Shorty Antenna

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Sun Oct 03, 2010 3:16 am

I originally posted this topic on Jeep Forum, but did not get much help. Thus, I thought I would try my luck on here! I went to my local auto parts dealer to buy a shorty antenna, but was disappointed to discover that none of the "universal" kits worked. I guess our thread size is very unique. I was wondering if any of you have installed a shorty antenna on your KJ. If so, which one did you buy? I would like to get the Mopar Shorty Antenna, but I don't think it will fit on our KJ since they are made for the KK. Do any of you have experience with the Mopar Shorty Antenna? For those that have never seen it, here is what the Mopar Shorty Antenna looks like:

I located a different shorty antenna on eBay that will apparently fit on our KJ: http://tiny.cc/zw918. Do any of you have experience with this shorty antenna? They have them available in three sizes and two styles. I would like to get the 6" ball end antenna, but I think it would be too small and receive poor reception. For this reason, I am leaning more towards the 9" or 12" version. How do you guys think the reception will be with a 6" antenna, compared to the 35" OEM antenna? Thanks in advance for the help!

jimkelly · **Posted:** Sun Oct 03, 2010 11:56 am

I did research on the forum here and over at JeepKJ Country before I made my choice.

I just purchased my shorty 13" euro style rubber antenna from www.antennax.com for $14.99 and shipping is free. They are on ebay also, but I purchased directly from their website. It comes with the proper threads also! It took me all of 3 minutes to switch out. I haven't had the time to take pics yet but it looks great.

I live in Philadelphia, PA and obviously reception is not a problem here. Since I put on the new shorty antenna I'm getting more stations (better reception) from the surrounding communities then I did with the stock antenna.

Just go to there website and select Jeep on the left. The also have a 14" Black billet antenna for the KJ's also for $19.99 shipped. Be careful though as they show a picture of the Jeep JK Unlimited with each description. (i.e. Antenna for a 87-89 Jeep Commanche MJ shows a pic of the Jeep JK unlimited) Both liberty antenna's only have the picture of the antenna though.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Wed Oct 06, 2010 5:15 pm

SAT radio antennas are even shorter...

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 12:32 am

jimkelly: That is the exact style of billet antenna I have been looking for. I only wish it was a shorter length.

JL Rockies: I never thought about that before. It would make sense if the SAT antennas are powered, then it wouldn't really matter how short they are.

jimkelly · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2010 8:35 pm

Carmodifier wrote:

jimkelly: That is the exact style of billet antenna I have been looking for. I only wish it was a shorter length.

Here is the 13" rubber antenna mounted. It's pretty short and gets way better reception than stock. Their billet would only be 1 inch taller.

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:09 pm

jimkelly, thanks for posting the pic! It displays most of the mods that I am installing this Fall (painted wheels, tint w/ eyebrow, side air deflectors, shorty antenna). If only your KJ was red so I could better picture what my Jeep will look like

I plan on installing a sunroof next Summer. Did your KJ come with one or did you install it?

jimkelly · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:28 pm

Carmodifier wrote:

I plan on installing a sunroof next Summer. Did your KJ come with one or did you install it?

Came from the factory that way. Good luck to you on your mods. I'm on my way outback now to paint the beltline with black bed liner.

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Sat Oct 09, 2010 2:18 am

jimkelly wrote:

Came from the factory that way. Good luck to you on your mods. I'm on my way outback now to paint the beltline with black bed liner.

Thanks! I saw your thread on JeepKJ Counrty in regards to painting your beltline. Feel free to post some pics once you are finished

jimkelly · **Posted:** Sat Oct 09, 2010 9:25 pm

here they are:

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Sun Oct 10, 2010 10:22 am

jimkelly wrote:

here they are:

WOW that looks nice I like tha antenna and the bead liner alot. I think I'm gonna have to get that antenna cus I hate mine wacking every tree branh and what car washes do to it. mine is a little bent now.

