side rails Vs under carpet

[jb2xx 10+ year member]

Wazzup gang!

I want to know what is everybody's personal preference when it comes to deal with the wiring. Do you simply remove the side rails or do you strip the entire car? I was advised when I did my car, to do a better job is to strip the car & run wiring under the carpet.

Most auto sound shops out here like to just remove the side rails & do it that way.

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[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

just pull a bit of carpet up and fish the wire through, not a big job, and it can be easily hidden after the install.

 

[jtomsic 5,000+ posts]

i just pull the sides up and push it under the carpet, seems like a lot more work for the same thing to pull strip the car down.

 

[stalephotograph 10+ year member]

for the several cars ive installed audio for, i just simply run the wires under the side rails. its fast and simple. plus if you upgrade anytime soon, you wont have to take out the seats and what not. its better than some people i know who ran thier wires under the car onto the frame b/c they thought it was a much safer way. i dont think having your muffler burn through your power wire and maybe a spark to your gas tank is safe lol.

 

[jtomsic 5,000+ posts]

wouldnt the wire just ground out if ur insulation melted off and was on the frame?

 

[stalephotograph 10+ year member]

probably if it were grounded correctly. but im just saying if it were to spark and hit the gas tank then it wouldnt be so pretty.

 

[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

if you put it under the side rails you risk premature wire failure... from people stepping on it and stuff. Your going to be way happier with yourself if you go under the carpet. Also the thing about side rails.. not all of them come out easy, I've broken off so many plastic clips that I didn't see, and then I had to go get a new part to replace it.

On another note, you have nothing to worry about with wire melting IF YOU USE THE RIGHT GAUGE OF WIRE FOR YOUR SYSTEM. When in doubt, go one size thicker.

 

[clarity413 10+ year member]

What I did was I actually ran the 1/0 under the car and the rcas under the side... However, I did take out the seats and everything to install secondskin so I still have some wires under the carpet (remote turn on for eqs) I'd recommending if possible do the lease amount of work when running wire because it's easier to debug if there are any problems or upgrading. With that being said if you're planning on running 4gauge or bigger for your amp you should run it under the car... it's very, very cool

 

[jellyfish420 10+ year member]

if you put it under the side rails you risk premature wire failure... from people stepping on it and stuff. Your going to be way happier with yourself if you go under the carpet. Also the thing about side rails.. not all of them come out easy, I've broken off so many plastic clips that I didn't see, and then I had to go get a new part to replace it.
On another note, you have nothing to worry about with wire melting IF YOU USE THE RIGHT GAUGE OF WIRE FOR YOUR SYSTEM. When in doubt, go one size thicker.

i disagree. i think you would have the risk of faliure if it was under the carpet because of people steppin on it. pull the rails and push it just under the carpet.j how many people step on the carpet right inside the door? most the time the carpet there is almost vertical making it impossible to step on. and as for breaking clips. . . learn how to take them out correctly. even if you decide to pull the carpet, you still have to take off the rails to get the carpet either out from under it or put it back.

 

[ANeonRider 10+ year member]

I don't have any side rails, and if your wire gets cut, etc when people step on it, then the insulation is crap.

 

[diminishedpower 10+ year member]

yeah i just take rails off and push it down into the carpet a ways, and liek on my taures it has wire gaurds alread at the side were other power is being ran so i unhooked those and put my 0/1 gauge under the gaurd(yes it actually fitted) and its just as safe as anyone runnign it under the the middle of the carpet and less time(and ive never broke a clip yet, knock on wood)

 

[OLD_SCHOOL 10+ year member]

i pull the rails and push under the carpet as far as i can... unles i am sound proofing the car then i am pulling the carpet and seats and everything else any way might was well run it then... have fun with maintance when you run it like that if you have to ever do any //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif cause guess what you gotta pull it all

 

[Einzee 10+ year member]

Uh, have you ever heard of zip ties? Of course this layout isn't suitable for every application. A little common sense goes a long way.

 

[jb2xx 10+ year member]

Wires went under the carpet. Install guy at the shop was pretty cool. He didn't recomend the side rails since they can get easily damaged if people step on them.

 

[ANeonRider 10+ year member]

Haha, that logic is kinda faulty, lol, considering all the factory wiring that is run to the rear goes through the side rails. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif