Ford Explorer Installation

[kb8srx]

Hey Folks,

I am preparing to do a radio install in my 2012 Ford Explorer XLT, and was prepared to just mount radios under the seat where I can fit them,
was just wondering if there are ANY professional installers in here who might offer a bit of advice.

I was looking at this rack for the back of the explorer, does anyone know of something like this that will work in a 2012 explorer WITH 3rd Row seating ??

this pic is of a police explorer 2020 and newer, it would be VERY NICE to just mount ALL the radios in one place, the 3 motorola XTL5000 VHF, UHF and 900Mhz AND the Icom IC-7000 and then just run separation cables to the Front

If You have any ideas, Lets Talk about it here........

 

[mmckenna]

Most of those inserts will either rattle as soon as you put them in, or will start rattling after a few weeks. You'll drive yourself nuts trying to eliminate the racket.
No idea if it'll work with the 3rd row, but I'd avoid that if you value your sanity (and that of your passengers).

What kind of radios, what kind of control heads, what is your installation skill level, what are you going to do for antennas, and what is your budget?

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I have a 2013 Expedition (a way different animal) I am planning to delete third row as I never need it. Along the way, I have discovered that there is a ton of space for a huge subwoofer in the sidewall behind the wheel arch. It may be suitable for smaller radios. I am sticking with the seat delete because I have one very large radio (Syntor X9000) and though it might fit where the subwoofer option goes, I will need more space. Plus maybe I will upgrade the stereo. I have a thread on this board for my project.

The police Explorers, like your picture, require additional cross bracing if you remove the 3rd row seat. For crash protection.

You might want to look at making something custom with diamond plate. The companies that make truck boxes make custom stuff. As far as Police equipment, HAVIS and others may have something that works around the third row space because sometimes that is used for dog boxes.

mmckenna has a good point about rattling. The police equipment knocks down like an erector set for shipping so lots of panels, screws and brackets. You can add soundproofing mat and carpet. All that adds up in time and money. Plus finding and fixing rattles while you drive is near impossible.

 

[n3obl]

No that cargo divider will not fit a civilian explorer cause there are brackets installed to support third row seats not present in police model.

 

[kb8srx]

No that cargo divider will not fit a civilian explorer cause there are brackets installed to support third row seats not present in police model.

I know this one will not fit, just based on the year alone, and the fact that this is a "police explorer"(No 3rd row) thats why I was asking if anyone KNEW of something Similar

Im just looking for Ideas in Mounting using the Pic as an IDEA

 

[kb8srx]

Most of those inserts will either rattle as soon as you put them in, or will start rattling after a few weeks. You'll drive yourself nuts trying to eliminate the racket.
No idea if it'll work with the 3rd row, but I'd avoid that if you value your sanity (and that of your passengers).

What kind of radios, what kind of control heads, what is your installation skill level, what are you going to do for antennas, and what is your budget?

Im no "Professional" by any stretch, but this will not be my first console, but this one is getting a Havis-Shield Console and all of the antennas will be drilled NMO mounted permanently, except for the Hi-Q 4-160 HF antenna.

Radios will be Motorola APX-6500 -VHF, XTL-5000 - UHF Both HIGH Power and an XTL5000 mid power 900 MHZ ALL with O5 Control Heads, along with an Icom IC-7000 HF/VHF/UHF and one Uniden SDS-200 Receiver

 

[tweiss3]

For deck mounting, in the Transit I just traded in, we used the 3rd row intermittently. I cut a piece of plywood to mount the decks on, and it went on the drivers side pillar panel. I arranged it such that it could stay there permanently with the seat up or down, and attached to the trim panel with a single screw. The top of the decks and plywood were below the rear window, so it still was mostly hidden, and allowed use of the trunk space.

 

[kb8srx]

For deck mounting, in the Transit I just traded in, we used the 3rd row intermittently. I cut a piece of plywood to mount the decks on, and it went on the drivers side pillar panel. I arranged it such that it could stay there permanently with the seat up or down, and attached to the trim panel with a single screw. The top of the decks and plywood were below the rear window, so it still was mostly hidden, and allowed use of the trunk space.

LOL, we had a Transit van at work a couple of years ago, a TON of room in there for sure.....unfortunately, real estate is way harder to find in an explorer

 

[tweiss3]

LOL, we had a Transit van at work a couple of years ago, a TON of room in there for sure.....unfortunately, real estate is way harder to find in an explorer

This was a Transit Connect, but yea, room was not a major issue. In your explorer, if you plan to use the 3rd row, just attach to the back of the seat. If not, attach to the back of the seat.... lol.

I looked at explorers, there wasn't near enough room for the family, especially for such a large vehicle.

 

[mmckenna]

I've never worked on a non PD one, so not sure if there is room under the second row seats. Mounting under there would be an option.
3/4 plywood mounted to the floor, rattle can paint it black.
Other option would be to see if there's a gun safe type box that would fit behind the 3rd row.

 

[kb8srx]

I've never worked on a non PD one, so not sure if there is room under the second row seats. Mounting under there would be an option.
3/4 plywood mounted to the floor, rattle can paint it black.
Other option would be to see if there's a gun safe type box that would fit behind the 3rd row.

Thats what I was asking for Ideas on, something behind the 3rd row, possibly above the spare tire, there is room under the seats in the second row, which is what I had originally planned, but that requires running running power cable AND control head cable AND antenna to each deck, I was just thinking of simplifying that by putting all the decks in one spot

 

[mmckenna]

Thats what I was asking for Ideas on, something behind the 3rd row, possibly above the spare tire, there is room under the seats in the second row, which is what I had originally planned, but that requires running running power cable AND control head cable AND antenna to each deck, I was just thinking of simplifying that by putting all the decks in one spot

I guess I'm not understanding the question, then. Everything but the scanner is remote head, right? You'll need power at the dash for the scanner and Motorola heads. You'll also need to route coax, control, and power to the RF decks. Routing cables should be the easy part.

You'd have to get creative either way.

I try to avoid under seat mounting unless you can keep the RF decks off the floor. Just too easy for moisture to gather there, dirt, everything else. Mounting them up off the floor a few inches would be #1 goal under the seat.

Because of that, I'd probably figure out something behind the 3rd row. Our PD has a small Transit Connect and the up fitter mounted the 2 RF decks behind the last row of seats. A piece of plywood holding the RF decks, power block and wire management is bolted down. They built a carpet covered plywood box to go over the top to protect them. I'd do something similar, or look for an aluminum gun/lock box and design something off that. Or, go with the gun box and place a piece of plywood over that, screwed down, and mount RF decks on top. I'm just not sure how much room is behind the 3rd row.