I'm looking into purchasing a sub with the an Ebay "Hotbox" enclosure I found.

I have zero experience with audio and I'm wondering how hard it would be to connect the sub to the amp and the amp to the HU (at least i think that's how I'd be doing it). I have not ofund how easy this is to do and if it can be done using the stock head unit.

Basically, has anyone installed a sub with the stock head unit? Have any pics? Any tips/info on how to do so?

 

More than likely this will not work cause if im not mistaken the stock radio does not have pre-outs on it which is what sends the signal from the hu to the sub. I could be wrong though. Just get a cheaper alpine or clarion cd player hu that has only one pre-out on it (not the ones with 4, they cost a bit more) and everything will hook up great. Crutchfield will even send you the wiring harness and everything you need to install it your self.

 

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-6wlNNWc...0&I=130DEHP380
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-6wlNNWc...00&I=613MP4028
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-6wlNNWc...00&I=020DXZ365
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-6wlNNWc...0&I=500CDE9842
Try these and see what you think

 

Ramman, thanks, but I was trying to steer away from an upgraded HU.

I had one in my jeep, but I want to stay with a stock look in my 2500 (if possible). I almost bought a dakota witha sub hooked up to a stock head unit.

 

This is possible (although not the best way to go) ... you need to pick up a high/low level converter from best buy/circuit city or any car audio place. You can then tap into the existing speaker wires that run from the head unit to the individual speakers ... the box has a set of rca outputs that plug into your amp.

 

Its possible I have my amp and subs connected to my stock radio. I just had them install a set of pre-outs that connected to the original speaker wire and then attatch everything as normal from there. Although make sure that they attatch the pre-outs to the right set of speaker wires some how mine got attatched to the front speakers instead of the rear which is kind of annoying and Im gonna get that fixed soon.........

 

No problem. For what you looking to do I rec you get a powered sub with speaker level inputs. This will allow you to connect your sub by tapping into the wiring for a rear speaker. You'll also need to run a power wire to the battery. You can do same thing with an amp and sub if you want. Either way, check to see if it is a speaker level input amp. This is done all of the time and is not any kind of special wiring job.

 

thanks for the replies, all good info, ill have to research it a bit more.

 

So lets say I bought an alpine amp with speaker level input and an alpine sub. Then probably the ebay middle seat enclosure.

I would run a wire from the amp to the battery, amp to the sub and amp to the speakers? Is it that simple or am I missing something huge?

 

Yep. Depending upon the amp, you might need a remote turn-on wire to connect to the fuse box or some 12v source that is only on when the key is in/turned on, otherwise the AMP will always be on.