Batboard

As I keep adding radios, I find myself rapidly running out of room in my Cherokee. The darn shifter (automatic) and parking brake use most of the console space, then the darn console behind them is one piece attached to teh rest of the trim around the shifter and brake.

Has anyone cut the rear half with the console out and replaced it with an aftermarket radio console, or how did you handle installs in a cherokee?

Currently I am hoping to mount:

Kenwood TK-709
Kenwood TK-809
Kenwood TK-941
Radio Shack HTX-10 OR Alinco DX-70 (will swap these at times)
Lowband Radius

And have one slot for whatever I happen to be tinkering with at the moment

Any suggestions?

Custom built "tree" mount where the passenger's left knee normally rides. Same thing as what needs to be done in a Trailblazer. The Gall's and other tree mounts work, but they'll rattle loose in weeks.

What about an overhead console that's available from most off-road shops? I did one in a Dakota that had 2 radios, switchbox and scanner and it worked out well.

I did a local PD's Cherokees with a GM1225, a PA100, and a Whelen
PCC-10 without modifying the console and only lost one cupholder.
I taped the three units together and set them on the console vertically with the bottom toward the driver. I then made a template of the panels needed to cover both sides of the stack and extend down to the floor between the console and the passenger seat. They were an inverted "L" shape when done. I secured the mounts tho the tunnel next to the seat with two pieces of aluminum angle about three inches long and 1/4" thick. The angle bolted through the tunnel and the brackets. There was also a lip on the bracket towards the front that screwed down on the console, just for a little stability. This put the avionics directly under the officers right arm, didn't interfere with the shifter, parking brake, or the beloved cupholder that was left. This system has been in service for about two years now with no problems or complaints. I will try to find some pictures and get them posted for you.

I am sure you already have it all done, I will be posting pics of my install shortly.. Although I will be redoing it shortly also.

http://batboard.batlabs.com/viewtopic.p ... p+cherokee

This is from an 1997 XJ I had. Syntor and a scanner. Mounted over the cup holders so that the brake could be used and it didn't get in the way of the shifter.

Before I got rid of it, I was thinking about pulling out the rear part of the console. Useless as it is. It'll hold a few CD's and that's it. Hated it.

I took out the internal spare tire and hung the box on the spare mount. Worked well for me.

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I've got a single CDM1550 remote mount screwed into the side of the console, it's a bit of a reach though. I have my SS2000SM head free floating.. I'm still trying to figure out where to mount it where it will be convenient to reach.

1987 Jeep Cherokee Laredo

I did some a few years back. Here is a link,

http://copcardotcom.fotki.com/bill_myer ... radio.html

The brackets go down alongside the console and attach into the trans hump. There is one screw in the console for stability and you only loose
1 cupholder.

I installed a VHF and a UHF Maratrac in my 95 Grand Cherokee. I installed the control heads in the overhead console. I replaced the Dome lights with white LEDs to keep heat from the lamps from damaging the cabling. I made microphone extension cable out of some David Clark C3821 scraps I had laying around and routed the cabling down the passenger side A post. The microphones themselves mount to the passenger side of the console. The VHF speaker mounts to the overhead console and the UHF speaker mounts on the lower side of the dash facing the passenger. I mounted the drawer units in the rear cargo section opposite the spare tire. I used a 12"x12" sheet of aluminum and some custom brackets to mount the drawers. I feed the radios with 4ga cable off of a 75 amp relay.

Ive got a 96 XJ and I am kicking around the Idea of building a tree. I have the SS2000ss head floating in front of the shifter, and the TK 860 mounted on the dash at the passengers left knee. I have an MCX 1000 thats going in, and still need a UHF moble.