Pretty cool! Nice job.
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Pretty cool! Nice job.
I'm not a big fan of wires or cables in the cabin, like the ones used to go from the cigarette lighter to the Tab, and the cigarette lighter to the phone. I wanted something inconspicuous, so I began searching. I found a 3 accessory outlet for ~$20 and picked it up.
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/interior/av/3volt1.jpg
My thought was that in could fit in my center console, and once I trimmed it up a bit, it did.
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/interior/av/3volt2.jpg
There are 2 screw holes on either side, so I drilled the console and stuck two bolts in there to hold it in place. I have my phone plugged in one outlet, my Tab plugged in the other, and one free, not including the cigarette lighter.
Another concern I had in the post-Tab world is that I'm not too keen on having to reach up to the Tab to adjust the volume. I also wanted to control the gain on the amp dedicated to the sub so that I don't advertise when I'm close to home, or driving through bad neighborhoods. I did some searching on eBay and found an RCA gain control.
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/inte...aincontrol.jpg
A guy in GA makes them, and I paid $15 for this one. I liked it so much I bought 3 more for $30 shipped. I have one for overall volume control, and the other is for the sub amp. This is what it looks like under the console:
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/inte...derconsole.jpg
and when it was all said and done, this is the finished product:
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/inte...lefinished.jpg
I'm a lot more pleased now. The lid closes and there's no clearance issue. Coupled with no more wires running to the cigarette lighter, it was worth the $40 to knock this out.
The 2 12v outlets I ordered arrived this evening, so I'll be putting those in tonight....one under the rear ashtray, and the other in one of rear compartments.
Did you home run the hot wire for that 3-outlet block to the battery or tie in to something else?
I have two of these under the console, one for positive, one for negative, and it is hooked into them.
http://www.parts-express.com/images/.../265-800_l.jpg
$6.00 each @ parts-express.com
Hehe.... looks a bit out of place, but I suppose it fits the task and is handy. Nice work.
The primary task is to make the interior look as stock as possible. Out of sight, out of mind. :) I've had several vehicles that I've owned broken into, so I try to make things look as ordinary as possible to the casual observer. The mount is about the only thing that looks different, but that isn't its final resting place. I'm currently more involved in another car project that is taking up a lot of my time, but I'll be devoting more time to the VX as the other starts to wind down.
One thing I noticed about current SUVs is there are power outlets everywhere. I only have one in the ashtray, and the new unit I installed in the armrest is already full of necessities. As I'm riding my bike more, and my kid always wants his DSI w/him, something had to change. I hate having to air up my tires in the front of the truck when I'm pulling the bike out of the rear of the truck. I found some power outlets on eBay and wired them in this weekend. They both work like a champ.
The first one is for the rear seat passengers, and is placed under the ashtray.
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/inte...weroutlet5.jpg
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/inte...weroutlet1.jpg
The second is in the rear compartment that houses the jack tools.
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/inte...weroutlet2.jpg
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/inte...weroutlet3.jpg
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/inte...weroutlet4.jpg
I also went to the junkyard this weekend and scored these from a Rodeo:
1) The cubby hole blank for my dash so you don't see a bunch of wires where the radio used to be (it'll work for the old 6 CD changer on the bottom of the console, as well, as it has the special "brackets" needed to house both units built in. It looks like a great place to mount a small CB so that it'll blend in w/the truck...
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/inte...solestack1.jpg
2) and the switch pod to replace the cubby on the left side of the steering wheel. Notice that it has the tailgate release on it. Since we all know the VX doesn't have an automatic release, I'm going to try and figure out how to install the Rodeo unit.
http://infinitemotion.net/mp/vx/interior/tailgate.jpg