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Best location to run audio cables?

Discussion in 'Audio & Video' started by cowfootball, Oct 28, 2023.

  1. Oct 28, 2023 at 7:44 PM
    #1
    cowfootball

    cowfootball [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I'm installing a 3-way active up front and an amp in the rear seats. That means 6-CH RCA from my Pioneer HU, wiring for 3 speakers and the heavy gauge wiring for my amplifier. My door sills are already reasonably full from an antenna cable and the rear tailgate lock and I'm not sure I can fit two more cables in there let 6.

    Do folks just run them under the carpet? Along the transmission hump?
     
  2. Oct 28, 2023 at 7:59 PM
    #2
    Rock Lobster

    Rock Lobster Thread Derailer

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    Its feasible to run cable straight down the center (or actually, in the curve beside the trans tunnel). It might take a bit of tape/ironing/steaming to smooth the carpet between console and rear seat, but its feasible to do. It would be a short section where that lump would be visible. I would still do the amp-to-door runs through the sills, however.
     
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  3. Oct 28, 2023 at 8:50 PM
    #3
    ZMan2k2

    ZMan2k2 “Hold my beer and watch this!”

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    Ran my 6-ch RCAs down the middle by disassembling the dash and taping the cable down. My amp is under the drivers seat on a TT amp mount. From there it’s speaker wire down the sill channels to speakers.
     
  4. Oct 30, 2023 at 10:20 AM
    #4
    Revelations

    Revelations Well-Known Member

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    There is plenty of space in the plastic runners in the door sill to accommodate all the wires without running it along the tunnel. I ran a 4 Ga battery cable along the passenger side along with the amp to speakers to the passenger doors. I ran the RCAs and amp to speaker wires in the driver side. I used 14Ga speaker wires too. Unless you're going to run 2ga or something larger, I don't see why it can't be run in the door sill channels.
     
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  5. Oct 30, 2023 at 3:50 PM
    #5
    cowfootball

    cowfootball [OP] Well-Known Member

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    The OEM remote tailgate lock loom is huge and combined with my antenna and radio power, I don’t see myself getting 6-8 new conductors in here. Can you run them outside of the clips and still get the trim piece to lock? I couldn’t but maybe it just requires more force.

    IMG_2463.jpg
     
  6. Oct 30, 2023 at 3:59 PM
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    Revelations

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    Sorry, that's different than the 2g.
     
  7. Oct 30, 2023 at 4:14 PM
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    Stevie17

    Stevie17 Well-Known Member

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    I ran my 4 gauge power wire just to the outside of what you have removed and barely can tell it’s under the carpet and up against the sill.
     
  8. Oct 30, 2023 at 4:26 PM
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    cowfootball

    cowfootball [OP] Well-Known Member

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    yeah, I’m running dual amps and went 0 gauge but could have gotten by with 2. the 0 is definitely noticeable but a 2 would probably get by if I trim the carpet
     
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  9. Oct 30, 2023 at 5:36 PM
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    soundman98

    soundman98 Well-Known Member

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    i would run the wire underneath the truck along the frame rail, then pop up through one of the many number of rubber grommets through the floor nearest the amp location.
     
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  10. Oct 30, 2023 at 5:38 PM
    #10
    cowfootball

    cowfootball [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, I'm seriously considering this. Ironically I actually already have some 6 gauge there because I moved my compressor to the bedside. The routing to avoid the exhaust and/or heat protect it with DEI is kind of a pain but totally doable.

    JD Fab are actually relocating my battery to the bed in a month or two so maybe I'll just yolo it and figure it out then.
     
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  11. Oct 31, 2023 at 4:17 PM
    #11
    cowfootball

    cowfootball [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I sucked it up and used the firewall groomer up left of the ECU harness. I had to widen it with a Dremel because it is _exactly_ the thickness of 1/0. Carpet behind is impossible to cut but I managed to get fish tape through from the engine to the cab, tape it to a second piece of fish tape to pull back into the engine and then tape that to the 1/0 to pull it into the cab. Real pain in the ass. I think next time I’d just drill a new hole down lower.

    I cut the carpet and ran it alongside the door sill. Worked out good enough.

    The door boot on the 3rd gen is also different.. it’s molded into a cone like the main drivers side harness and you can’t just slip a cable in. I had to detach the 3 cables that ran into it and then pull the whole boot out to open it up. Got a 14 and a 16 gauge in it, though.

    IMG_2481.jpg
    IMG_2480.jpg
    IMG_2479.jpg
     
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  12. Nov 2, 2023 at 9:06 PM
    #12
    ZMan2k2

    ZMan2k2 “Hold my beer and watch this!”

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    Well, my father-in-law always said “If it don’t fit, don’t force it.” Glad it worked out for you.
     

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