Securing HU w/ a rear screw

[DJLittleWonder]

Hey, I'm not sure how many other HU's have this feature, but, my Alpine IVA-900 has the ability be secured from the back of the radio to the vehicle by a protruding screw.

Let me elaborate: When you slide the radio into the dash opening, there is a hole in the middle of the back of the radio that can accept a screw if there was one protruding from the back of the dash toward the front. I have no idea how anyone would be able to use that feature, but any ideas or help would be appreciated. I'm going to try and get more info on the matter.

 

[Alec]

The stock radio may have a trapezoidal bracket in the rear that slides on a mounting rail. If so, transfer it to the new radio if installed in the lower part of the dash opening.

 

[kontai69]

there is a hole in the middle of the back of the radio that can accept a screw...

The function of that bolt hole is to attach a backstrap which will help secure your headunit from theft. Rather than using a backstrap, here is what you can do. Thread an eye bolt into that hole and loop a small steel cable through it. Secure the loop with an aluminum ferrule. Make another loop at the other end of the cable using another ferrule. Then wrap this end of the cable around a well hidden location inside the dash. Secure the loop with a small padlock to allow future removal. Alternatively, you can simply anchor the looped end somewhere inside the dash with a screw. There are actually many screws and bolts already inside the dash which you can use. Make sure to adjust the length of the cable so that the headunit can't be pulled out all the way. You can even superglue in the threads of the eye bolt.

This method is a simple and inexpensive way to greatly impede a thief from stealing your headunit. The materials can be obtained at any hardware store. However, securing the headunit in this manner has the MAJOR drawback of the thief tearing up the headunit and/or dash trying to remove it, so it's definately a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario. However, if you had a well-installed alarm with a 120db piezo siren blasting inside the truck, an amateur thief likely would soon give up.