What is below carpet under back seat? 2008 Quad cab 2500

[DMosby]

I would like to install some amateur radio gear in a 2008 RAM 2500 Quad Cab 4WD auto trans. There are a couple depressions formed in the carpet under the back seat that I could use. Lots more space if all that carpet was gone but I hate to do that if the space around those depressions is filled with vehicle components of some type.



Has anyone had the carpet out under the rear seats that could tell me what is under there?



How about behind the rear seat and the back of the cab? Is there any space there? If so, any way to reach it?

 

[Brian-NX9O]

I've had the complete carpet out of my truck. There is nothing interesting or sensitive under the rear seat carpet, just sheet metal. I have a 1000w power inverter, APRS TNC, APRS 2M radio, power pole 12V strip, 4-port RS-232 USB adapter (other end of USB ends in the center console for secondary GPS and KISS TNC feed) and a 144/222/440 FM radio with the control head hung from the overhead display.

I am expecting to swap things around and end up with an Icom IC-706MkIIG, a 222MHz FM and 900MHz FM in the truck. I just haven't settled on which 222 radio or located a remote kit for my Kenwood TK-931 900MHz radio. I might have to make the remote kit.

How to get behind the seat? If I remember correctly, there is some cardboard or fiberboard baffling to guide air from the rear floor out the cab rear surface air vents. Blocking these is not a good idea. To get there, remove the rear seats. A bit of a chore and not very quick if the radios need work, but thieves would likely need to steal the whole truck in order to have time enough to get back there at the radios.

Good luck with the install,
Brian
NX9O