Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Hi guys. I'm looking for ideas, thoughts, opinions, modifications, parts, etc that you use or have use or know of for doing two things to an '02 Quad-Cab. The truck in question is the one in my avatar and photo gallery. As you can see, it's pretty nice and pretty fancy. And my main priority it to keep it that way and not doing anything to compromise the truck and what it is now, since I'm plenty happy with it as-is. I'd just like to make it a little more enjoyable and practical without making major changes and without breaking the bank. I don't have a real budget in mind, but I'm not going to put $5000 in a stereo for my $15,000 truck I may only drive 5,000 miles a year or spend 500 hours designing and fabricating some custom interior storage system thats going to be in use 50 hours a year max. So let me tell you what I'm looking to do.
First, I want to improve or upgrade the factory stereo, which is an RZAP CD/cassette/EQ unit with Ifinity speakers and steering wheel controls. I want to keep as much of the factory system and function as possilble and I'm probably LEAST flexible when it comes to the steering wheel controls. They just work too well for me to give them up easily.
The other improvement I want to make and that I would probably do simultaneously is getting rid of or modifying the rear passenger seating in exchange for something more cargo friendly. Ideally it would maintain the underseat storage in back and replace the lower seat cushion with a flat platform more suitable for putting luggage, gun cases, etc on top of. As for the backrest, it goes away entirely. Maybe then theres enough room to mount speakers to the rear cab walll area and still be able to lift up the front platform for access.
Everything is sort of negotiable and my MAIN priority is not butchering the truck. I'll modify it, but I'm not going to do anyhing to make it less comfortable and quiet and attractive than it is now. I don't necessarily NEED more or better storage and I don't need more stereo performance. My daily-driver '94 is a regular cab and I get by even on trips. And a decent Alpine CD player with the factory Infinity speakers all in intact and functioning have been "good enough". But when it's back on the road, the '02 is going to be a pleasure vehicle for weekend cruising, vacation driving and emergency transportation in case of problems with the '94 or when it needs some work. Maybe there are some aftermarket solutions available or maybe something Dodge used later on can be installed or maybe you built or know someone who built your own system. I'm open to any and all suggestions, ideas and especially PICTURES of similar setups.
What I'm looking for from the stereo is more volume and more bass. Not hangin with the homeys in the hood bass, but something I can feel in the back of my seat a little bit when Lars is playing double bass during "One". That's about as bass-intensive as my music gets. I'd like to keep as much of the factory system as possible. Especially the steering wheel controls. I have big hands and it's easy for me to stab the wrong button on even a STOCK stereo with DECENT controls, much less an aftermarket head unit with 40 little buttons and a little knob.
Most of my listening is AM/FM radio leaning more toward AM since I'm one of those evil, right-wing conservatives clinging to my God and my guns. And since our FM stations out here all pretty much suck most of the time. The rest of my listening is from my iPod. I've got an iPod touch and an FM transmitter. The problem there is taking my eyes off the road to use the iPod and how easily it can be mistaken for a cell phone if someone can't mind their own business. I don't know what's possible with an iPad, but if I could mount an iPad or similar tablet cleanly and securely within easy reach and get my iTunes that way, it would be better than my currrent "system". I've had Sirius satellite in the past and it has its pros and cons. And maybe I can keep my steering wheel controls AND add SRR and the iTunes capability I really want by installing a factory head unit from a newer truck. Like I said, I really don't know what my options are and I have no set-in-stone plan.
I really know VERY LITTLE about stereo equipment and what's available with something like iPad with internet access as far as good "road" apps. But it did occur to me that a larger platform that can basically replace my iPod and a wireless FM transmitter might be the way to go and still maintain the stock stereo. The main reason I want iTunes on a bigger platform is to make it safer and easier to change songs. I do a lot of skipping around and I've noticed that even on shuffle some stuff comes up almost daily and some songs I almost never hear. I have the entire AC/DC catalog on there and even though I LOVE AC/DC, it can get a litttle old hearing AC/DC every third or fourth song on shuffle. With a bigger screen in a good location I can have a little more access and control with a little less squinting at little screen. I have a Kindle Fire so I do have tablet experience but the memory on mine isn't anywhere near big enough for me. I've got about 6 days of music on my iPod. And a lot of variety. Hank Sr. might lead to Metallica which might lead to Sinatra to Eminem to Sam Kinison to Stevie Ray Vaughan to Skynyrd. ALL roads lead to Skynyrd. But that gives you an idea what I'm looking for as far as sound goes. Like I said, I want some firm bass, but I don't want dash lights flicking in time to the music.
It would be nice to have the stereo upgrades and interior changes work well together, but I can see that could be a challenge and I've already pretty much staked out the rear floor in front of the underseat storage unit for speaker mounting if I need to add speakers. And I'm pretty sure I'm going to be adding speakers and certainly an amp. And I know that the "premium" Infinity speakers aren't near as good as what's available from the aftermarket. So even though I'd LIKE to keep the factory speakers if for no other reason than to avoid disassembly, I realize that might not be reality.
