Another Subwoofer Question

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PowrRam

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I'm new here. I searched this site for subwoofers and found a lot of discussions but did not addrss exactly what I'm looking for.

I'm currently leasing a 2015 Big Horn with the Alpine premium sound system with subwoofer. After having a subwoofer for three years I've decided I can't have another vehicle without one. However, since I will be leasing my next truck, looks like it will be another Big Horn, I really don't want to spend a lot of money putting in a kick-a** subwoofer. Also, I love, use, and need the fold flat floor.

In my current Big Horn I replaced the outboard dash speakers with Polk tweeters and disconnected the center dash speaker. Before I turn in my 2015 I'm pulling the Polk dash speakers, so they will be available for use in my next Big Horn.

On Thursday I was at a dealer negotiating a new lease and I mentioned my desire to have a subwoofer. The sales manager said he just turned in his demo 2018 Limited with the Alpine system AND a Kicker subwoofer mounted under the back seat, drivers side. He was willing to take the Kicker unit out of the Limited and put it in the 2018 I was considering as a throw-in to the deal. I went and listened to it and I liked it a lot, but it did make the fold flat floor on that side useless. (BTW, the sales manager is now driving a Hellcat Challenger...)

So, what are my options for having a subwoofer AND keeping the fold flat floor? I guess my options are:

* a subwoofer box that fits in the area that the Alpine subwoofer would occupy. Would require a separate amp. Probably expensive. Probably not a simple install. Not transferable to another vehicle at lease end (since I'm going with a 2018 and that generation of Ram has been replaced with Gen 5.)

* A self contained subwoofer/amp unit that fits under the seat. Probably would be cheaper, easier to install, and transfer to another vehicle. But might be limited in size to an 8" speaker. There's a lot of them out there including Kicker and Rockford Fosgate brands. But will that be enough?

Some background information. I thought the Alpine system was pretty good for a stock sound system, but really, I know it's nothing special. If I were to grade it I'd give it a 7.5 out of 10. With the addition of the Polk dash speakers it moved it up to maybe an 8 out of 10. For comparison, I would rate my wife's 2016 Charger stock six speaker system as a 6.5 out of 10.

I don't need a subwoofer that will jar loose the fillings in my teeth or produce vibrating reflections in my rear view mirror, but I do want solid low end bass and a good thump to my music. Another way of saying it is that I want the subwoofer to be noticeably better than the stock Alpine subwoofer.

The new Big Horn I get will have the 8.4 UConnect system and the stock 6 speaker system (I know, I know...). I figure if install the Polk dash speakers it will help a lot and if the door speakers are intolerable I could replace them as well.

Suggestions?
 
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yillbs

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I feel like you already answered this for yourself. You can get a sub box that molds to the spots under the seat, but you'd have to face the speakers DOWNWARD, and then it would be a lot of back pressure in the slots, not ideal. Even a lo pro box wouldn't work really. It sounds to me like you want the best possible set up for the cheapest amount possible. Luckily, you're rather smart and figure that out already. Something that goes under the seat ( or perhaps both seats? ) There is nothing stopping you from putting a small box under each seat, with an amp on one side , then the flat piece would still be able to lay down. If you have the money you could fab that to work just fine. Again though, you want the most complicated setup, with the least amount of money. I think you pay for what you get applies here. Get a full enclosure, and put it under the seat so it's just a push in and pull out.
 

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IMG_20180508_114256_hdr.jpg IMG_20180508_114345_hdr.jpg IMG_20180508_114425_hdr.jpg IMG_20180508_114508_hdr.jpg Apart from the kicker there is no plug and play simple drop in and as you know it loses you 1 side of the fold out floor. Keeping the load floor is not easy. I may be the only guy on the site that has pulled that off so far. But not perfect or cheap. Could also custom fit a box, but only a very few subs will give you a good chance of fillting it under the floor such as sundown SA-3 8s.
 

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If your looking to retain the fold flat floor, put a Kicker Hideaway behind the back seat. There is probably room for two if one isn't enough thump for you...lol
I have one, it's not going to rattle your teeth loose but it does add to the low end.
 
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PowrRam

PowrRam

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If your looking to retain the fold flat floor, put a Kicker Hideaway behind the back seat. There is probably room for two if one isn't enough thump for you...lol
I have one, it's not going to rattle your teeth loose but it does add to the low end.
When you say behind the back seat, do you mean on the vertical surface area behind the back cushion or do you mean on the horizontal surface behind the seat cushion? I think there might be room behind the back cushion on the passenger side.

Also, why is the Kicker brand popular with Mopar owners? Seems like there are a lot of Mopar people that have Kicker brand stuff.

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BWL

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Kicker makes mopar specific plug and play upgrades. Can actually order them from ram dealers.
 

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When you say behind the back seat, do you mean on the vertical surface area behind the back cushion or do you mean on the horizontal surface behind the seat cushion? I think there might be room behind the back cushion on the passenger side.

Also, why is the Kicker brand popular with Mopar owners? Seems like there are a lot of Mopar people that have Kicker brand stuff.

You should have room on the back wall of the cab on the passenger side. Probably use some heavy duty Velcro. I have mine on the floor under the back seat(it's out of the way enough for me), but it would interfere with the fold-flat floor.

Kicker probably popular because they make the direct replacement door/dash speakers and add on subwoofer kits for the trucks.
 
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PowrRam

PowrRam

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You should have room on the back wall of the cab on the passenger side. Probably use some heavy duty Velcro. I have mine on the floor under the back seat(it's out of the way enough for me), but it would interfere with the fold-flat floor.

Kicker probably popular because they make the direct replacement door/dash speakers and add on subwoofer kits for the trucks.
Kicker Hideaway says it comes with heavy duty Velcro straps to hold it in place. I wonder if it could be secured in the cubby hole storage area under the rear passenger seat? (Where the Alpine subwoofer is in my current Big Horn.) Anybody know?

I suppose I could make a cardboard box mock up sized the same as the Kicker Hideaway subwoofer and see where it would fit...

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crash68

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Kicker Hideaway says it comes with heavy duty Velcro straps to hold it in place. I wonder if it could be secured in the cubby hole storage area under the rear passenger seat? (Where the Alpine subwoofer is in my current Big Horn.) Anybody know?

I suppose I could make a cardboard box mock up sized the same as the Kicker Hideaway subwoofer and see where it would fit...

I take back what I said about the Hideaway interfering with the fold flat floor. With it against the back wall of the truck, it stick out as far the grey plug on the seat bracket. I pulled the fold flat out long before I bought the Hideaway.
The Hideaway won't sit flat in the hole on the passenger side.
03f6b49fd323c36f150d6c0aa300e5c1.jpg
 
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PowrRam

PowrRam

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I take back what I said about the Hideaway interfering with the fold flat floor. With it against the back wall of the truck, it stick out as far the grey plug on the seat bracket. I pulled the fold flat out long before I bought the Hideaway.
The Hideaway won't sit flat in the hole on the passenger side.

Wait, so you think the Kicker would interfere with the fold flat floor? Or wouldn't?
 

crash68

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Wait, so you think the Kicker would interfere with the fold flat floor? Or wouldn't?

I don't think it will, that pic I posted above should give you a reference on how far the Hideaway comes from the back wall. The hinge for the fold flat floor is off to the left of the pic.
If you weren't so far away, I would say swing by we could try it.
 

Graygoose

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You can fit the Hideaway under the drivers or passengers seat possibly.

The Hideaway wouldn't interfere with the folding floor.
 

Graygoose

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When you say behind the back seat, do you mean on the vertical surface area behind the back cushion or do you mean on the horizontal surface behind the seat cushion? I think there might be room behind the back cushion on the passenger side.

Also, why is the Kicker brand popular with Mopar owners? Seems like there are a lot of Mopar people that have Kicker brand stuff.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
Like others have mentioned, we have plug and play speakers for the doors and most Mopar of family vehicles, and the VSS plug and play system works in the base audio trucks, which I have as well.
 
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PowrRam

PowrRam

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You can fit the Hideaway under the drivers or passengers seat possibly.

The Hideaway wouldn't interfere with the folding floor.
Under passenger seat is not flat plus the jack is stored there. Under driver's seat looks too small and has power seat mechanism, wiring, and HVAC ductwork. I'm thinking on floor behind the seat portion of the backseat.

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PowrRam

PowrRam

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Like others have mentioned, we have plug and play speakers for the doors and most Mopar of family vehicles, and the VSS plug and play system works in the base audio trucks, which I have as well.
Graygoose, I'm new here--do you work for Kicker?

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Graygoose

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Under passenger seat is not flat plus the jack is stored there. Under driver's seat looks too small and has power seat mechanism, wiring, and HVAC ductwork. I'm thinking on floor behind the seat portion of the backseat.

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That may work, sorry, I had one under my RC Ram 1500, your right, CC has a ton of stuff under them. Sorry.
 

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