An amp rack is a place in your vehicle designed to house all of the amplifiers used for your sound system, protecting them from weather elements while keeping them out of the way of other components like speaker systems.
Start by gathering basic measurements for the space available by gathering a flat piece of cardboard or mending plate from a hardware store, along with basic measures of what area exists around you.
Location
An amp rack is a flat board installed into your vehicle that serves as a platform for mounting audio amplifiers. Ideally, this would be located somewhere within your trunk or cargo bay, which has enough flat space to support a rectangular piece of wood; otherwise, you may need to modify either your chest or truck bed for it to fit correctly. Before beginning construction on an amp rack, take basic measurements with a tape measure – these won’t need to be exact measurements as long as you know roughly how much room there is for building it properly! Before starting construction, take basic measurements using a tape measure so that you know exactly how much space there is for planning purposes when designing the dimensions of your amp rack before starting to build one!
Car audio amplifiers are typically installed in either the trunk of a sedan or pickup truck’s cargo area; for crew cab trucks with bench seating in their cabins, an amp rack may also be located there.
Installing an amp requires running power and ground wiring, an inline fuse, remote turn-on wires, RCA cables, and thick enough wiring to handle the high demand for electrical current that amps require. Your amplifier kit should include recommendations on wire size. Once mounted, find an ideal spot to attach ground wire – bolt or screw it to the metal frame of the vehicle is the best option; cover the amp rack with a good-looking yet resilient material such as black automotive-grade speaker carpet, which looks excellent across many colors!
Materials
Your amp rack requires several materials. Most importantly, it must have a solid base for mounting amps and enough room for wiring/cables to maneuver freely. Finding a flat area within your trunk or cargo space (depending on what vehicle type) would be ideal, but don’t fret if this proves impossible, as there are ways around curved areas later.
A practical first step should be using a tape measure and taking basic measurements of your space available. These don’t have to be precise measurements; an approximation will do. A close estimate will help you establish whether there is enough room in your car for a rectangular amp rack.
Once you have your basic measurements taken, visit a home improvement store or other hardware supply store and buy a piece of plywood or similar wood board with a thickness about equal to your height. Using either a circular saw or handsaw, cut it down to size using a circular or hand saw. Some stores even provide free wood cutting as part of their building supplies section – saving time and money!
Once your plywood has been cut to its proper dimensions, sand it down until smooth before applying some liquid car audio glue with either a brush or sponge. Be sure to read and follow any applicable directions regarding its proper use for optimal results.
To elevate the aesthetics of your amp rack, adding LED lighting kits may do the trick; these are typically cost-effective solutions that look fantastic – making you the talk of the town! They will earn plenty of compliments and admiration from others who see your fabulous new amp rack!
Add a pop of color and style to your amp rack by covering it in a black automotive-grade speaker carpet – a durable fabric that looks great while being resilient and offering multiple hues!
Design
Besides its practical applications, having an attractive car amp rack adds significant resale value to your sound system. An eye-catching frame can attract attention and turn heads – this could prove especially important if you plan to sell your vehicle later.
To create the ideal amplifier rack, a few items will be necessary. First of all, a solid piece of wood or plywood. Next, you will require metal mounting brackets – these can be found at most hardware stores or online. For optimal results, you should opt for both straight braces and right-angled ones; straight ones should be placed along flat areas in your trunk, while right-angled mounts should cover irregular or curved spaces in your box.
After selecting an amp rack design you like, the next step should be finding an attractive but durable material to cover it with. There are numerous choices, but a black automotive-grade speaker carpet is usually the winner, as it comes in multiple colors and has no backing, allowing it to be stretched and cut easily.
Once you have all of the materials, begin your amp rack project. Take basic measurements of the space in your trunk that will become your amp rack; don’t make this exact; leave enough room for amplifier sides and wiring, plus make a note in your notebook of these measurements.
Once your measurements are in, take the wood or plywood that will become your amplifier rack and mark them according to them, leaving enough space for wires and any additional parts that attach the amplifiers. After markings have been placed onto boards, you can start cutting them out with a jig saw before testing fit them in your trunk.
If all looks well, move on to the next step. At this stage, you should cut a piece of 1/2″ MDF that matches the opening on your amplifiers and cover it with gray suede so it matches their trim color; simply glue this suede over the MDF surface.
Installation
Most car audio systems rely on an amplifier to produce the booming sound quality you hear when listening to professional designs, and an amp rack provides the ideal way to protect multiple amplifiers while giving plenty of mounting room.
An amp rack should ideally be located in the trunk of a vehicle to keep components away from any hot engine areas and to reduce heat radiation into parts. When mounting amplifiers to metal chassis directly, this may create ground loops resulting in unwanted hum and buzz; use rubber grommets or attach them via boards/panels attached to metal bodies of cars instead.
If your amplifier doesn’t include wiring, a kit that provides power wire (usually 16-20 feet long), an inline fuse, a remote turn-on wire, and RCA cables will be necessary to connect amps and speakers. Please ensure the thickness of the power wire chosen meets the amps’ demands for electrical current, or else they won’t operate; follow the instructions of the amplifier manufacturer.
Begin by taking measurements of the area in your trunk or cargo area where you intend to install your amp rack. Draw out a rectangle, ensuring room for all amplifiers with enough clearance around the ends for wiring and RCA cable management.
If you don’t already own any metal car stereo installation straps or mending plates in your home, visit your local hardware store and purchase some flat plastic brackets that can be screwed into carpeting and used to hold an amp rack in place. Right-angle frames may even help for tricky wiring situations where bends must be made in your wiring system.
Your amp rack needs to be protected and has an aesthetic finish, too. Black automotive-grade speaker carpet is often chosen due to its durability and appealing look; an alternative could be vinyl fabric without backing that can stretch over the rack for a professional, clean finish.
