Kenwood DVD/Nav install, 2002 4runner

[jacob]

I'm installing a KVT-815DVD in-dash LCD and KNA-DV4100 Navigation unit in a 2002 4runner. I've done my share of head units and alarms before, so I'm not worried about the wiring, although there is an awful lot of it. Right now I guess I'm looking at putting both hideaway boxes under the driver's seat; there's a hideway box with all the connections for the in-dash unit, and the nav computer box. All the connections to power and the speakers go to the hideaway box, which is sort of annoying but I guess makes sense.

Any other suggestions on where to put these things in a 4runner? I saw one post which suggested putting the nav computer in the lower DIN space in the dash, although it's not a full DIN width and doesn't have mounting holes for that. The nav computer needs to be level and stable since it has the gyro in it.

If I do mount one or both of these boxes under the driver's seat, how do you typically secure them? There's a raised rail towards the front which is hollow, and I have no problems drilling/screwing into that, but I'm a little hesitant to start randomly drilling into the floor. I'd lose some space doing it, but I think I've seen something about putting 1/2" or 3/4" MDF under the carpet, and then screwing into that?

Thanks for anyones input!

[Kevin7909]

i would get a wiring harness adapter to connect to the factory harness in the dash....then solder/heatshrink wires from there down the driver's side of the truck into the seat rail (it has holes through it under the carpet) then under the seat..cut a small slit in teh carpet for the wires...since u have the seat out its a non issue to peal the carpet back to see where the any stock underseat harness is located..this will help to tell ya where u can drill holes...usually there is one or two harness' depending on if u have power seats or not from what i recall....look under the truck to be sure there are no brake lines, etc., then loctite self tapping screws and screw down the kenwood units...if they dont come with screw holes then go to home depot or any car audio store and purchase metal straps and bend a couple to shape and screw them down around the unit, using weatherstripping to isolate the units from the metal straps so u dont scratch em....this is not really a tedious install because u can do most of the soldering in the comfort of ANYWHERE other than under the dash and the kenwood units i assu,e use BUS cables which u can also run with the speaker wires..u might even wanna zip tie the wires together but be sure to leave enough slack for the speaker wires to go to the passenger seat in case u decide to add an amp later..much less work to just move the wires over than to pull down the dash....makes for a neater and safer install...the really cool thing about doing it this way is that if in the future u want to add amplifiers u already have speaker wires under the seat that go to the front doors.....

IMO u don't need MDF...i don't use it and have never had an issue with wiring or mounting integrity....
Kevin