I am looking for some ideas on installing speakers and a sub in a wagon. I can fabricate almost anything i might need to, but cant come up with anything practical and i dont know much about where subs should or shouldnt be located.

I use my wagon for work alot so i cant loose floor space and was hoping someone might have seen a good idea for the sub in particular. I am yet to buy the speakers and sub so i am not restricted by size. I will buy whatever size that will fit in best when i have some idea as to placement.

The only thing i could think of was to get a box that i would be taking out and putting back in every couple of days. Maybe a couple of small subs attached to the roof and keep
6X9s in the tailgate???

This is a daily driver, not a show car. I want it to look and sound good but it MUST be practical.
Thanks for your help AGAIN.
Cheers
Damian

im about to install a sub into my wagon mate, i will be receiving the amp and sub and box sometime next week......i am putting mine in against the cargo barrier, and im planning on using some quick release catch thingy's for easy removal, ill put up some pics if you want ideas when i get it done.......i have mounted my first amp on the side trim panel, and will be installing my monoblock amp on the other side trim panel, and will probably put in some type of protective cover over them....maybe just small towel racks or something

Yeah i was thinking i might put amps on the side and make up a steel cage to cover them so they dont get damaged. I need to lay my back seat down a fair bit so no go on a cargo barrier for me.
I guess i need to find out what the smallest sub worth having is and then i might have an idea as to where i can put things.
Cheers

yeah, not hard to do, you just need to put a thin piece of MDF in behind it to straighten the panel out...but this is how mine came up....

looks great.
Is that carpet on the side panels?? Is that standard, Mine is a tf and is all plastic and it is scratched to buggery so i was going to re do mine in carpet or some other covering.

yeah thats standard - only the veradas came with the carpet on the sides like that.....well, i think it is only the veradas that have it! - highly recommend doing it!

I might have to scrounge through a few wreckers. I dont think i even want to know how much they will want for it.
Is the carpet stuck to the plastic?

On the subject of inspiration; you're more than welcome to check out the photo galleries on our website if you wish?:D

Why have the amp exposed on the side panel in the back compartment and having to make protection for it? Why can't it just be installed under the drivers seat? As for the sub you could perhaps build a rectangular style box that spans the width of the back and fits snug up behind the back seat (you could have two subs in the box). For easy removal/install just have it connected with a couple of bannana plugs. You would only need to stabilise the box from sliding backwards on a fast take off.... shouldn't be hard to do.

On the subject of inspiration; you're more than welcome to check out the photo galleries on our website if you wish?:D
Very interesting. picked up a few good ideas for my situation.
Cheers
Damian

Why have the amp exposed on the side panel in the back compartment and having to make protection for it? Why can't it just be installed under the drivers seat? As for the sub you could perhaps build a rectangular style box that spans the width of the back and fits snug up behind the back seat (you could have two subs in the box). For easy removal/install just have it connected with a couple of bannana plugs. You would only need to stabilise the box from sliding backwards on a fast take off.... shouldn't be hard to do.

Yeah the amp probably will end up under the seat but as for the box i am continually needing to lay the back seat down for work so that would mean removing and replacing it every couple of days and that is exactly what i was trying to avoid if at all possible. I was hoping to find a better/more convenient solution where i could mount the sub somewhere out of the way maybe by using two smaller subs but i dont think they will be any good in the tailgate so that leaves the roof or sides.
I was hoping someone may have done/seen an install similar to what i am looking for. What size enclosure do i need for say an 8". if it is small enough i might be able to ceiling mount two of them. Maybe even two tubes ?? I really dont know enough about subs and their needs i guess.
Cheers
Damo

Why have the amp exposed on the side panel in the back compartment and having to make protection for it? Why can't it just be installed under the drivers seat?

Personal preference mate - my thought's are spend all that money just to have it hidden awaycompletely out of sight!


For easy removal/install just have it connected with a couple of bannana plugs. You would only need to stabilise the box from sliding backwards on a fast take off.... shouldn't be hard to do.

I would hate to be in a nasty accident in a wagon without a cargo barrier with just banana straps holding the box down - could end up with even more serious injuries from a heavy box flying around! - need to think about the what if's here.....safety first

Fibreglass.... spare well....

only way that i can see you can have subs that arent in the way.

Roof mounting subs probably isnt a good idea..

hmm my dad was thinking of putting 2 subs under his back seat in the patrol, could have a nice massage seat if u did that under front seats with something smaller... i dono just my 2 cense, oh also could do a little woofer up in console or something....

heres a thought mate....do you have passengers in the vehicle much?...if not, what about on the floor behind the front seats? - i think 2 10in will do well down there......

