I purchased. You might be able to find it by number somewhere other than auto-zombie. This is the actual antenna #. Not the auto-zombie #.

AW-US13 price = $8.99.

You could probably find this on the net for $5, but the shipping will get you. HTH - JL <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

OK, so I hit my local autozone and found it. Got it home... that "field modification" on the hole was fairly significant (size-wise). I used my Dremel to open the hole up. Getting the old antenna wire out was a pain, I had to take out my glove box to fish it out. I popped the grommet out, then "rolled" it off the old cable and onto the new one.

I have to say, I do NOT like this antenna. It took some playing with the positioning to get it to sit vertical (the fender makes it want to point out/way from the truck). The big issue is that it flops around on the road quite a bit. The mast, being the extension-type, is fairly heavy and the spring is not stiff enough to keep it straight. I thought the spring would be there primarily for overhead obstacles, but it apparently is there to allow the antenna to whip around while driving, too. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Not sure if I will keep this one or find an OEM-ish replacement. Now that I've opened up the hole, it looks like I will be stuck with Autozone's offerings.

Here is a somewhat fuzzy pic of the aftermarket antenna I installed on my Trooper, it is a $7.99 gumby rubber flexible antenna that can take tree branches and such without too much fuss:

I had to get a little creative with the install, the supplied universal base could not quite compensate for the steep slope of the mounting location, so I reused the factory plastic base. I had to ream out a narrow part of the base with a Dremel, then it worked just fine.

Now even if I wreck it on the trails, replacements are available a block away for $5.

I was wondering how reception would be for such a short antenna, but it has been fine around town...we'll see how it does when I take it out of town.

Yeah, that's right, I forgot about my "modified-mount" -- I reused the original plastic-rubber thingy and just modified to fit the new antenna. Nothing I couldn't do with a simple razor blade and it still only took me about 10 minutes...

-Chris