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Sun Oct 10, 2010 12:20 pm

jimkelly, the beltline looks great! How hard was this to do? I am curious though as to why you choose black instead of dark charcoal; I am assuming you wanted that contrast...

jimkelly · **Posted:** Sun Oct 10, 2010 6:43 pm

Carmodifier wrote:

jimkelly, the beltline looks great! How hard was this to do? I am curious though as to why you choose black instead of dark charcoal; I am assuming you wanted that contrast...

Yes wanted the contrast besides, I only thought the bed liner came in black. (I may be wrong though) I used Dupli-Color Truck Bed Coating in the rattle cans. I have blacked out various portions of the KJ.

Took me approximately 2 hours per side. Most of that was the prep work which included taping, sanding and tack clothing the area. Taping a straight line on the beltline is the most critical part. Painting was the easiest part and the stuff dries in 5 minutes between coats. I painted 4 coats to each side so the painting portion only took about 25 minutes per side. I used one can on each side and still have enough left for touch ups. (hopefully I won't need to touch it up though)

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Fri Oct 29, 2010 2:49 am

Does anyone know where I can find this style of antenna pictured on the KJ in the following link:
http://www.antennax.com/p-814-black-billet-14-antenna-jeep-liberty-2005-2006-2007-kj.aspx Make sure to click on "View Image Larger" to better see the detail of the antenna.

I bought that antenna in the link, thinking it was the one pictured on the KJ. AntennaX stopped making that style of antenna five years ago, but still uses those pictures

I received the antenna that is pictured by itself in that link.

I really want that antenna pictured on the KJ. Does anyone know where I can get one of those??

67Customs · **Posted:** Fri Oct 29, 2010 4:54 pm

jimkelly wrote:

I just purchased my shorty 13" euro style rubber antenna from http://www.antennax.com for $14.99 and shipping is free. They are on ebay also, but I purchased directly from their website. It comes with the proper threads also! It took me all of 3 minutes to switch out. I haven't had the time to take pics yet but it looks great.

Sweet. I know what my next mod is.

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Wed Nov 03, 2010 12:18 am

Which style of antenna is better (rubber or billet) in terms of performance, durability, etc.? Since I am unable to find the original antenna that I wanted, I have it narrowed down between this 13" rubber antenna [http://tiny.cc/72npi] and this 12" billet antenna [http://tiny.cc/kp43b]. In one of the photos of the rubber antenna installed on a JK, it appears that the antenna is bent. It makes me wonder if the rubber antenna will get bent out of shape, like how my OEM antenna did...

Hydraulic Jack · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 3:27 pm

I bought the 13 inch rubber one and none of the adapters they sent will screw in to the mount......They ARE easy to deal with though........HJ

Carmodifier · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 3:52 pm

Hydraulic Jack wrote:

I bought the 13 inch rubber one and none of the adapters they sent will screw in to the mount......They ARE easy to deal with though........HJ

The antenna that jimkelly bought came with the proper thread. I wonder why your antenna didn't come with it. What do you mean when you said, "They ARE easy to deal with though"? I am assuming they later sent you the right adapter to screw the antenna in the mount...?

Hydraulic Jack · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 5:48 pm

They sent 2 adapters but I couldn't get either one to screw in....They said I could return the antenna if I want.........HJ

Nightfisher · **Joined:** Mon Oct 25, 2010 9:35 pm **Posts:** 122

I picked up a universal shorty antenna today from Advanced Auto. (Metra Electronics.) Came with 6 different adapters. None of them fit so I returned it and stuck my bent antenna back on. Oh well.

LI_KJ · **Posted:** Fri Nov 05, 2010 9:44 pm

Hydraulic Jack wrote:

They sent 2 adapters but I couldn't get either one to screw in....They said I could return the antenna if I want.........HJ

Same here. In the package comes 4 adapters of which none fit great. One fits somewhat, but does not thread all the way into the base on the front panel. Put a little locktite and some black paint to cover it up and works fine now.

Shorty Antenna

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