Batboard

I have pretty much completed the install on my 2004 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab.

The equipment installed is:
W9 Astro Spectra VHF
Kenwood TM-D700A
Toughbook CF-18 with Gamber Johnson docking station
Pentax Pocketjet II printer
Garmin 12XL gps
Handsfree cell phone mount
Havis Shields 18" Consolidator with Arm rest and map light
MNstar cable harness
pair of 911EP star leds in grill
911EP LS-15 upper windshield
911EP TD-39 lower rear window

Thanks for looking


Jason

No one else has commented so far, so I will.

Looks very nice. Aside from a little wireloom to clean up that wiring in the back, it looks nice a very nice, lo-profile install!

I like, I like.

I am looking at purchasing either the Quad cab Dakota or a Quad cab Colorado in the spring. How hard was it to work on the Dakota and get things wired and hidden?

Kool install. What is the beige colored box plugged into the D700?

Nice job!

The console looks slick. Where'd you get it?

im guessing the white box is a data modem for GPS tracking??, Just a guess going off of what you said you put in it.

The box is a usb to 4 serial port converter which is hooked up to the D700 to run UI-View.

The console I got from BOB. BOB was great to deal with on it.

Jason

The 05 Quad cabs are nice cause they have a false area under the rear seat under the carpet. You can run quite a few wires through there and have most of your wires hidden. Also we had to drill out the jack mounting base to gain even more room

Great install! I wish I didn't have the 40/20/40 split bench seats in my Dakota. That console looks very professional.

Jason,
Is that a homebrew antenna mount on the driver's side or is it commercially available?

I'm looking for options for mounting a LB antenna on my Durango. a 1/4 wave whip on the roof would be too high. Don't have enough room left on the roof anyway, after the other three antennas.

Looks like a regular ol' NMO mount antenna on a L-bracket.

L-brackets are kinda tough for the Dakota/Durango. The hood doesn't close flush with the fender walls, it's more of a clamshell design.

If I remember right, Radiall Larsen makes a bracket specifically for the Dakota/Durango. I've never seen one in use though.

The fender antenna mount is a custom made STRAIGHT (not L) bracket designed for the full size Dodge but it fit the Dakota just fine. I'll go out and snap a pic.

Jason

Here are two pics of the antenna mount. It has a couple of slight bends to conform to the contour of the fender. The large bolt goes through an existing hole in the fender lip. Looks like I need to take it off and paint it to stop the rust spots.




Someone commented about having 40/20/40 split seats in their Dakota. Mine originally had a factory center console which I removed. Other Dakotas have the flip done arm rest center section which I believe can be removed as well, so it may be possible to put an equipment console in those too.

Thanks for all the positive comments guys.

Jason

Time for powder coating and some stainless steel screws!

JMR964 wrote:Someone commented about having 40/20/40 split seats in their Dakota. Mine originally had a factory center console which I removed. Other Dakotas have the flip done arm rest center section which I believe can be removed as well, so it may be possible to put an equipment console in those too.

Can you give me a little more information about this console removal? I'm going to be buying a new truck when I return from Iraq, and am taking into account the placement of a center console for my radio equipment. I'm leaning towards a Dodge Dakota due to widespread availability of equipment for them (due to their heavy use as fleet/law enforcement vehicles), but I've yet to find a 'consumer' vehicle that would lend itself to console installation without removal of the stock equipment.

I'm also a fan of the Toyota Tacomas, but I've yet to find any model that could accept a center console...

Like most trucks with center seats/consoles it should unbolt quite simply.

Done this with Ford's and GM's including my current vehicle, 2003 suburban.