Under rear seat amp mounting.

I’ve seen it, but my amps were too big. Thinking of changing amps to maybe a 5 channel. So, what’s all involved? Pull the bin, cut, mount feet for a platform, that I got. What really gets me, without tearing the back half of my cab up — wiring. Down the middle, all down the drivers side? Am I making this out to be harder than it is? ( probably). Some guidance before I rip things up.

 

I scoped out some grommets closer to the rear of my double cab but haven’t routed 2 gauge yet. Also some firewall connectors for high current which are pretty cool and might work well. The center hump isn’t ideal and the door sills don’t have a ton of room.

 

So, you’re going outside the cab for power wire? Never thought of that. Gonna have to crawl under there again tomorrow.

 

You can run new wire along the base of the door, under the carpet. I cut some of the carpet pad out because the wire was pretty big.

 

Thanks @j-utah , love the pics too. So it doesn’t have to be outside, nice! Looks like I’m going to have to remove some stuff though, to figure out where I’m going to go with this.

 

I went under the front seat with my 5 channel, and also looking back really the trimming was mostly for the 12 gauge speaker wire. I decided to do all new speaker wire which was a new PITA level. I didn’t take anything across the hump. Everything was routed under the carpet or through the dash. The RCA cables to the head unit went under the carpet along the bottom of the center hump. Taco-tunes makes a mounting plate for the amp which rests just above the seat carpet and allows cables to route under the plate. If I had more gear I think the back seat would work but I didn’t attempt that. The 5 channel amp kind of made the decision to stay closer to the front.

 

Here is a side pic and more showing the wires

 

I did look at the TT amp rack, but, being in Canada, it’s around $350CAD to get one! Yeah…no. So I’m looking at different alternatives. Took a brief look this morning, looks like I was in that cubby a few years ago (don’t remember) and mounted, I guess crossovers? My crossovers are now velcroed above the kick panel on the body now, so less speaker wire snaking through the truck. Now I’m thinking if snaking MORE a through the truck. Such is the hobby.

 

Yeah RCA’s are nice through center console. Already routed those and the turn on lead and speaker wire.

But 2 gauge amp power and ground is beefier and I need to choose an entry location. Firewall with stud and drill or grommet somewhere closer.

Taco Tunes racks are nice. Mine currently hold passive crossovers only.

I have a 5 channel in the box but contemplating one 8 and a mono to avoid all passive crossovers entirely.

 

Oh, I know beefy power wire. I currently have 1/0 running to the center tunnel, with 4-ga going under each seat. Told myself “It’s only temporary.” That was 3 years ago. Now my wife (best ever), is planning on getting me a KENWOOD 5-channel for our anniversary. Been wanting to get a 5 channel for a while now, but never jumped. Gonna cost me an LV wallet, but eh. So the planning begins. Little does she know how much the cabling is going to cost.

 

To me a 5 is great if you go one amp. Everything in a single enclosure. Where that gets tricky for me is if I ever get the cbi widebands in my a pillars as they would be best with active crossovers really. Chaining passives or hunting for a 3 way passive just annoys me.

for now my pillars are waiting on paint so I don’t feel any pressure.

 

@daveeasa Sounds really nice! I’ve been through many iterations of my stereo over the 17 years I’ve had my truck. Now I’m getting closer to 50 than 30, and I’m not so much SQL as I am just SQ. Don’t need a mono block JL HD1200/1 to run a Hertz MPS300, so that’s easy. And I’ve loved my KENWOOD XR401-4 for years. I’ve almost felt guilty using the JL at half power for so long. Dammit, I’m growing up!

 

in car audio, the carpet can hide many sins.

this was my old ranger, once the carpet went back in, the wiring was invisible.

 

Yeah, I'm 48 and the last time I got to mess with my '02 Tundra I was in my 20's I think. Definitely thinking 5 channel for that guy. It's just the 3rd gen double cab where I'm stuck trying to figure out a single amp solution but unsatisfied with the choices. Use the 5 channel just for the fronts and sub only and run rears off head unit power? Or get a 3 way passive crossover (haven't found any I like). Or go 6 or 8 way on one side and mono on the other, but then splitting the power and ground to two sets is extra bulk.

The sad truth is that I won't ever get to listen to anything I want to listen to, it's all kid audio stuff, hence no urgency. I get completely steamrolled by the kids so it's either an extended verbal battle or I can shut them up with their request, assuming they aren't fighting over the content between the two of them.

 

I’ll be honest with you @soundman98 , your Ranger looks a helluva lot nicer than what I currently have in my truck. *shame* And, @daveeasa , I hear you. My daughter was the focus for years, but she’s on her way to an awesome career of her own now. I just have to get out of my own way with my disability, and focus on an install for once, instead of half-assing it. That’s why I’m wondering about using the rear cubby compartment. It would FORCE me to slow down and plan things out better.