Antenna makes Prius too tall for my garage. Solution?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by exhuman, Apr 11, 2005.

  1. exhuman

    exhuman Member

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    The antenna makes my Prius just barely fit under my garage door to get in the garage. I worry that one day I'll back out and the antenna will snap off. I just happened upon a possible solution on eBay. It's a short replacement antenna for the OEM one. I just ordered one for $9.99 plus $4 shipping.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...item=7967144687

    I couldn't wait and thought I'd take the big 13.99 gamble. And I'll report back about success/failure. But has anyone else tried one of these type things before or know of other sources for short antennae?

    Thanks,
    Ex
     
    #1 exhuman, Apr 11, 2005
  2. mikepaul

    mikepaul Senior Member

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    All I can say is, that's one seriously short garage...
     
    #2 mikepaul, Apr 11, 2005
  3. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Amen, how high is the garage door? The lowest I've heard of is 7 feet and that antenna has to be lower than that.

    If you do a search you'll find some other experiences with the short antennae...most find that there is a clear decrease in reception. I haven't, yet, gotten one, but have been considering it b/c I rarely listen to 'regular' radio anymore anyway since I tend to have XM on 24/7.
     
    #3 efusco, Apr 11, 2005
  4. reesdude

    reesdude New Member

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    i had a 3.55'' billet similar to ur item but with a pointed tip at the end. I ended up returning it because there seemed to be a gap between the base and the antenna and so didnt appear quite as nice as i thought it would. I currently drive without any antenna since i do not listen to the radio that much, however I am looking for a replacement antenna that looks just like urs that actually fits nicely. take some some pics of urs and let us know how it looks =)
     
    #4 reesdude, Apr 11, 2005
  5. priusham

    priusham New Member

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    If it "just barely fits" what are you worried about? It FITS! It's not going to grow any longer :lol:

    Sorry... thought that was a pretty funny post. I agree with the others here who say you have one seriously short garage door!
     
    #5 priusham, Apr 11, 2005
  6. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    hydraulic shocks!
    I've always wanted to see a pimped out hydraulic Prius!! :-D
     
    #6 TonyPSchaefer, Apr 11, 2005
  7. mikepaul

    mikepaul Senior Member

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    Follow-up question: is the inside of the garage as low as the door? I'd hate to be stuck with a garage that I couldn't open the trunk in without hitting the ceiling, but I can't think of a good reason to have a garage door be that low without the whole garage being 'short'. I'd always be hitting my head on something...
     
    #7 mikepaul, Apr 11, 2005
  8. exhuman

    exhuman Member

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    I hope everyone is good and happy now that you've all given my garage door quite the size related complex.

    Let me address these many pressing issues. When I say "Barely" I mean the driver must be naked for the car to fit. No, that's not it. I mean. I mean it will fit if I don't park it too close to the center. And it's not the garage ceiling that causes the agro. It's the garage door, whose lowest hardware point is around six feet from the ground when the door is up. The low point is in the middle. So... if my driving skills are at their peak and I stay to the right or the left, no worries. But that ain't always the case and that worry is the cause of my short antenna obsession. There, I've confessed it publicly.

    I will be happy to clear up any more confusion in this matter. But please realize the sensitive nature of my garage's psyche.
     
    #8 exhuman, Apr 11, 2005
  9. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    I know some decent therapists we can refer your garage door to.
     
    #9 efusco, Apr 12, 2005
  10. Bob Allen

    Bob Allen Captainbaba

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    Chisel out a pair of channels a few inches deep in the garage floor. That way, you'll clear the door AND have a sure fire means of centering your car in the garage. Shouldn't take more than a few hours with a jackhammer.......
     
    #10 Bob Allen, Apr 12, 2005
  11. Charles Suitt

    Charles Suitt Senior Member

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    :) Hi exhuman...

    I replaced my original antenna with a 2" stub antenna ordered from Germany (found on eBay). Looks great and around the Dallas metro I have no apparent reduction in reception. I believe your stubby antenna replacement would provide adequate reception perhaps excepting rural areas.

    OT: I note that you are "owned" by two cats. Note my avatar "Princess."
     
    #11 Charles Suitt, Apr 12, 2005
  12. jmdor

    jmdor New Member

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    Alternatively, if you have a garage door opener, just adjust the opener to pull the door up a few more inches. If it's already maxed out, you're stuck.
     
    #12 jmdor, Apr 14, 2005
  13. exhuman

    exhuman Member

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    I received the antenna I got from the ebay ad:
    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAP...item=7967144687

    It seems to produce good reception for me so far. Might have different results if I were away from a big metropolitan area tho, who knows.

    It installed easily and looks like it belongs there.

    Ex
     
    #13 exhuman, Apr 22, 2005
  14. jimofdg

    jimofdg New Member

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    Many PriusChat members include a photo of their car in their avatar.

    Are those two cats (and the ladder) on top of your Prius?

    That could be the problem right there! :roll:

    Glad to hear the eBay thing works for you.
     
    #14 jimofdg, Apr 22, 2005
  15. Robert Taylor

    Robert Taylor New Member

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    The depth of the concrete is thin in the middle, sometimes only an inch so when that chisel goes into the clay be very careful, the plumbing waste line might be the next "hard target". I actully have run jackhammers while working my way through college.
     
    #15 Robert Taylor, Apr 22, 2005
  16. exhuman

    exhuman Member

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    Dang! That was it. Once I took the ladder off of the Prius all was well. And the cats I put in the driver's seat. Turns out they are better drivers than I am.
     
    #16 exhuman, Apr 23, 2005
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