The Tacoma is one of the most popular vehicles to ever roam the streets of America.
It has storied reliability and an attractive design, which draws in a large segment of owners.
But making little improvements to it here and there can be fun too. Short antennas are an affordable easy upgrade that you can install in under 30 minutes.
There are universal options and there are custom fits. Most in this guide will be custom, but the universal antennas are pretty good quality as well!
Let’s take a look at the 4 best short antennas for Toyota Tacomas:
1. The Original 6 3/4 Inch - Car Wash Proof Short EPDM Rubber Antenna - USA Stainless Steel Threading - Powerful Internal Copper Coil/Premium Reception by Votex
Votex makes a short antenna that is the old kid on the block. They’re intensely proud of their product and the work that went into it.
And they were one of the very first companies that led to creating the craze for shorter antennas.
They use an actual copper core. In many competitors you’ll see steel and even aluminum used sometimes. That’s because those metals are a bit less expensive. But the far superior metal to use for conductivity is copper.
Best of all, it’s a family owned company from right here in America. Which is nice to see with most products being imports. You can trust that these guys will still be around if you have an issue or a return.
For all those reasons above, it’s our best value pick overall!
2. AntennaMastsRus - The Original 6 3/4 Inch is Compatible with Toyota Tacoma (1995-2015) - Car Wash Proof Short Rubber Antenna - Internal Copper Coil - Premium Reception - German Engineered
AntennaMastsRus has unique offerings in sizes in styles. This 6 3/4 inch antenna that we link to has a copper core at a great price.
But if you want more color options you can get them if they’re in stock. For nearly every color of the rainbow you’ll be able to find something to match your vehicle.
For some reason though, their build isn’t the same across all lengths. So if you find a color that’s blue, it’s possible it could have an aluminum or steel core instead of copper. Which is something to watch out for.
They’re a great pick if you’re trying to see the variety of styles out there to suit your own style. Maybe you want a 17 inch pink all terrain antenna?! Shop your heart out.
3. Maxracing Short Aluminum Antenna Compatible with 1995-2016 Toyota Tacoma
The build quality on this Max Racing antenna is awesome overall. It meets a great price point and will get you a good signal.
This is made of aluminum at its core, and we don’t want to sound like a broken record so we’ll just skip over that.
You can get decent reception with other metals since all metal is conductive. If you like this style don’t let it sour your opinion too much!
They’re at a great price point for their quality and it’s extremely short at only 4 inches. You can install this in a couple minutes by just screwing it in. That was easy, and now you’re free to roam the radio waves as you wish.
4. Car Antenna, 4.7 Inch Sports Short Antenna for Truck, Carbon Fiber Bullet Antenna for Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, Honda, Nissan, VW, Audi, Mazda
Finally, we have arrived to our dear friend Mr. Universal antenna. He’s not packaged as prettily as the others, and he used to sit in the back of the class.
But he realized something and it helped his confidence grow. That is, he can make any truck get a great signal. Including your Toyota Tacoma.
This truck antenna is exceedingly affordable too. If you don’t like the look there’s no pain of buyers remorse. They included mounting hardware to fit any vehicle. Maybe you want to switch it out and put it on your car? That can work too.
The possibilities are endless! This is a great bargain buy with an aluminum core.
FAQS
Why should I get a shorter antenna?
If you’re here looking, we’re guessing it’s one of two reasons. The first potential reason is that your antenna is an obstacle. A common complaint that irritates drivers is when their antennas hit something in their routine. This could be coming home in your garage where there isn’t enough clearance, or passing under a certain sign.
If that’s you then you’re in the first camp. The second camp, is that they’re more aesthetically pleasing. For both sides we can agree that an update seems reasonable.
I want a really good radio signal, won’t a shorter antenna affect this?
It can, first you should read this. It all depends on the antennas build quality truth be told. There are also some materials that work better for conducting electricity, like copper. Some antennas use a copper coil to help boost its range.
But you’ll pay more for those. If you’re a big time radio listener we suggest that’s what you get if you want the best potential of it not affecting or even extending your signal!
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide helped you make an informed decision on an antenna you’d like to purchase. There are either universal items or custom fits. But in this category, the universal items are much easier to get a great fit. They include all the mounting hardware needed, so don’t be scared off!
We think that our first choice from Votex is the best all around option for Tacoma owners. Plenty of reviews back that up, in addition to the copper coil they have. It seems like a great upgrade.
But, there are plenty of other good choices out there as well. If you pick something from this guide or on your own, be sure to come back and tell us how it worked out. We love hearing from our readers. Thanks for stopping by.