Project to make remote mount stereo face

[Cowboy Medic]

I am contemplating a project to make a remote mount out of my detatchable stereo face. Reason being that these trucks have very poor options for mounting a full size CB unless you want to really get creative. My old setup with the CB in the area where the cubby finally broke and I put in the cubby piece again and have found I really like having it but I miss my CB.



So I got to thinking. (this is where the trouble usually starts!!!) What if I made an extension cable to run from the actual unit of my stereo so that I could use the detatchable face of my Pioneer strereo as a remote mount face and then place the cb in the factory stereo location. This would mean placing the actual din unit of the stereo someplace else, say under a seat or something and then being able to put the face from the stereo somewhere else on the dash since it no longer needs the depth just the surface area.



Has anyone done anything like this? I am thinking that if I could get my hands on another pioneer deck that uses those 16 pin connectors I could use them as the ends of the extension cord and then use some computer style wire ribbon as the cord. Searches on the internet didn't find anything either for someone fabricating their own like this or for a company that might be selling something like this. I figured with all the custom things people do with their vehicles this might already be out there somewhere. I considred doing this with the cb but sice the stereo already is a detachable unit I think it would be easier to go this route.



Let me know what you think or anyone who has an old pioneer deck with those 16 pin connectors I could piece out let me know.



Thanks



Jon

 

[Woodenhead]

Not sure about the '99s but my '96 has my pioneer stereo in the oem dash location and I put my CB in place of the old POS cup holder. Seems like alot of work to me, but all the power to ya (definitely a unique idea).



Taker easy,

Mike

 

[jwoelfle]

Jon... it can be done. I researched a similar project a year or so ago... only it was to remote mount a car stereo in the saddlebag of a motorcycle. From my research, my plan changed from remote mounting the removable part of the faceplate, to remote mounting the part of the radio that receives that faceplate. This way, you can hard mount it and still remove the faceplate if desired. I found that most of the radios I tool apart either already had a cable to attach the faceboard to the main board, or the faceboard had a series of pins mounted at a 90 degree angle, soldered directly to the main board. In either case, easy to make an extension cable. I say go for it, but would also recommend you find a cheap radio from a wrecking yard/garage sale/TDR donation to practice with for a "proof of concept" before you go hacking up your good radio.



Jim

 

[Cowboy Medic]

Thanks, I figured as much but I didn't want to tear into mine, that is why I was looking for someone that might have a donor.

 

[TradedV-10foraCummins]

A cool idea and doesn't sound like it would be that hard. But if you remote mounted it, wouldn't it be kinda hard to load a cd? Even if you have a cd changer, you'd still want to be able to use the cd player in the deck from time to time.

 

[Cowboy Medic]

I am thinking about putting the deck right under the drivers seat where you could easily reach under to swap out a cd for quick changes and then I already have the 12 disc changer so it is pretty rare that I am ever changing while I am driving anyway.

 

[Cowboy Medic]

also another twist on the idea that the wife thought of was how cool it would be to be able to setup the stereo face so that it looks like it is sitting in the stock location and then setup the cb behind it. Probably have to use a piece of black plastic sheet to make a larger door but you could set it up I think so that you could look like it is just the stereo there and then open the made up door and behind sits your cb. Just run an extension for the mic so the cord comes out under the dash or something. everything is there and easy to get to but doesn't make it feel all clogged up and crowded either. Have to track down an old deck for the connectors and stuff and start playing around. I will defineitely post some pics when I get the project going.



also anyone else with more info or ideas keep wm coming.



Thanks!



Jon

 

[jwoelfle]

The other thought I had, and am considering it myself, is to take the same idea of remote mounting the faceplate of the stereo and apply that to the CB. Maybe if the front controls of the CB are separated, you might be able to mount all of the controls in the sunglass holder door.



Another version of this idea... I have a SteelHorse Shelf-It visor/shelf thingy... the CB faceplate could be mounted on a hinge, attached to the Shelf-It, and fold up like a sun visor(remote mounting the mic connector anywhere that is convenient).

 

[Cowboy Medic]

I put some serious consideration into that, but for the cb I have (which I really like) I would actually have to remove components from the main board, with the stereo I wouldn't. That was the biggest thing for me.

 

[jwoelfle]

Understood... was just a thought.



And here's another one, I made a bracket for my CB that mounts to the bottom of the center console seat and gives a solid, flat, metal surface all the way up the face of the center seat. It holds a CB very well, and is convenient. Also gives enough room to mount mic and other switches for accessories. It is not unlike the Brolin CB mount, just different, and I like it better(cleaner install I think).

 

[Cowboy Medic]

Yeah I bought one of those mounts, but I really didn't care much for how it set things up plus the wife didn't like it because she couldn't slide over and sit next to me comfortably.

 

[jwoelfle]

Point #2 is the most important