I would hate to be in a nasty accident in a wagon without a cargo barrier with just banana straps holding the box down - could end up with even more serious injuries from a heavy box flying around! - need to think about the what if's here.....safety first

Bannana PLUGS (they are the connectors for your speaker wire which allow you to disconnect and reconnect (e.g. a sub) quickly and easily)... as for bannana straps to fasten the sub - never heard of em! lol

g'day,

I've got a wagon... have an amp under each front seat. Works really well... just be mindful of the temp and people standing on the terminals of the amp when they're sitting in the back. I haven't had any problems and it's been a couple of years now.

My sub is just a 12" in a box which I put in and out frequently when I need to use the wagon (which is often). Suprising though, if you make the wire long enough you can move the sub box around a bit to a few different locations and you fit most things in.

The only other option is to do the spare wheel well... fair bit of effort there and you lose the spare tyre, but keeps it very nicely hidden and out of your way. Just don't carry pets around in the wagon with the beats up high. lol

Bannana PLUGS (they are the connectors for your speaker wire which allow you to disconnect and reconnect (e.g. a sub) quickly and easily)... as for bannana straps to fasten the sub - never heard of em! lol

sorry, my bad! - was really tired when i posted that! - i was thinking you meant hockey straps.....:nuts:

anyway, yes, banana plugs are the way i will be going!

Just installed my sub in the wagon yesterday... a straight forward job. Amp is under the drivers seat, sub is in the back up against the back seat. Boy... what a difference in sound quality! I had almost forgotten what it was like :-)

Also, I notice most people use 6x9 speakers in the tail gate... does anyone know if 7x10's will fit in there?

how much room is behind the side panels... in ur situation i would be building a fibreglass box behind the side trim and flush mounting the sub to the side with a nice strong grill.

Yes... that would be nice - one day. Not sure about the room though... sounds like a frustrating job :-)

That is something i thought about but i thought i needed to put a sub in an enclosure. Sorry, dont know much about subs

Any enclosure will do the trick. You would fibreglass into the side panel to create the enclosure.

Will require several layers for a subbox, you want it as solid as possible. But it shouldnt be too dificult if you can use fibreglass.

Peace

Tim

do individual subs need a specific size or is there a 10" size and a 12" size etc. What is a ballpark size for a 10 or 12 inch. Think i might do some measurements to see how practical it will be.
cheers
Damo

If you go to the MTX Audio website, you can download install manuals etc to get an idea of what you need for the size sub you want... thats what I did. Mines in a rectagular style box. You can put them in cylinders etc too.

Each sub will have its own thielle small specs and recommended enclosure size.
If you are going ported you need to be spot on whereas going sealed is a bit more forgiving.

does the shape of the enclosure matter

Yep, that's right. Just take that bit of extra time to do your research first and get it right the first time.

does the shape of the enclosure matter
No... it is the enclosure size that is most important. There are small benefits to be gained from enclosure shape but this will be unnoticible to most.

Make sure its built very thick. Use MDF glues screws and many layers of fibre glass.

i'd go something like this, MDF front and sides, fibreglass the back around the trim thats already there. will be able to keep as much space as possible without the hassle of removing all the time

This looks like a good idea to build a sub box into the side of the wagon around the wheel.
Have you had any luck with this as I would love to see some photos.

I have an amp under my front seat with the subs in two boxes in my boot and it takes a lot of space.

Pic from the CAA website...

Heres an ideal.

holds a 12 inch sub sound great but not finished yet.

Heres an ideal.

holds a 12 inch sub sound great but not finished yet.

looks like smart thinking... however...

thread is 2years old now...

Why have the amp exposed on the side panel in the back compartment and having to make protection for it? Why can't it just be installed under the drivers seat? As for the sub you could perhaps build a rectangular style box that spans the width of the back and fits snug up behind the back seat (you could have two subs in the box). For easy removal/install just have it connected with a couple of bannana plugs. You would only need to stabilise the box from sliding backwards on a fast take off.... shouldn't be hard to do. was going to suggest something simular.

maybe get a sub in a good box (amp under seat/s) and have it sitting free in the cargo area. that way you can move it round till you find the best position for it sound wise, and if you need the space you can always put it on the back seat of in the rear footwells (behind front seats) or even disconnect it if need be! if you wanted to go for a practical option....

edit: just read about the age of the thread... lol

hey well atm im installing an amp+speakers in my wagon, so lets keep this open :D

my idea is to side-mount the amp in the back of my wagon i.e. alongside the curve of the back left wheel hump.. are there are any reasons as to why I wouldn't be able to do this?