G'Day,

I have a ute so obviously instead of running 'free air' to a boot like most, it will be running to the tray (basically just venting to the atmosphere). So there will be a few 'mods' to the wall (read: big hole). Magnet will be inside the cabin, cone pointing outwards.

Question is, how do I protect the cone, surround etc. from the elements?

You dont. Free air means BOTH sides of the sub have to have essentially an infinite baffle, else it'd be like using the cabin as one big box. So unless you can find a way to treat the exposed cone/surround, i wouldnt be doing it, becuase you cant seal it off.

Then again, i'm just following logic, not experience. I'm sure that if there *is* a way to do this, someone will be along shortly to tell ya

The 'box' just needs to be larger then the Vas. So a cabin is fine. I mean all the guys running open baffle into their boot certainly don't have kilometres of nothing either side of the baffle.

True, but most boots arent particulary sealed either

Good luck with this, i'm really curious to see if theres a way to shield those components from the elements too, but i dont like your chances. The interior or a car is a harsh enough environment.

Maybe look into marine speakers systems?

an angled baffle from the widow sill area 3/4 or so the way to the tray running full width would give the protection your looking for. Not 100% but enough.

What type of ute is it?

Often cutting a hole in the wall renders the car unroadworthy. i hope you have taken this into consideration as in the event of an accident you will not be covered unlees u have it engineered and approved.

As BCA said a hole is bad if you want to keep it legal. Living in queensland makes it a bit easier (ie no rego inspections)) but if you get pulled over and they decided to defect you its going to cost a fair bit to get it roadworthy. There are options other than free air and holes in panels.

Depending on the type of ute you have, there are a few options but i can only speak for VR/VS commodore utes as thats what i have.

Check out these topics for a bit of info

http://www.caraudioaustralia.com/forums/in...597&hl=bandpass

http://www.caraudioaustralia.com/forums/in...316&hl=bandpass

http://www.caraudioaustralia.com/forums/in...425&hl=bandpass

ive got a HZ tonner i have about 5-7cm behind my seats(more down the bottom but amps are going there)
so no room unless it was fibreglass my solution is to remove my centre console(possibly building custom one) and build box inbetween seats from window 2 transmition hump. i had 2 take out console anyway 2 make room for B&M megashifter mmmm ratchet action...

i am building a box inbetween the seats. here is a very crude(sp?) MSpaint drawing... 10" hertz sub. my old jaycar sub running off 200wrms, new sub has twice the excursion and 3.5times the power and the last 1 was loud enough 2 make my ears ring...

old sub... Click to view attachment (dial-up warning on this pic)

new sub... Click to view attachment

Might just go Aperiodic...

I wouldn't do it simply because of the legal issues like other people have said. That's speaking from experience Your up for a lot in fines/engineer's certs if the QLD cops are anything like the VIC ones.

So what is your ute man?

if it is any of the V series commodores u can get custom built enclosures that sit under the tray and fire into the cab. They are quite effective.

We're getting 12" subs firing into the cabs ; )

It's a Suzuki Mighty Boy

Not your usual sort of ute

fill the boot with subs then... or take out passenger seat or do a box like my old box was, see previous post...

There is no boot... it's a ute :huh:

Anyway I'll just do an aperiodic enclosure behind the seats. The point of this post was to find a viable way to protect a woofer cone from the environment.

Case closed