Bed Speakers - Cool idea just need some help

opsbear7 · May 4, 2006

Alright guys... just got a really cool idea and need some help working out the whole thought process.

For tailgaiting and other eventws where i am sitting or hanging out around the back of my truck it would be really sweet to have speakers back there either under the bed or in the bed. I know that they would have to be weather proof like boat speakers and they would have to be an all around speaker; base, tweeter, mids all in one

now do you hook it into your trucks radio? or do you have a seperet system with an amp?

Can anyone give any input into this idea

carneyman · May 5, 2006

I've thought about doing the same thing. I would think the best thing to do would be to hook them up through an amp, although some after market stereos have places to hook up auxilary speakers. But in any case you should be able to just splice into any of the sound output wires and get it to work. An amp would help, as would an extra battery. An extra battery would be a very good idea for tailgating, or so I've learned. Never even thought about using boat speakers, just thought I would have to do some extreme mods to other speakers...good idea.

opsbear7 · May 5, 2006

I've thought about doing the same thing. I would think the best thing to do would be to hook them up through an amp, although some after market stereos have places to hook up auxilary speakers. But in any case you should be able to just splice into any of the sound output wires and get it to work. An amp would help, as would an extra battery. An extra battery would be a very good idea for tailgating, or so I've learned. Never even thought about using boat speakers, just thought I would have to do some extreme mods to other speakers...good idea.

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Heres my plans so far...two boat speakers....a boat cd/fm/am radio from Best Buy....

Good deal

so that would not be that expensive...just run a positive line with an inline fuse to your battery, mount the speakers, mount the deck...and let the music roll....What do you think about that?

carneyman · May 5, 2006

That seems like it would work fine. CD player and controls right there. You might want to think about wiring in a switch so you can shut off all power to it when your not using it, and also, where are you gonna mount it so you don't damage it when you have stuff rollin around back there?

opsbear7 · May 5, 2006

That seems like it would work fine. CD player and controls right there. You might want to think about wiring in a switch so you can shut off all power to it when your not using it, and also, where are you gonna mount it so you don't damage it when you have stuff rollin around back there?

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Definatly a main power switch to the whole system...whcich woudl be easy to just wire into the postive feed of the head unit....as for mounting tha tis where it gets tricky...the speakers are easy just srcrew them into the plastic bed liner and they should hold nicley...they are very durrable with hard plastic on the outside and if i break one i break one...as for the head unit...this is the tough part. I think it would be really cool to maybe in one of the front upper corners make a mount that is on a hinge that can be propped up for use and layed verticle when not in use which would make it low profile and somewhat protected...now as for security to keep someone from ripping it off i am not really sure becasue all it woudl take was one good yank or a couple screws...let me konw if you have any ideas>>>>

carneyman · May 5, 2006

That seems like it would work fine. CD player and controls right there. You might want to think about wiring in a switch so you can shut off all power to it when your not using it, and also, where are you gonna mount it so you don't damage it when you have stuff rollin around back there?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Definatly a main power switch to the whole system...whcich woudl be easy to just wire into the postive feed of the head unit....as for mounting tha tis where it gets tricky...the speakers are easy just srcrew them into the plastic bed liner and they should hold nicley...they are very durrable with hard plastic on the outside and if i break one i break one...as for the head unit...this is the tough part. I think it would be really cool to maybe in one of the front upper corners make a mount that is on a hinge that can be propped up for use and layed verticle when not in use which would make it low profile and somewhat protected...now as for security to keep someone from ripping it off i am not really sure becasue all it woudl take was one good yank or a couple screws...let me konw if you have any ideas>>>>

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I don't know how you would feel about adding a lock box of some kind, but that would keep it safe from thieves and the elements...maybe get one with a slide out tray for easy access, you can get little ones that bolt to the frame for a good price...or if you already have a locking toolbox, just put it in there if you have room. Personally, I would just use your cab stereo and just wire speakers from that...cuts the price down pretty good, and all you would have to do is put in a switch between the bed speakers and the unit to control them, the only draw back would that all your speakers would be going when your tailgating, so maybe a separate unit aint such a bad idea...

firefighteremt3100 · May 5, 2006

Alright guys... just got a really cool idea and need some help working out the whole thought process.

For tailgaiting and other eventws where i am sitting or hanging out around the back of my truck it would be really sweet to have speakers back there either under the bed or in the bed. I know that they would have to be weather proof like boat speakers and they would have to be an all around speaker; base, tweeter, mids all in one

now do you hook it into your trucks radio? or do you have a seperet system with an amp?

Can anyone give any input into this idea

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My uncle did this kind of thing in his *gulp* POS FORD. He had a cap on his truck though, and the whole interior was carpeted and very nice. He used it for sleeping in and whatnot when hunting. Anyway he had speakers built into the "seats". They were kinda setup like benches running around the outside of the bed...and then towards the front it was wider so as to be able to use like a bed. I believe he mounted seperate stereo into the bed itself....recessed and ran things back there separately just for that purpose. I will check with him and find out what exactly he did. Maybe this will help so far....

Shocker · May 5, 2006

A buddy of mine mounted a couple speakers to the lid of his toolbox. When he wanted music in the bed, he'd open the toolbox and switch them on. Worked great.

From your picture though, opsbear, it doesn't look like you have a toolbox. If you plan to get one in the near future, you might consider that route.

asilverblazer · May 5, 2006

A seperat head unit wil need an antannae (SP).

carneyman · May 5, 2006

A seperat head unit wil need an antannae (SP).

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Yeah, unless you just plan on listening to cd's back there.

Jagr7899 · May 5, 2006

Alright guys... just got a really cool idea and need some help working out the whole thought process.

For tailgaiting and other eventws where i am sitting or hanging out around the back of my truck it would be really sweet to have speakers back there either under the bed or in the bed. I know that they would have to be weather proof like boat speakers and they would have to be an all around speaker; base, tweeter, mids all in one

now do you hook it into your trucks radio? or do you have a seperet system with an amp?

Can anyone give any input into this idea

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Hello all,

I'm a newbie here and I thought that this might help you out some.

Don't mean to rain on anyones parade.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product...ilgate+speakers

P.S. I don't have any experience with nor do I know anyone that does. I just remember seeing it in the most recent cat.

PELICAN · May 6, 2006

I had the same idea awhile back but went the simple route instead. I have two 10" speakers that are in thier own boxes. I disconnected the rear speakers and hooked up my 10" speakers. I have about 8' of speaker wire so I just set them either on the tailgate, roof,ground or where they need to go. I plan on getting a radio that has a remote later on this summer to replace the stock unit. I like your idea and think it will be pretty cool when it is done.