Amp mounting help sought.

[aldive]

I have a 4 door 99 XLT; where would you giys recommend mounting an amp?

What about wiring from the battery?

Also whar kinda /size wires to connect to the speakers?

Thanks....

 

[aldive]

Also, in reguard to the above question, I want the installation to be completely hidden,

Thanks....

 

[jimbo74]

put amp in the rear side panel above the right tire tub....

 

[aldive]

Why there?

Wouldn't that be a difficult location to get to to service the amp?

What about cooling in that location?

Thanks....

 

[jimbo74]

that is where the stock amps are located on all the explorers....

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by jimabena74
that is where the stock amps are located on all the explorers....

The stock amp has not got the output of the aftermarket amps I am looking at. I am certain as the RMS w ges up so does the heat output.

I am seeking other opinions.

 

[jimbo74]

then instal a fan or buy an amp with an internal fan.... come on, use asome inguinuity

 

[aldive]

What system do YOU have in your truck? How is it mounted? And wired?

Thanks....

 

[jimbo74]

stock and i bypassed the amp..... if you dont like my ideas then dont ask for them

 

[aldive]

Noone said that i didn't like your answers, I like to get input from all sourses then make my mind up.

I do appreciate your input. Thanks....

 

[bigtigexplorer]

Check out what I did

Dead Link Removed

 

[Stephen S]

I've got my Kenwood amp installed under my driver's seat. It's not a big amp (in power or in size) so it fits there pretty neatly. I made the wires long enough that I could slide it out and tweak the controls if I have to. I've not run into problems with the amp staying cool either. Keep in mind that I do not have power seats, so if yours does, it probably will not fit under there. Unless your passenger side seat is not power, then you may be able to slide it under there the passenger seat.

I've seen others who have mounted amps on the floor under the rear seats. I was concerned that the rear seats would not fold down with an amp mounted there and since I do haul stuff with the seats folded, I opted to put mine under the seat.

Finally, I believe that bigtig (that's not his whole user name--maybe bigtigexplorer) has his amps mounted to the bottom of the rear seat themselves. Very stealth installation. Maybe he will see this and comment on the cooling issue.

 

[aldive]

Stephen, would you please describe the wiring involved in your installation? Size. how run, etc?

Thanks....

 

[Stephen S]

Well, to start, I used 10 gauge amp power cable run from the battery, through the firewall and to the positive terminal on the amp. I installed an in-line 20 amp fuse in the power lead (it's a small amp(35x4)--if you get a big amp, you may need 8 guage wire and a larger fuse--amp documentation may tell you). I went through the firewall through the rubber grommet used for the hood release cable. I then ran the power cable behind the driver's side kick panel and under the door sill, then under the seat. The amp is grounded with the same size wire as the power!! I used a SHORT piece of 10 guage wire connected to a self tapping screw I put in the floor. You could also use a seat mounting bolt if you can find an electrical connector large enough to fit over it.

The RCA cables, the amp remote wire and the speaker wires were all run in the center of the truck to keep them away from the power lead. I pulled the driver's seat out and pulled the carpet up to the center console. I ran them under the carpet, next to the transmission hump and, up the dash to connect to the radio.

The speaker wires were run from the amp up to behind the radio where all the stock speaker wires come together. I wanted to avoid running new wires through the rubber hose stuff in the doors, so I caught them all behind the radio and let the stock wires do the rest.

I hope this helps you out. If you have anymore questions, just ask.

 

[makaveli911]

well i would not put the amp under the drivers seat.
1st off it get really dirty
2nd it get really really dirty
i would mount it on the back of the back seat thats the eaisiest and safest place for your amp.

 

[YetiX]

Do all Explorer's have wiring for an amp in the rear right panel area or just those that came with an amp from the facotry?

 

[Stephen S]

Makaveli, my amp stays pretty clean, but I like to keep my truck clean, so maybe it's just me. I wanted to mount mine to the back of the rear seat, but I fold my seats down and carry cargo fairly often. And when the truck is stacked to the roof with tables, computers, boxes, and such, the amp on the back seat would have much weight on it and may be in the way. It's a great idea if you don't carry stuff too often, though.

Yeti, I'm pretty sure all Explorers (well maybe all 95+) have the little factory amp in the rear. My XLT doesn't have any bells and whistles and it had a stock amp.

 

[EO]

I have a '99 XLT and this is what I did.

I ran a 4 gauge power cable (fused very close to battery) through the hood release cable grommet. I pulled up the door sill on the driver's side and ran the 4 gauge cable along with a remote turn-on lead down the channels under the sills and emerged the cable right behind the rear driver's seat. I mounted a 4AWG to (2) 8AWG fused distribution block to a piece of MDF glued to the sloped chassis behind the rear seats (where the jack bars are mounted). My amp sits underneath the passenger's rear seat. It's not actually mounted to anything yet; it just sits there 'till I figure out a way to permanently secure it. But it hasn't moved yet. I ran the speaker wires and 3 pairs of RCAs from behind the dash to under the passenger sills (in the same type of factory channel) to the amp. I grounded the amp to the rear passenger seat belt bolt. I hope to write this up in more detail w/some pictures I've already taken. Hope this helps.

 

[aldive]

Originally posted by Stephen S
Yeti, I'm pretty sure all Explorers (well maybe all 95+) have the little factory amp in the rear. My XLT doesn't have any bells and whistles and it had a stock amp.

What is the RMS power output of the factory amp?

Thanks....

 

[aldive]

Was the 4 gauge wire hard to use due to rigidity?

What kind of amp are you using?

Thanks....