Upgrading stock system while maintaining as much cargo space as possible...

[kythri]

OK, I thought that I made a post earlier, but it maybe I didn't click the right button. If it got deleted, and this one is going to as well, would someone please tell me what I did wrong?

I got rid of my Taurus SHO and picked up a '99 XLT back in September.

The only thing that disappoints me about the trade-up is that putting any kind of sub box in the back negates the cargo ability of the Explorer.

I'd like to upgrade the stock speakers, and add some kind of bass to the deal.

I think I'm going to go with a single sub in the factory location, probably having a local shop build a custom enclosure there.

What I'm looking for are what people have done to their Explorers to upgrade their system, while maintaining the cargo space.

I'd like to have my XM Radio receiver (Alpine) installed, as well as the amplifiers for both the doors and the sub.

I'm assuming under the rear seats isn't a great option, as I want to be able to still fold them down.

Where have you mounted your gear?

I'm not completely against losing SOME cargo space, but I'd prefer not to have a raised floor deal, etc.

Also, since I'll be swapping the deck out, and the audio controls on the rear of the center console will no longer function, what options do I have for removing the existing center console and replacing it with something else, that might conceal an amplifier or my XM receiver or something? I assume I'd have to plug the climate control tubes and stuff, but any other things to watch out for?

 

[kythri]

Hey, also to follow-up to that - I'd also like to potentially mount one of Alpine's 6-CD changers with the MP3 decoder in it, so I'll need to put that somewhere.

Center console might work for that?

 

[jimbo74]

you can put a amp in the center console

also you can also put amps in the rear panels and you can do a stealthbox in the rear cargo area.. it will remain hidden from cluttering the floor and will sound a lot better and bassier than stock..... you are going for just good, but not like piss the neighbors off a mile away right?

 

[snocross1985]

V8BoatBuilder made his own custom box for the factory location. It came out really nice. Here's the link: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=86333&highlight=stealthbox

 

[kythri]

Nah, I'm past the "piss the neighbors off" phase of my life...

I really don't care if you can hear the stereo outside the car, I want to hear it inside the car.

So, when you say "amps in the rear panels", you're talking in the liftgate, or where?

 

[Harken]

Component locations

The best enclosure for a sub is made by JL Audio. Their not cheap but they sound great. I have an Alpine MRP-M350 amp mounted in the side panel to drive it.

http://www.jlaudio.com/stealthbox/EXPL.html

You can mount your main amp under the rear seat. I have a JL 300/4 (currently for sale) mounted there and there is plenty of room for it.

http://www.jlaudio.com/amps/3004.html

Just my 2 cents............

 

[jimbo74]

in the rear panels i am talking about under the plastic pieces in the rear panels.... basically there is a 4-5" gap between the interior plastic wall of the explorer and the metal body shell..... plenty of room to mount an amp... right above or around the wheel openings...

 

[gatorpatric0]

Re:

The Stealth box Idea is good, easy, but expensive. I have another idea: You can fit small subwoofers (8-10 inches) under the rear seat. You have to make a custom box, but small subwoofers are relatively cheap. One high quality ten will only run about 100$ compared to the 300$ for the unamped stealth box. But you may not be into the building your own box...just a neat little idea.

 

[jrgaylor]

If you look in my photo gallery I have pictures of the rear panels off when I installed my MTX thunderform, you can find thunderforms and the like on ebay, I bought mine here on the board for $125, I put my amp under the passenger seat and have no problems with heat

 

[kythri]

Now, with both those under the seat mounts, are you able to fold down your back seats, or not?

 

[jrgaylor]

My seats work perfect and I have lost 0 room and my system sounds great inside, I plan on not making any changes to it.

 

[kythri]

Ah...I looked at the pictures, and your amp is mounted under the front passenger seat...

I can't do that, since I've got power seats on both sides, and the motor assembly doesn't allow any room under it.

So far, I think I'm going to follow V8BoatBuilder's example, with the sub in the factory location, and an amp under the trim on the driver's side, in the rear.

I might have the room to mount the XM box under one of the rear fold-down seats, without them folding down and busting it, so all I need to do is find a location to mount an amplifier for the door speakers.

Looking at possibly finding a replacement for the center console that I currently have, and having a shop fabricate something for the inside of a new console that would allow me to mount the other amp, and maybe a CD changer in that console.

 

[Harken]

Kythri,

I have my XM tuner under the floorboard on the passenger side. Its just under the dash. Unless a really tall person were to sit in the passenger seat no ones feet would ever touch it. Besides, the carpet padding, carpet and floor mat are on top of it. My XM antenna is on the roof in the rear just forward of the aft roof rack crossmember. The antenna wire enters the roof through a small hole and its sealed real well with silicone. Unless your looking over the roof, you would never see it.

Under the rear seat, passenger side I have a JL 300/4 amp which is gonna be replaced by a tube amp in a few days. Yes I can fold down the rear seat with no problems.

My subwoofer amp is located on the passenger side rear under the trim panel adjacent to the factory amp.

As you can see, all of my gear is hidden well

 

[bilbo99]

Look here

I picked up a q-logic stealth type box from Crutchfield. Cheaper than JL and a tad more than the MTX.

Mounted my amps so they only take up a little room. I wanted them accessible and easy to remove if needed.