The stock radio is too flat sounding so I looked around to upgrade the speakers and deck. The issue with the deck is that the deck has no pre amp rca's and doesn't push enough power to the speakers. If you get an aftermarket deck then you loose your factory satellite tuner because it isn't compatable with any aftermarket decks. So I decided to get a low level converter http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=1863065
in order to get amp rca connection. The factory wireharness is a pain in the rear, nothing is labeled and there is no common color code. The wires comming out of the deck are different colors than the wires going to the speakers. lol
So to over come that I got a harness kit for a dodge dakota and it was labeled +/- rear, front, left, right and hooked in then labeld my factory wires.
Scorche http://www.scosche.com/products/productID/220 (scorche harness does not support the feature that allows radio to play after key is removed. Normaly the radio will play till you open the door) Metra harness does but the cheapest i found it was $45 vs the $15.
Metra http://www.antonline.com/p_XSVI-6502-NX_448073.htm
Now the only issue left is that Raider doesn't have a acc wire on the factory radio so I ran a line off of my power out put (cigarrette lighter) to the amp.
Then I went to Crutchfield and added these in the front http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...=detailed_info
and these in the rear with 100 watts per channel pushing them
http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Produ...=105&avf=N

Sounds great and I still got Satellite radio.

 

I am trying to install an aftermarket radio and speakers, I was wondering if you can help me out, does the whole door panel have to come off to change the speakers? I took out the stock stereo and it has 2 different wireing harneses on it. I have only been able to find a ssingle wireing harnes for it to conect to my aftermarket stereo, any ides with the second harnes?

 

You dont hook in the other plug and yes the whole door panel comes off.
There are 3 screws you take out of the door to pull the panel. Two on the bottom of the door and one on the door handle. To remove the panel, slide the panel in a upward motion, there are tabs that the door hooks on. Should slide freely about 1 inch then stop. Unhook the metal door handle bar from the plastic handle. Then pull off the canon plugs that go into the door lock and window controls. Its a lot easier than it sounds.

Metra is the only company that sells a wire adapter kit that keeps the door switch active. When you turn off your truck and the radio stays on till you open the door. Also Metra has a accessoy wire that it provides, Necessry if you put in an amp. The wire kit you need is XSVI-6502
http://www.antonline.com/p_XSVI-6502-NX_448073.htm
Runs about 45

If you know yoiur not adding an amp you can get a chepaer one from Scorche. item CR02B

http://www.scosche.com/products/productID/220
That runs about 15