DuallyDean
Junior Member
I have previously upgraded the head unit in my 2018 3500 Reg Cab to the same 8.4- inch 4C NAV UConnect UAQ that I have in my 2018 RAM 1500 Rebel Crew Cab with the Alpine 9 speaker system. I am happy with the sound in the Rebel, but the bass response in the 3500 is lacking due to no subwoofer. I would like to mimic the setup in the Rebel to the greatest extent practical. It is my understanding that the 3500 (in Tradesman trim level) only had the two speakers in the doors, and two more in the side walls of the cab behind the seats. I am looking for advice on the most effective way to add the dash speakers and a subwoofer, (I am open to the possibility of using OEM components) to the 3500 Regular Cab without losing any of the functionality of the OEM head unit. It seems the more I read in this forum, the more confused I get.
Does the wiring for the dash speakers exist in the harness used in Tradesman trim level?
If so, is it as simple as installing speakers and plugging them in? (I suspect not; that the amplifier would need to be upgraded to the 9 channel Alpine unit)
Unless prohibitively expensive, I would be fine with installing the Alpine amplifier if the wiring harness supports doing so. I'm assuming Alfa OBD would be able to program the changes in installed factory hardware.
Similarly, I would be O.K. installing the Alpine OEM subwoofer, under the passenger seat if possible, otherwise against the back wall of the cab. If the Tradesman trim level wiring harness does NOT support the additional dash speakers, and I can't use the OEM Alpine amp, what would my upgrade path look like? If the harness supports the dash speakers but not the subwoofer, I believe I can install wiring to support an aftermarket sub it in a location that works in the cab. The question becomes whether it would be a non-powered sub (if I am able to use the OEM Alpine amp) or a powered sub supplied by RCA line-level inputs. If it is powered, what is the best method to export that signal from the OEM head unit?
Does the wiring for the dash speakers exist in the harness used in Tradesman trim level?
If so, is it as simple as installing speakers and plugging them in? (I suspect not; that the amplifier would need to be upgraded to the 9 channel Alpine unit)
Unless prohibitively expensive, I would be fine with installing the Alpine amplifier if the wiring harness supports doing so. I'm assuming Alfa OBD would be able to program the changes in installed factory hardware.
Similarly, I would be O.K. installing the Alpine OEM subwoofer, under the passenger seat if possible, otherwise against the back wall of the cab. If the Tradesman trim level wiring harness does NOT support the additional dash speakers, and I can't use the OEM Alpine amp, what would my upgrade path look like? If the harness supports the dash speakers but not the subwoofer, I believe I can install wiring to support an aftermarket sub it in a location that works in the cab. The question becomes whether it would be a non-powered sub (if I am able to use the OEM Alpine amp) or a powered sub supplied by RCA line-level inputs. If it is powered, what is the best method to export that signal from the OEM head unit?
