Posted 2009-04-20 3:19 PM (#103681) Subject: Radio Install in Trailer
Regular
Posts: 87 Location: Lavaca, Alabama
I finished out the interior of my horse trailer last year and included a fridge and a microwave. I never use these and wish I had just installed a radio instead. So, I'm trying to figure out the best way to go back and put in what I really need. My marine battery is inside in a cabinet on the long wall across from the door. I'm thinking I'll just bolt a aftermarket car radio to the shelf there and connect it to the battery with an in-line switch. I'd like speakers outside and inside. I was considering running speaker wires out the bulkhead wall to under the gooseneck and installing a couple of speakers there. Am I missing anything? Has anyone else done this? Ideally, I would mount a speaker somehow so it would be near the door under the awning - but, the interior is finished and I don't want to rip into anything to hide wires. I'm looking for some suggestions on how to best do this. Thanks.
Posted 2009-04-20 3:37 PM (#103683 - in reply to #103681) Subject: RE: Radio Install in Trailer
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
We're in the process of building a weekender LQ. The trailer owner has purchased a used car radio/cd player that we will install. The exterior speakers are thin, surface mount marine sourced products.
Most radios have their own on/off switch and you can use a standard in line fuse to protect the circuit. We're running a two wire DC system, grounding at a common terminal strip.
Posted 2009-04-21 11:10 PM (#103744 - in reply to #103681) Subject: RE: Radio Install in Trailer
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Don't forget the antenna or you will nothing unless you have cd's with you. (or 8 tracks) LOL
If you really do not want to cut holes in the side of your trailer for speakers, you can buy some marine grade speakers that are in a box (look like small surround sound speakers) and mount under the gooseneck. You can buy them in a few sizes from like 4"x6" up to 6"x10" (i think)
Here is one set I found on ebay that may work under the gooseneck. This items number is 120403449637. There is a couple of hundred listed for marine use. Hope this hepls. HTB
Posted 2009-04-22 8:48 AM (#103753 - in reply to #103681) Subject: RE: Radio Install in Trailer
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
A marine surface mounted speaker only needs a small hole drilled through the wall for a grommet and wiring. The speaker is weather proof, so it can be attached to a vertical, exposed surface. The area on the top of the exterior wall under an awning is an appropriate spot.
Posted 2009-04-22 10:02 AM (#103755 - in reply to #103681) Subject: RE: Radio Install in Trailer
Elite Veteran
Posts: 714 Location: Minnesota
8 tracks? HTB, you are really dating yourself. I still remember when they came out. We thought we had the world by the tail because we could take our music with us.
My kids laugh at me when I tell them all we had was AM radio stations. All the FM bands were for old people and their elevator music. At night the local AM station would power down and we would have to try get WLS out of Chicago (500 miles away) or an Omaha station (200 miles). Eight tracks brought stereo sound to our cars.
Thanks for bringing back old memories. Most of them good.
Posted 2009-04-22 2:37 PM (#103774 - in reply to #103681) Subject: RE: Radio Install in Trailer
Regular
Posts: 69 Location: missouri
We installed an under the counter kitchen radio in our trailer. it plugs into the wall socket. it has a cd player and ours also has an all weather channel in case storms come up no matter what area we are in we have that areas weather came in real handy last year on memorial day weekend. Anyway it also has a remote so I can sit in bed and change channels and volume. It was $70. I had one in the house we were moving into a new house with a system already installed so hubby took it and put it in the trailer it is nice to have in there. We dont have cabinets in our trailer he made a little shelf to attach it under and we have a place to lay keys, change, phones in the trailer, we put it above our clothes hanging area so we used a space that was kinda dead until he did that. Much simpler than a car radio
Posted 2009-04-23 12:43 PM (#103821 - in reply to #103755) Subject: RE: Radio Install in Trailer
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by genebob on 2009-04-22 10:02 AM
8 tracks? HTB, you are really dating yourself. I still remember when they came out. We thought we had the world by the tail because we could take our music with us.
My kids laugh at me when I tell them all we had was AM radio stations. All the FM bands were for old people and their elevator music. At night the local AM station would power down and we would have to try get WLS out of Chicago (500 miles away) or an Omaha station (200 miles). Eight tracks brought stereo sound to our cars.
Thanks for bringing back old memories. Most of them good.
Not really! I will be 41 this August, I just wanted to see how many would actually catch that 8 track deal.... However I do remember them.
Posted 2009-04-23 3:40 PM (#103841 - in reply to #103681) Subject: RE: Radio Install in Trailer
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
I have a car that has an original factory 8 track player installed. When my daughter and her boy friend finally talked me into allowing them to use it for a special date, I insisted upon a dry run.
He is a complete techno wizard, completely familiar with all the latest gimmicks that include, colours, letters and functions of which I have little knowledge. The first thing he noticed when he sat in the driver's seat, was the player installed in the console.
He had never seen one, didn't know how it worked, didn't know what it was. I was elated. I finally had some technology of which I was more familiar than he.
Radio Install in Trailer
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