Kicker Hideaway Installs?

[JediMcMuffin]

Hey folks,

I have a 2021 4-Door with the base sound system. I've got the Kicker Key 200.4 with Focal speakers all around and that's brought me some clarity I'm pretty darn happy with. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to acquire an OEM sub enclosure, subwoofer, and aftermarket amp.

OR

Greatly shorten my wiring runs and go with a Hideaway HS10. I've seen commentary from folks on what they like or don't like about the hideaway, but no photos of them installed either under the driver or passenger seat. I'd appreciate any commentary, snark, sarcasm, or otherwise whatever your Friday morning coffee lets you offer.

Cheers!

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[Iamthedan1989]

I installed the kicker HS10 in my 2dr. It definitely has enough thump, and the dial helps change that depending on my "mood" haha. I will say that It is slightly too think to fit under a seat, this is from the speaker guard. Mine is semi under the passenger seat currently, since there is very seldom a rider in that seat.

 

[Biff]

I went with plugnplaykits 11-4 wiring harness, which includes a 17’ high level input - perfect for my Kicker Key 200.4 and Hideaway HS8. I ran the 17’ lead which inludes the L&R positive and negative and accompanying power and ground wire down the driver side door trim by popping off the dead pedal panel and door trim pieces and drilled a small hole for the wiring to exit from the driver side cargo panel. Once I had the wiring ran, I used wiring nuts (only temporarily) to splice to the HS8’s connector to verify everything worked. After confirming everything was good and the sub powered up, I tested it with varios music to ensure the sub was working as it should, and finally swapped out the wiring nuts and soldered, and heat shinked the high level inputs, power, and ground to the Kicker HS8’s harness and reconnected the sub. Lastly, I added several strips of the hook side of velcro to the underside of the HS8 and attached it the the backside of the lower rear passenger seat carpeted panel. Using this method makes it easy to disconnect the hideaway in case I need to haul larger cargo or lay down the rear seats to install my 4” memory foam mat when camping. I was worried I’d regret not going with the 10” hideaway, but the HS8 has plenty enough bass for my needs. Mount Westmore’s Big Subwoofer proved that, lol.

 

[KABQ]

I did the same as Dan, and had the same experience. I already had a Key 200.4 with the Plug n Play harness, so I contacted Plug n Play and they were willing to sell me a partial harness for an HS10 (very cool and easy to work with). I might be able to get it under the seat a little further if I raise the seat, but I like my driving position and I almost never have passengers on that side anyway. I simply secured it with Velcro strips and stuck it to the carpet, and it's never moved.

 

[dangerfoot]

Have HS10 from PnP, they're great and it is a good solution. It has been floating around my cargo area ass I consider where to mount permanently. After having the top off for a week, I think I'm moving it from the cargo area to under driver seat for security, water and sound reasons.
From what I found from another user here, you can get it under the driver seat by using 3/4" seat jackers and raising the seat. Of course I love the way my bronco fits now...getting in and out is just right. I'm a bit concerned about raising the seat almost an inch and throwing a level kit on will mess it up a bunch...but that's a tradeoff I'm willing to make.

 

[RC Bronco]

I wanted mine hidden from view so I put it in the factory subwoofer location and cut off the factory storage box on that side (4dr Mid package). HS8 fits cockeyed, but the surfaces are uneven, so I had to hack together a way to mount it to the vehicle and because of that it looks… not the best behind there. Am I proud of it? No… But it works.

i used a wiring kit from PnP and it works great

I cut a piece of metal screen and, at first, hot glued it to the panel (in place of the storage cubby), but that eventually fell apart, so now it’s velcroed to the panel and that seems to be working… For now

If I were to do it again I’d get an enclosure that fits in the same space, and then fit a sub into it with an amp next to it. It would be way cleaner this way

 

[skater777]

A third option is an aftermarket sub enclosure that fits in the factory enclosure location but uses a larger sub. I have the standard factory enclosure and upgraded to a Kicker 6.75". It's decent, but can only handle 125 watts and I find it lacking on certain songs and/or with the top down. People have modified these for an 8", but the plastic is super thin and the box isn't really built for an 8".

There are a few aftermarket enclosures (some for 8" and some for 10") made of much sturdier materials. The JL Stealthbox is nice but mega expensive. Others are Gearshade and SRQ. Audiomobile is supposedly making some type of Bronco box, but they don't even have a working website, so it could be a while. With a larger speaker, you can max out the Key 500.1 @ 300w RMS bridged.

 

[Rickey498]

I installed the kicker HS10 in my 2dr. It definitely has enough thump, and the dial helps change that depending on my "mood" haha. I will say that It is slightly too think to fit under a seat, this is from the speaker guard. Mine is semi under the passenger seat currently, since there is very seldom a rider in that seat.

How did you wire the power? I have mine wired directly to the battery but don’t seem to be getting any juice

 

[Iamthedan1989]

How did you wire the power? I have mine wired directly to the battery but don’t seem to be getting any juice

Yea, I have mine going to the battery through the firewall gasket. It does have the blue light unless I have it off. It's not on "auto-on"

 

[Rickey498]

Yea, I have mine going to the battery through the firewall gasket. It does have the blue light unless I have it off. It's not on "auto-on"

I have mine going to the battery as well. And then grounded with a self tapping screw behind the back seat, but it doesn’t seem to be getting any power. The blue led isn’t coming on. If it was getting a correct signal would this cause it not to power on?

 

[Iamthedan1989]

As far as I've read and known you should be okay. Did you have it attached to the speakers in a proper way also? I'd say to check voltage with a multimeter also to troubleshoot.

 

[JediMcMuffin]

Can anybody who installed under the driver/passenger seats provide a photo? I do think I could probably pull off hiding it behind the 2nd row perhaps. I do like the idea of wiring it so that it can be removed when its in the way.

 

[dangerfoot]

I only know of one guy who used seat jackers to put it under his driver seat, if I recall correctly, he did it under both seats. If you search on the forum or my post history, he replied to me in the kicker thread.you'll find his post... And if I recall correctly he's got it blue two-door

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