4ShoreRunner
New member
2 pood?! I'm a 1.5 pood kinda guy...
Vegas: 2012 Trail build thread
- Thread starter Vegas
- Start date
2 pood?! I'm a 1.5 pood kinda guy...
Vegas
New member
Nap time over... i just taped up all the wires hanging out the back and doors and hood... so I could run to auto zone and buy this Fuse tap... Hope it fits our Lil mini fuse box... I didn't have time to send 100 PMs to all of the usual culprits to confirm that it is the right one.
Vegas
New member
Sorry trying out the TAPTalk app on my iPad makes posting pics super quick. I haven't seen how the pics turn out on the normal website. But now I know I'll have to fix them.
Thanks!
Vegas
New member
My back hates the 2 pood !!! That's why I prefer to use it as a paper weight.
Vegas
New member
(Sorry in advance for pic size this taptalk app sucks to resize but it's all I have at the moment in the garage)
Quick update for the past 24 hours... (Vacation is almost over so mod-mania will return to weekends)
I Installed a powered sub thanks to the Antman's thread and 5O emails... Technically it's his fault for doing a great write up on his first setup... Then you follow his build thread and get to the second edition of his sub installation its just magically installed!? What a jerk...
So what did I learn ? Test fit it before you shrink wrap and cut the length of the wires... You know common sense stuff!? But since I forgot that In Antmans thread he has an apocalypse storage system it will fit different from mine... So installed it will the feet on and was ready for a corona when I realized the seat couldn't go back up and the slide out tray pretty much was now useless without ripping out the sub... Which happened...
So took off the feet and grabbed a bungee cord temporarily till I can make a run for a better strap... Oh and how great it this? in my junk box of screws and bolts I couldn't find one good bolt that had a nut that would fit to attach as a grounding post in the wheel well for the sub, so I found a bolt from my icon sway bar relocation bolt (not used with KDSS) and one of the stock top coilover nuts... It's only temporary till the car is in a few less pieces to make a run to the store to get a better set-up...
Did some sound deading while I was in neighborhood... Thanks Harper for the directions!
Then ran the wires to the front again, I ran wires last week for every future mod possible, so I thought... but this sub had the wires already attached to the pretty input clips and since I hate cutting wires and since I had to run the remote control wire anyways why not rerun them all over? still was a little uncertain on if this sub would benefit from tapping front and back speakers... So I made sure to run both sets cause it was easier to do that than find out later I needed it or incase I ever need two wires from the front to back...
Then tapped into head unit, easy enough just be careful not to let your navigation unit hang down and let the screen face down and get speared by your naked shift rod...(you know what I mean...) Wanted to try using posi-taps read good things but checked several stores, radio shack, home depot and auto-zone and couldn't find them gave up and used the 3m vampire clips... I gave them a heck of a pull and they didn't budge, I would have preferred to cut and solder them but I haven't learned how to solder two wires together without burning everything around the wires including myself... I wasn't about to bring that chaos inside my truck.... Then unbolted the seat and tilted it back to run CB antenna cable... Cable "looks" short wanted to give it as much slack in the rear as possible...
Extra wire.
Was in the zone then got defeated by my switch panel... I know it can fit cause i have seen it in a thread but just not sure how...(unless he photoshopped it!) I started small with a baby hole in the side with a grommet to run the wires out the back... Then realized all my huge clips needed more room, so i cut a hole in the back then like my entertainment center at home, i decided to get crazy and try take the back off to let those wires breath like a nice pair of sweat pants... Then the dremel died and I tried the drill then a torch then a file and it got sloppier and sloppier.... Always always use the right tool for the job especially when the job is in a spot that you will stare at... and it will get inside your head day after day....
Looks possible...
Jango's thread in sight is a must have when dealing with switches.
Looks bad...
Ok so the dremel should be recharged by now.... (Why do I have a rechargeable one? Ain't no one got time for that!?)
So I'll try to see if I can get it to fit... I might just need to cut the shell that it sits down into since it narrows (thinking like a car stereo hole that you would put in then attached a strap to the back) but its so close that I think if I take my time I get it to where it fits by itself so I whatever adhesive is extremely minimal...
Then back to instal the cobra CB, I need to figure out of I can make the hole in the arm counsel with it on or if it needs to come out to make a "clean" cut for the cobra mounting plate... Then I'll bolt the battery on and see if any of this stuff works...
Game on...
Quick update for the past 24 hours... (Vacation is almost over so mod-mania will return to weekends)
I Installed a powered sub thanks to the Antman's thread and 5O emails... Technically it's his fault for doing a great write up on his first setup... Then you follow his build thread and get to the second edition of his sub installation its just magically installed!? What a jerk...
So what did I learn ? Test fit it before you shrink wrap and cut the length of the wires... You know common sense stuff!? But since I forgot that In Antmans thread he has an apocalypse storage system it will fit different from mine... So installed it will the feet on and was ready for a corona when I realized the seat couldn't go back up and the slide out tray pretty much was now useless without ripping out the sub... Which happened...
So took off the feet and grabbed a bungee cord temporarily till I can make a run for a better strap... Oh and how great it this? in my junk box of screws and bolts I couldn't find one good bolt that had a nut that would fit to attach as a grounding post in the wheel well for the sub, so I found a bolt from my icon sway bar relocation bolt (not used with KDSS) and one of the stock top coilover nuts... It's only temporary till the car is in a few less pieces to make a run to the store to get a better set-up...
Did some sound deading while I was in neighborhood... Thanks Harper for the directions!
Then ran the wires to the front again, I ran wires last week for every future mod possible, so I thought... but this sub had the wires already attached to the pretty input clips and since I hate cutting wires and since I had to run the remote control wire anyways why not rerun them all over? still was a little uncertain on if this sub would benefit from tapping front and back speakers... So I made sure to run both sets cause it was easier to do that than find out later I needed it or incase I ever need two wires from the front to back...
Then tapped into head unit, easy enough just be careful not to let your navigation unit hang down and let the screen face down and get speared by your naked shift rod...(you know what I mean...) Wanted to try using posi-taps read good things but checked several stores, radio shack, home depot and auto-zone and couldn't find them gave up and used the 3m vampire clips... I gave them a heck of a pull and they didn't budge, I would have preferred to cut and solder them but I haven't learned how to solder two wires together without burning everything around the wires including myself... I wasn't about to bring that chaos inside my truck.... Then unbolted the seat and tilted it back to run CB antenna cable... Cable "looks" short wanted to give it as much slack in the rear as possible...
Extra wire.
Was in the zone then got defeated by my switch panel... I know it can fit cause i have seen it in a thread but just not sure how...(unless he photoshopped it!) I started small with a baby hole in the side with a grommet to run the wires out the back... Then realized all my huge clips needed more room, so i cut a hole in the back then like my entertainment center at home, i decided to get crazy and try take the back off to let those wires breath like a nice pair of sweat pants... Then the dremel died and I tried the drill then a torch then a file and it got sloppier and sloppier.... Always always use the right tool for the job especially when the job is in a spot that you will stare at... and it will get inside your head day after day....
Looks possible...
Jango's thread in sight is a must have when dealing with switches.
Looks bad...
Ok so the dremel should be recharged by now.... (Why do I have a rechargeable one? Ain't no one got time for that!?)
So I'll try to see if I can get it to fit... I might just need to cut the shell that it sits down into since it narrows (thinking like a car stereo hole that you would put in then attached a strap to the back) but its so close that I think if I take my time I get it to where it fits by itself so I whatever adhesive is extremely minimal...
Then back to instal the cobra CB, I need to figure out of I can make the hole in the arm counsel with it on or if it needs to come out to make a "clean" cut for the cobra mounting plate... Then I'll bolt the battery on and see if any of this stuff works...
Game on...
4ShoreRunner
New member
I didn't photoshop it!
You'll have to take much more off the back then you have now, just go slowly and take your time until you've taken enough off for it to slide into place. Make sure you test fit WITH at least one switch and wires installed. The angle is a little funny with everything hanging off the back.
You'll have to take much more off the back then you have now, just go slowly and take your time until you've taken enough off for it to slide into place. Make sure you test fit WITH at least one switch and wires installed. The angle is a little funny with everything hanging off the back.
