hey guys new to the forum, and I must say I find it very informative. OK heres the deal. I was just given a job to install a custom stereo in the bed of a 2004 DC with the short bed. The owner wants it made all out of wood and no fiberglass . I have a 30" LCD and full home theater system to install in the bed. This truck will be used solely for tailgating at nascar and football games. There will have to be some bed room left to hold a couple of fold up chairs and a qiukshade. Other than that Im free to build whatever I want. Does anyone have any pics or ideas on a layout? Im kinda stuck on this one, usually I use fiberglass so I can be more creative. Any input will be appreciated

 

I think you need to head over to caraudio.com and browse their gallery. There's not going to be much help here since we all do pretty much standard installs. You might also pick up some car stereo magazines.

Course I am finding it kind of funny that your hired to build a high end custom setup and your coming here asking for ideas.

 

hired? Its my g/f's dad, and Ive done numerous installs but im a fiberglass man. I was just trying to see if anyone had done a similar setup and I was just tryiing to get some ideas on a setup. But thanks anyways

 

Like Impact said, most everyone here doesnt get into an install like that just because we lose the whole functionality (is that a word?) of a truck.

Doing it with all MDF is going to be a PITA.

Without knowing exactley what you have to install, I would say at the front of the bed, make a slanted piece from the floor to the top of the bed that you can flush mount the TV in, along with the center, left, and right speakers.
Then mount the rear speakers right at the back of the bed on either side.

 

Sorry Rex that clarifies the situation now I actually feel like helping out here. You really should convince him to go with fiberglass. It would save him a ton of weight not to mention the thermal stability and ability to hold up to the elements.

The TV is going to be hard since you almost would have to put it in a shade box to keep the sun off the screen so you can see it. I would probably mount it to where it stands up against the back wall of the bed with a shelf over it for the shade. Then have the speakers coming over and around the monitor. First though put in a false floor and support it make it tall enough to make the monitor come close to flush with the top of the bed. Then use that depth under the floor to put the amps and wiring. I

've seen this done in a truckin' magazine and if I can find the issues I'll scan it and email it to you.

 

ok now were talkin. I had plans to mount the TV on rubber bushings so that when the tonneau cover opens, the tonneau cover holds the TV vertically. The problem with MDF is that even though the cover is supposed to be weather tight, moisture and humudity will still get in and slowly ruin the wood and cause warping. Another probelm is that he is stuck on using home audio equitment that runs off 110volts. . Im trying to convince him to let me install a DD unit like the alpine and just be able to control all the sound from one source inside the vehicle. I should be able to get pics up soon and show everyone what Im working with. wish me luck on changing his mind

 

Man

Weight alone and moisture should be able to convince a reasonable guy to use fiberglass as much as possible. Good luck with convincing though.

There's a whole bunch of tailgate installations out there on the web. You might want to google on tailgater customs.

Here's the link for a Chevrolet SSR Tailgater with what you are thinking. Photos like these may lead him from wood only to the proper wood and fiberglass hybrid.

FinishCarpenterAugs

http://www.al-eds.com/press/stm_ssr.html

and here's an F150 so modified.

http://www.motortrend.com/features/a...40130_tailgate

and one more

http://www.westinautomotive.com/pres...2007/06.61.pdf

 

thanks for the reply bro those pics were a big help. i cant seem to change his mind yet about the fiberglass, I might just get the wood lin-xed

 

If I had to do it from all wood I dont think I would even want to. Why is he so against fiberglass? Give him some pros and cons about each and what not...fiberglass is really the way to go on something like this.

Maybe after having to replace the MDF three or so times because of its horrible outdoorish durability, or lack of, he will change his mind and go with fiberglass