So that about sums it up. Like I said, I'll read or look at anything you have. But just please keep in mind what I said about not being willing to make major modifications to the truck and not being willing to sacrifice the comfort, convenience and appearance I do have no in order to gain something I've survived without this long. I wrote this long, rambling post to try to prevent wasting anyone's time by trying to explain what I'm looking for as well as possible up front instead of having to do a lot of "that's not what I'm looking for" replies later. Thanks in advance for any feedback.
First, I want to improve or upgrade the factory stereo, which is an RZAP CD/cassette/EQ unit with Ifinity speakers and steering wheel controls. I want to keep as much of the factory system and function as possilble and I'm probably LEAST flexible when it comes to the steering wheel controls. They just work too well for me to give them up easily.
The other improvement I want to make and that I would probably do simultaneously is getting rid of or modifying the rear passenger seating in exchange for something more cargo friendly. Ideally it would maintain the underseat storage in back and replace the lower seat cushion with a flat platform more suitable for putting luggage, gun cases, etc on top of. As for the backrest, it goes away entirely. Maybe then theres enough room to mount speakers to the rear cab walll area and still be able to lift up the front platform for access.
Everything is sort of negotiable and my MAIN priority is not butchering the truck. I'll modify it, but I'm not going to do anyhing to make it less comfortable and quiet and attractive than it is now. I don't necessarily NEED more or better storage and I don't need more stereo performance. My daily-driver '94 is a regular cab and I get by even on trips. And a decent Alpine CD player with the factory Infinity speakers all in intact and functioning have been "good enough". But when it's back on the road, the '02 is going to be a pleasure vehicle for weekend cruising, vacation driving and emergency transportation in case of problems with the '94 or when it needs some work. Maybe there are some aftermarket solutions available or maybe something Dodge used later on can be installed or maybe you built or know someone who built your own system. I'm open to any and all suggestions, ideas and especially PICTURES of similar setups.
What I'm looking for from the stereo is more volume and more bass. Not hangin with the homeys in the hood bass, but something I can feel in the back of my seat a little bit when Lars is playing double bass during "One". That's about as bass-intensive as my music gets. I'd like to keep as much of the factory system as possible. Especially the steering wheel controls. I have big hands and it's easy for me to stab the wrong button on even a STOCK stereo with DECENT controls, much less an aftermarket head unit with 40 little buttons and a little knob.
Most of my listening is AM/FM radio leaning more toward AM since I'm one of those evil, right-wing conservatives clinging to my God and my guns. And since our FM stations out here all pretty much suck most of the time. The rest of my listening is from my iPod. I've got an iPod touch and an FM transmitter. The problem there is taking my eyes off the road to use the iPod and how easily it can be mistaken for a cell phone if someone can't mind their own business. I don't know what's possible with an iPad, but if I could mount an iPad or similar tablet cleanly and securely within easy reach and get my iTunes that way, it would be better than my currrent "system". I've had Sirius satellite in the past and it has its pros and cons. And maybe I can keep my steering wheel controls AND add SRR and the iTunes capability I really want by installing a factory head unit from a newer truck. Like I said, I really don't know what my options are and I have no set-in-stone plan.
I really know VERY LITTLE about stereo equipment and what's available with something like iPad with internet access as far as good "road" apps. But it did occur to me that a larger platform that can basically replace my iPod and a wireless FM transmitter might be the way to go and still maintain the stock stereo. The main reason I want iTunes on a bigger platform is to make it safer and easier to change songs. I do a lot of skipping around and I've noticed that even on shuffle some stuff comes up almost daily and some songs I almost never hear. I have the entire AC/DC catalog on there and even though I LOVE AC/DC, it can get a litttle old hearing AC/DC every third or fourth song on shuffle. With a bigger screen in a good location I can have a little more access and control with a little less squinting at little screen. I have a Kindle Fire so I do have tablet experience but the memory on mine isn't anywhere near big enough for me. I've got about 6 days of music on my iPod. And a lot of variety. Hank Sr. might lead to Metallica which might lead to Sinatra to Eminem to Sam Kinison to Stevie Ray Vaughan to Skynyrd. ALL roads lead to Skynyrd. But that gives you an idea what I'm looking for as far as sound goes. Like I said, I want some firm bass, but I don't want dash lights flicking in time to the music.
It would be nice to have the stereo upgrades and interior changes work well together, but I can see that could be a challenge and I've already pretty much staked out the rear floor in front of the underseat storage unit for speaker mounting if I need to add speakers. And I'm pretty sure I'm going to be adding speakers and certainly an amp. And I know that the "premium" Infinity speakers aren't near as good as what's available from the aftermarket. So even though I'd LIKE to keep the factory speakers if for no other reason than to avoid disassembly, I realize that might not be reality.
So that about sums it up. Like I said, I'll read or look at anything you have. But just please keep in mind what I said about not being willing to make major modifications to the truck and not being willing to sacrifice the comfort, convenience and appearance I do have no in order to gain something I've survived without this long. I wrote this long, rambling post to try to prevent wasting anyone's time by trying to explain what I'm looking for as well as possible up front instead of having to do a lot of "that's not what I'm looking for" replies later. Thanks in advance for any feedback.
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