Hey guys... I currently have a 10" Rockford P2 in a box that I shift from the middle to the side constantly depending if I need the seats in the back. I was thinking about cutting into one of the storage compartments in the back (If it will even fit then). This way I can have my seats but it would be at the expense of one of my compartments. Anyone know the best way to minimize the loss of utility? One of these would be perfect if they had one for our trucks...The picture below is for a 96-04 tacoma.


Let me know if anyone knows of something like this out there and if not has anyone successfully put a sub in the storage compartment? Did it come out good? Any advice welcomed... thanks

 

I think you could fit a 10 inch sub in the side compartment if you made a spacer maybe an inch thick to mount it to the side panel. It is a pretty small space, not sure how it would sound.

I mount my 6 1/2" speakers in the side compartments like this and they sound pretty good.


I made these on Saturday.

Robb

 

Thanks for the quick input... I meant the compartments underneath the seat (The rear flip down jump seats). Either the one on the passenger side that houses the jack etc or the bigger one behind the driver seat. I currently house 5 1/4" alpines I believe mounted in the panels like you have.

 

You could make some speaker boxes to mount in the compartments and cover them with some of that cheap carpet stuff they sell at Wal Mart. My girlfriend's dad made a custom trunk for their baja beetle using the same technique. He's got a place now to securely mount a quart of oil, a small tool box and a cooler. (ICE isn't his favorite things in cars, as long as it's got a stereo and two speakers, he's set)

 

Yeah a whole new box is an idea... however I don't know how clean of a job I would do. Does the current box unbolt once carpet is lifted or is it welded to the truck? I would much prefer drilling and fabricating a new lid for the existing box if possible... Trying to get away with the least amount of butchering as possible... however... I am open to all ideas... If it is more convenient and not too much trouble I will go with it if not Ill continue shuffling my current box around

Thanks keep them coming guys

 

I don't know how yours is mounted, in the baja I previously mentioned, he bolted it down. Way to do it right is measure three times, cut once, repeat, upholster. This is something I might try to put rear speakers in my single cab.

 

I have seen 10" subs in the storage under the rear seats. Don't know if your P2 will fit in there, but a P3 shallow will. Couldn't find any pics, but I know I've seen it. Talk to a local stereo shop, they'll have to custom make it cause no one makes pre-fab like that JL Audio box.

 

The extended cab compartments have always bolted in on every toyota truck I have ever seen.

you really need a fiberglass box if you want it to fit in those compartments.

.. you could always do a peal & seal box though

step 1. run your speaker wire then dynamat the crap out the entire storage compartment area inside and out and if its in the budget dynaliner the inside.

step 2. make a baffle to mount your speaker in place of the door and your done

 

Yeah I was pretty sure I could cut the existing or fabricate a new lid to mount the sub in and tuck it in the compartment... but I was worried about the rattle and sound quality (you mentioning dynamat reminded me). If matted and any rattle is taken care of... how would you compare the sound quality to my current set up? (Premade enclosure sitting on seats). I get over whelmed with all this talk of speaker specs and proper boxes etc. I don't know all that much when it comes to audio... talks about proper airspace come to mind though when sticking in those compartments.

Thanks.

 

You're gonna want to seal the compartment if you're gonna do it, and Dynamat does not seal, its designed to stop rattles and quiet the cabin for better sound quality. If you install the sub in there without sealing, I can guaranty that it will sound like crap. Fiberglass is your best bet.

 

So you are talking about the new lid to replace the old removable one made out of fiberglass? And then sealing it like you would seal any other thing? This would have to be for both sides I take it since the compartment goes through to both sides of the truck... I was looking at my back seats a little while ago... I wonder if we have enough clearance between the back jump seats to make a center console type box like the JL audio one? I am kind of keen to that idea after seeing that... full use of both seats and compartments etc. If you thing the available space in the truck is enough what do you think the cost to make it (professionally) and how well would it sound?



Thanks for entertaining my many questions.

 

I have heard the JL enclosure, its sounds pretty good. With the compartment idea, you'd want the inside fiberglassed as well. I suggest talking to a local stereo shop and see what they recommend and for how much. I have a few friends that do car audio for a living and they do awesome work. Plus, most shops do a lifetime warranty on the work and install.

 

I work at a pretty high end stereo shop and I have never been guilty of the "peel and seal". I see it done with 8's in the tacomas a lot and it usually sounds decent. It is the dirty cheater way to do it.

a basic "stealthbox" style carperted fiberglass box at my practicular shop will run about the same price at 600 - 1200 depending on exactly what you want

 

I understand someone who deals with top of the line stereo systems would frown upon something like that... but I am not trying to break my bank. The picture I posted in the first post is what I wish I could have now... but I don't have 600 - 1200 that I am willing to spend... "If it ain't broke don't fix it" comes to mind. I want to improve on my current situation... but not at "any cost". Looking for the best way to utilize as many stock features of the truck (seats and compartments) as possible while keeping my 10" sub. My worst case situation isn't all that bad... single sub box goes in the middle of the back seats... if I need the seats in the back I slide the box over to one side... Just wish I didn't have to do that.

Thanks

 

Do you have a pic of the current box?

 

No I don't sorry and the woman is off at work with the camera... it is just a basic square box that was bought along with the rockford p2 10" when I bought all my gear. I just have it wedged in between my seats and the back seats to hold it in place.

 

2 things real quick. I talked to a buddy of that is an installer, He said that your P2 should be able to fit in those compartments cause he installed a Kicker L7 8" in one before.

OR

Maybe build some legs on the side of your box that extend to the floor.

 

I seen a picture on Toyota nation of someone who mounted a sub in the bigger of the 2 rear compartments... It looked pretty good and he said it sounded good as well... I think I may end up fabricating a new lid and stuffing the inside. Thanks for the input guys.

 

Can't quite picture what you mean here... You talking about legs running diagonally from the stock truck box to the floor to create a new mounting space for the sub (diagonally forward) or did you mean to stabilize the current square box the sub is in?

@Litneon ... I just looked at my back seats and realized something... if I put a sub in that box the seat is still no longer functional because the seat gets it support from resting on the box right? This would mean someone sitting on that seat would be like resting their big ass right on the sub?