Hey guys I just recently have been admiring my friends audio setup in his old Mercedes Diesel hes got subs amp head unit etc... and I just got payed today and would like to get some shallow mount subs, head unit and all that fun stuff for my truck. So basically I have no experience with installing car audio so a few questions here...

-Could someone point me to a forum (correction: a post) with like a how to install the radio or is it pretty straight forward, i know how to pull off the front plastic face of the dash, then i have no clue what to do...

-Do i need a cd player installation kit or something to close the gap of the size difference of the stock unit to an aftermarket one?

-Is it plug and play or do i need special wires or a harness or something to connect the aftermarket radio into the truck?

-Wheres a good place to run the preamp wires from the cd player to the back of the truck so they are not visible?

--All help is much appreciated, thanks in advance guys

 

go to crutchfield.com and they'll give you eveything you need.

 

thanks i might look there when im gonna buy the amp and subs but what im mainly looking to be answered is, can i go to best buy, buy the cheapest head unit with pre-amps, aux, cd player etc... and would it fit? or what would i need to do to make it fit?

 

Look on crutchfield but don't buy your speakers amps ect. Shop around for them, I got my head unit from them cause it came with the harrnest and dash kit. There prices are very high. Thats the only reason I didn't buy my speakers from them. If i had got all my stuff from them I was just below 400. I got every thing for around 300 because I shopped around.

 

thanks will do, i found some deals and stuff on craigslist... but my main question at this moment is the head unit, if i went to best buy tomorrow and bought one and wanted to install it, do i need a special harness or would it be plug and play, and then to cover the gap is there an install kit?

 

the head unit you install will be very standard, 1 DIN high. you can spend a lot or a little, and you might want to get and AUX input for your mp3 or ipod or whatever. you might also want to make sure it'll play MP3 formats on CD. you might also want satellite ready. be sure and buy a dash mounting kit for about $20 or less and a wiring adapter, also $20 or less. some units have higher power RCA outputs than others, and some units might have 2 channel RCA outputs vs 4 channel RCA.

Where you need to plan carefully is in you speakers, subs, and the AMP(s) you will use. I'm no expert but you've got to have the right number of channels and power to match your speaker plan.

front speakers are 6x9 but can have fit problems. rears are 5.25 although you can fit 6.5 crutchfield will list 6.5 round for the front to avoid depth fit problems with the window frames. you can use 6x9 but you have to know the depth and height. i'll post a link to some pics in a moment.

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/audio-v...-speakers.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/audio-v...-speakers.html

 

gap is covered up by the dash kit.
wiring harness makes it a lot easier and neater to install.

 

so if i were to go tomorrow and possibly purchase this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218057761867 i should ask the best buy person about a mounting kit and a wiring harness for a 2001 dodge ram?

 

Yes you will need them.

 

alright i found this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218117344677 and this http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1218104796917 seems about righttt...