Vegas
New member
Update... Running lower on sleep... So spelling and grammar and appropriate sized pics are out the door...
Spent 99% of daylight fighting to get my switches in... The entire time I cut a few millimeters off with the dremel then test fitted the switches and scratched my manly beard very confused...then 4shorerunner helped out with giving some guidance...
Here's some pics to help out anyone thinking they will just pop right in like I did...
The trick is just keep cutting and the goal is to get the face plate flush and also keep the same number of fingers you started this Mod with.
Finally got them flush!
Then started connecting the switches to the painless wiring harness and also wiring up the cobra CB... So last week I pre-ran wires all over the truck for future mods to make my life easier... And I also thought it would be funny for the guy who owns this truck 15 years from now trying to wire something and he is just following a maze of nowhere wires wahahahaha(evil laugh) that is to get even for an old Cj jeep I had that had mysterious wires all over with hidden in-line fuses in random spots throughout, making trouble shooting any electrical issue a nightmare.
So being short on time I had this pretty bundle of wires planned for behind the grill lights zip tied to the fender... And I was reading someone's thread or remembering their advice that when wiring the cb you need to have it grounded to the neg battery to reduce interference... Forgot about that so cut the zip tie and used one of the wires, not the smartest idea with how long it took me to cut away the heat shrink and electrical tape I could have run a new wire faster...
Finally in...
Then came the moment of truth... it was like a Griswold's Christmas vacation lighting... Trusting in threads and lots of PMs for direction... I had not tested any of the new wires to make sure that it was a good connection and the device turned on, not smart!!! i know.. but the battery was unhooked and I was in the zone.... so I went from installing the sub to the switches to the CB...
Well hooked up the battery and also connected the CB antenna (something somewhere mentioned never power the CB without the antenna you can damage it?)
And.... 5 switches light up... That's out of 6, so not too bad!
Wire was lose on the last switch...
And the sub was not very impressive at all... Then I realized it wasn't on... Quick fix to turn the auto-on switch and booooooom...
Very impressive with this little guy and for the price... Really thumps at 30% on the dial ... Need to play with it and make some adjustments but extremely happy with the results.
And the CB powered up
So all I have to do now is drill the hole into the arm console feeling really lazy right now about removing it when it looks like there is room to drill it in place...Then try to adjust the SWR and so on.... Thanks for all the help today with the quick replies.
Spent 99% of daylight fighting to get my switches in... The entire time I cut a few millimeters off with the dremel then test fitted the switches and scratched my manly beard very confused...then 4shorerunner helped out with giving some guidance...
Here's some pics to help out anyone thinking they will just pop right in like I did...
The trick is just keep cutting and the goal is to get the face plate flush and also keep the same number of fingers you started this Mod with.
Finally got them flush!
Then started connecting the switches to the painless wiring harness and also wiring up the cobra CB... So last week I pre-ran wires all over the truck for future mods to make my life easier... And I also thought it would be funny for the guy who owns this truck 15 years from now trying to wire something and he is just following a maze of nowhere wires wahahahaha(evil laugh) that is to get even for an old Cj jeep I had that had mysterious wires all over with hidden in-line fuses in random spots throughout, making trouble shooting any electrical issue a nightmare.
So being short on time I had this pretty bundle of wires planned for behind the grill lights zip tied to the fender... And I was reading someone's thread or remembering their advice that when wiring the cb you need to have it grounded to the neg battery to reduce interference... Forgot about that so cut the zip tie and used one of the wires, not the smartest idea with how long it took me to cut away the heat shrink and electrical tape I could have run a new wire faster...
Finally in...
Then came the moment of truth... it was like a Griswold's Christmas vacation lighting... Trusting in threads and lots of PMs for direction... I had not tested any of the new wires to make sure that it was a good connection and the device turned on, not smart!!! i know.. but the battery was unhooked and I was in the zone.... so I went from installing the sub to the switches to the CB...
Well hooked up the battery and also connected the CB antenna (something somewhere mentioned never power the CB without the antenna you can damage it?)
