2009 Chrysler Town & County??

[pseconds]

Does anyone have install pics from 2009 Chrysler Town & County or Dodge Grand Caravan?

We just got a Chrysler Town & County van, first order of business is getting a scanner for it. The problem is, I can't figure out where heck to install it. There is acutally very little room to even put a remote head, except on the dash, but I don't want it there.

Has anyone done an install on one of these vans yet? I'd like to see it.

Thanks

[tekshogun]

Is this what your interior looks like? This is from the '09 Dodge Caravan.


I am guessing not because I just looked at the 2009 Chrysler T&C and noticed that the cubby hole below the A/C controls) on the Caravan may be occupied by something.

If not, you may want to sacrifice that cubby hole. Also, I noticed on the T&C that the center console stops and there is a an open space on the floor between the driver and front passenger (as is the case with most minivans I believe. You can mount the mobile scanner vertically, obviously with the screen facing up. I you want to use a remove head anyway, the radio could be hidden carefully under a seat in or storage compartment (since I think these vans have plenty of hidden spaces like that). The remote head could then be mounted vertically OR you can get a nice floor mount and put the control head on that so it will be more naturally in the driver's control or the passengers control.

Here is an example of a floor mount:


You may have to make sacrifices anyway and forgo aesthetics in some places.

You should do a mock up of how you would run cables, antenna, and mounting position with a box roughly the size of the scanner and wires to represent power, ground, and if you have an external antenna.

[1150RT-P]

Originally Posted by tekshogun

I am guessing not because I just looked at the 2009 Chrysler T&C and noticed that the cubby hole below the A/C controls) on the Caravan may be occupied by something.

I beleive .... that cubby houses one of the DVD players for rear-seat entertainment. It is open like that if the option is not ordered.

[1150RT-P]

Will the driver be the primary controller or the passenger? You can mount the head ( or maybe even the whole unit) in the top glove box, depending on how often you will need to change settings.

[N467RX]

Seems like a major design change from the previous generation. We had an 04 LX (Mexican LX) and had plenty of space, including nothing between the front seats.

[crouffer]

I have a 2008 Caravan and just finished installing my radio in it (Yaesu FT-7800). If you take the panel off below the steering wheel there is a metal frame that is perfect for mounting the body of the radio. There's a fair amount of space under there, and it seems to act like a resonant cavity for the audio. Even at half volume it's still very loud.

1) Remove three torx screws (1 is hidden by the panel on the left side) and pop the panel off
2) Make a small puncture in the rubber where the main wiring harness comes through the firewall
3) Feed a stiff wire through the rubber into the engine compartment
4) Use the wire like and electrician's snake to pull the power wires from the cab into the engine compartment
5) Mount the radio body onto the frame below the steering column
6) Route the remote wire to the desired location for the head
7) Put the panel back on
8) Mount the head and mic brackets
9) Route the antenna feed and bracket.

My Uniden BCT-15 scanner is on the left, and the FT-7800 radio head is on the right. Here are some pics:

[mikerabbit]

Crouffer,
Any reason you chose those locations rather than the center console?

[crouffer]

Originally Posted by mikerabbit

Any reason you chose those locations rather than the center console?

There are actually several reasons I chose those locations:

1) I like to have things within fingertip reach if I'm going to be using them while driving. For instance, I can adjust the squelch or hold on a frequency on the scanner without looking at it.
2) The center console didn't have any really good places to mount the radios without hindering some other control
3) I have two young children, so we're always lugging diaper bags, toys, food, etc with us. Most of the time these things go right between the front seats, and I didn't want the radios to take a beating

You'd be surprised at how little the radios get in the way in the locations I've chosen. Only once in the past 6 months (since I mounted the scanner) have I even bumped it getting in or out of the van.

Cheers,

Chris

[jack103]

Knees first radios last!!

[xalaskan]

what brand and model mount did you use to for your antenna?!

Thanks,

XA

[dispatch]

Here's how I handled my installation. Easily accessible and looks professional...
Jotto Desk console worked well for this install...
Dave

[xalaskan]

Very nice set up....... I want to do something similar in F250