Vannin' Community and Forums Forums General Discussion Electronics Big Speakers in your rear doors?

I'm installing a new audio system in the G Van . Back in the day I knew people that put 6x9 or bigger speakers in the rear doors. Can't recall how that sounded with door's as Acoustic Enclosures. It was cool to swing the doors open and blast away at the lake. Hoping for some advise before cut open the doors. Perhaps 1 sub would be better? Any feedback appreciated .

Definetly don't do subs in the rear doors.Speakers and subs work best in a specific air space matched to the maker's model. I would do the sub integrated into the bed with a spec sealed enclosure . I would do the full range speakers in curved section between the back doors and rear quarter panels. Good luck

A set of extention speakers you can keep under the bed storage area and can always be pulled out and ran on a seperate amp or specific channel on a muti channel amp.

OK Thanks for tip . No speakers in rear doors. Check! That explains why none of the van builds I've seen have done that. Didn't want to cut them up anyway. So .. 6.5 holes in the lower cavity of front doors that I have yet to fill. Any suggestions ? Found an old formed StarCraft plastic headliner/consul to put a Bluetooth touch screen overhead. Maybe Alpine or Pioneer receiver head. The A/C dash I retrieved from motorhome has the original GM knobbed audiovox AM/FM 23 chan. CB/ 8 track that still works! Decisions decisions.

If you don't do a overhead front windshield console; I plan on doing a low profile box behind the bucket seats and mount my front speakers there. I would go with a custom vintage dual post bluetooth unit that fits in the factory dash and looks stock and for sure keep the CB/8-track and install that as well in some type of overhrad console. Sounds like an awesome score.

Don't scrimp on your wiring; rcas; power cable etc. That is just as important as your gear. Good luck

Thanks SDM .. As much as I like the retro stuff . The overhead consul and all the latest features (bluetooth, back up cam , navigation Streaming ETC) is too good to avoid. Ill fill the factory uncut radio dash hole with something practical , AFR Meter ? . The old Audio vox will stay retired. I did run 4 heavy strands new speaker wire along side roof channel as the factory did it. I see some people run the amps in the wall behind drivers seat., but all my wiring is going the the dash as of now.

AV Just is like this classic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrPSIKGWyQ4&t=3s

That video is awesome. Hope you are rock n out soon

Having speakers in the rear doors will cause “delay” issues with the front and/or front door speakers…..I could see their use with the doors open (if you can open them so they face to the rear for lestening to music outside but would have to have some sort of way to turn the front speakers off either with a switch or using a multi-channel amp that’different speakers can be turned off……

If you are looking to add subs, look into Free Air subs. They don't require a sealed box or enclosure. I have a set of 12" kickers under the front side of my bed, And they are not sealed, but they do have a protective wall around them along with the 6x9's behind them to protect them from damage if things slide around under the bed. I also used 5/8 particle board on the face area to set the subs in. Plywood alone would twist and distort from the sub moving. I found out the hard way. They don't have that 1/4 mile away thump, but they have plenty of thump when in the van. I have 2 1000 watt amps running the speakers also. 1 is for the 2 12" subs and one for the 4 6x9's. Trust me, my neighbor can hear it loud and clear 300 yards away through the woods on his back porch when I crank it with the doors open.

Check out Crutchfield on the web. They have been around for years and are good people to deal with.

I agree = front side of the bed