And.... 5 switches light up... That's out of 6, so not too bad!
Wire was lose on the last switch...
And the sub was not very impressive at all... Then I realized it wasn't on... Quick fix to turn the auto-on switch and booooooom...
Very impressive with this little guy and for the price... Really thumps at 30% on the dial ... Need to play with it and make some adjustments but extremely happy with the results.
And the CB powered up
So all I have to do now is drill the hole into the arm console feeling really lazy right now about removing it when it looks like there is room to drill it in place...Then try to adjust the SWR and so on.... Thanks for all the help today with the quick replies.
Vegas
New member
So I am really not on crack... I just can't get use to the time change from being in London last week...
Icon suspension bolt being used for a ground... replacing it... I have a billion bolts nuts and fasteners in a junk box....and can't believe i couldn't find a better fitting bolt...really need to get more organized so I don't have to hold stuff together with duct tape...
This should work.
So I was looking through Okki's and Ryan and Antmans CB install and I realized my mistake... Do you notice it?
Of course you do...cause you have common sense...
So I already ran the wire for the CB under the seats and carpet to ensure it was long enough and got a fancy wire that you don't need to solder it just screws the head on like an adapter so the wire is pretty skinny at the tip one end... Well I forgot that it needs to go through the roof wire bundle etc first... You know why do it right the first time? When you can do it twice...
Icon suspension bolt being used for a ground... replacing it... I have a billion bolts nuts and fasteners in a junk box....and can't believe i couldn't find a better fitting bolt...really need to get more organized so I don't have to hold stuff together with duct tape...
This should work.
So I was looking through Okki's and Ryan and Antmans CB install and I realized my mistake... Do you notice it?
Of course you do...cause you have common sense...
So I already ran the wire for the CB under the seats and carpet to ensure it was long enough and got a fancy wire that you don't need to solder it just screws the head on like an adapter so the wire is pretty skinny at the tip one end... Well I forgot that it needs to go through the roof wire bundle etc first... You know why do it right the first time? When you can do it twice...
Vegas
New member
Can we please take a moment of silence to reflect on my fallen BFF... In the short time we spent together he quickly became my favorite tool... I literally heat shrinked every wire... So helpful to heat up the sound deadening material and my heart... I blame myself... There was a little water on the floor when he fell .... He will be missed.
mikey's2010SR5
New member
If you dont want to cut a hole in the center arm rest just have the connector from the brain of the CB to the hand held slide underneath towards the passenger seat along the carpet. There is enough gap to easily access it when you need to hook it up. Thats what I did and has not failed me yet. I will snap a photo later if you want so you know what I mean.
Vegas
New member
Thanks neighbor!
Mikey at this point you think I'm scared to drill a hole in the cubby...? I left fear back somewhere 32 hours ago when the switches broke me spiritually and mentally... On a side note your build is awesome to follow.
Vegas
New member
CB install...
Learn from me... Now come children and sit down and let me teach you what not to do when installing...
I decided to take it out to drill the hole... there are two evil screws that someone mentioned before on here that you really need a special screw driver to get to without rounded the heads... What a pain... But once its out looks like this...
And shorten the sides before removing it... the sides just pop off... no clue why I didn't separate them before trying to remove the counsel (note to self: need to learn to use the repair manual Harper posted to remove trim panels and find a better app to post quick pics that lets you resize them)
Mark it
Throw some double sided tape if you want it will help fill the gap between the grommet and the plate to counsel...
And since I made the mistake of prewiring it I had to bring the counsel in and out of the truck to the CB port to keep test fitting the hole to the CB plug... Real amateur on my part... Bolting those little screws and holding on to the nut on the backside while in the truck was so terrible... I should have just cut the connections and bolted it on the bench, would have been lots easier... Or just gone Mikey's route and ran the cord along the side... Man I better have some real deep conversation with truckers while on the road.
Learn from me... Now come children and sit down and let me teach you what not to do when installing...
I decided to take it out to drill the hole... there are two evil screws that someone mentioned before on here that you really need a special screw driver to get to without rounded the heads... What a pain... But once its out looks like this...
And shorten the sides before removing it... the sides just pop off... no clue why I didn't separate them before trying to remove the counsel (note to self: need to learn to use the repair manual Harper posted to remove trim panels and find a better app to post quick pics that lets you resize them)
Mark it
Throw some double sided tape if you want it will help fill the gap between the grommet and the plate to counsel...
And since I made the mistake of prewiring it I had to bring the counsel in and out of the truck to the CB port to keep test fitting the hole to the CB plug... Real amateur on my part... Bolting those little screws and holding on to the nut on the backside while in the truck was so terrible... I should have just cut the connections and bolted it on the bench, would have been lots easier... Or just gone Mikey's route and ran the cord along the side... Man I better have some real deep conversation with truckers while on the road.
Antman
Elite Member
Live and learn friend, live and learn. At least you won't have the aggravation of having it happen later- which it would have.
HOW do you think I knew those connections would fail? I had a few harnesses in the past that look like that, ok- maybe not exactly like that, but close!
Butt connectors and shrink. BTW- some of your shrink connections aren't doing anything! The shrink needs to be tight around the wire and the connector both. You need to buy a mini butane torch (HOME DEPOT) to concentrate the heat more where you need it. I love my torch!
Keep going man- think how many people on here are learning stuff from your efforts!!
mikey's2010SR5
New member
I see you already got the hole drilled but this is how I did mine.
And a question about all of the vanity switches, the zombie lights, do the actually do anything? Or are they for show?
And a question about all of the vanity switches, the zombie lights, do the actually do anything? Or are they for show?
Vegas
New member
How dare you sir talk about my heat shrink... I lost my BFF heat shrink gun today... And on top of all this my truck ate my spider co knife today... It's probably under the carpet somewhere or bundled into a wire loom... That's what I get for modding without sleep... But it's a good thing I have to rewire everything and re-run my CB antenna cable cause that means hopefully i'll find my knife under a trim panel... But seriously as always thanks for your input and advice, you could have easily looked at my pics and laughed to yourself and not given any feedback... Good people here...
I actually just saw this How to Use Butt Connectors - Presented by Andy's Auto Sport - YouTube
They make butt connectors that as you heat shrink them they also have a bead of solder to strengthen the wire... Pretty impressive stuff and they also make step down butt connectors to go from one gauge to another gauge... I'm sure this isn't news to anyone but I use to just use electrical tape then wait till something stopped working every few months I would go in retwist and try to use the same tape... Of course doesnt look like any stores carry them locally...
I see you already got the hole drilled but this is how I did mine.
And a question about all of the vanity switches, the zombie lights, do the actually do anything? Or are they for show?
I like how you did yours... Thats usually more my style (not cutting into factory wires or drilling where it can be seen... Yeah funny thing about the switches is when I saw a pic posted of them in this spot It looked like a perfect fit and in my head you only need a small hole on the side to let the wires out and it since its a perfect fit it would be easy to undo later on if I sell or realize I can't afford 6 ridgd lights... Only problem with the spot is it holds 6 (and the fit takes a "little" slight trimming)... And I really couldn't think of 6 aux items... Figured at most 4
1. Socal's behind the grill HID lights (if he would park his truck in a public place long enough for me to steal his mounting bracket)
2. Roof rack lights front
3. Roof rack lights rear
4. Little baby compressor under the hood.
So long story long... Didn't want two blanks in the panel so got them for fun place holders and so I could wire them up at the sametime... since the switch face plate is so easy to change out, when I figure out what fun mod is down the road... But I was pretty much set on doing the spot you have yours at cause it looks great and if I messed up the cutting or changed my mind it would be I think pretty cheap to replace over a different piece to cut into and mess up or reverse and if I needed a 4th switch there is perfect blank to the left of the dash to add it.
Go JayBee
New member
mikey's2010SR5
New member
So you actually didn't need to trim anything to get the switches to fit? Interesting, when the lockers and compressor come maybe I will put those switches there.
Last edited:
Vegas
New member
No Mikey, slight trim was sarcastic....if you look at a few post ago I posted pics on how much you need to cut out... It's not crazy just time consuming, doing a little dremel'ing at a time till the face plate becomes flush.
