Colorado Mountains Project Need Advice

[TheSWATguy]

Hey guys my name is James and I live in Monument Colorado. Started building car audio sub boxes in 1987 then I moved into home theater systems and doing the DJ thing since about 1997. My DJ rig now is JBL 18in subs powered by a Crown xls-5000. 2 x JBL dual 15in cabs on top powered by 2 x QSC usa900’s. I also have a DBX Drive Rack PA+. It’s ok for most indoor gigs but in a warehouse or outdoors it is severely lacking. The outdoor parties have become my favorite thing to do. We 4 wheel to a remote spot and set up for an overnight party with up to 400 folks. We play all kinds of music. I personally love the deep bass so I have started my first set of 27in wide tuba 60’s with the LAB 15in to replace my JBL 18’s. Ok guys so here is my idea. I have a custom built 4x4 Military truck. I want to build the bed into a rolling sound system. The truck bed sits about 3.8ft off the ground and is 9.2ft long x 6.3ft wide. I can set two tuba 60’s side by side between the wheel wells with the mouths facing out the tailgate towards the crowd and place 2 more on top of them. I have no walls to “load” them against as we are out in a field or on top of a mountain. As I understand it the tuba 60’s also do not benefit from a V plate either, so will this sound OK or am I missing a better way? My amps and rack will be setup behind the subs also in the truck bed. I am thinking of building dr250’s as my tops and they can be hung from the side rails of the truck at about 7ft above the ground on either side. My goal is to just back up, take the cover off the truck bed and be operating in no time. I can easily load/unload the equipment into the truck at my shop with the forklift but prefer to keep it in the truck at the gig so it could be covered quickly for rain, keeps it up and out of the dirt, away from the drunk folks, and almost no on site setup. What do you think?


James Johnson
S.W.A.T. Audio & Video
Security. Wiring. Audio. Telecom.
James@theSWATguy.com
719-238-SWAT(7928)

[BCBoom]

Sounds like a lot of fun and one serious back country rig.

The subs would be better off at ground level, not sure how much you would be losing with them in the bed that high off the ground. Others with more experience will chime in on that issue I'm sure. But having done my fair share of mobile events in remote back country areas I can definetly see the benifit of that set up and that benifit may far out weigh the loss of better sub placement on the ground.

All that said, 4 T60's loaded with Lab15's should more then kill your current sub set up by a huge margin.

How many DR's are you planning to build to go with this rig?

Sounds like a great build overall.

Plus you could most likely rent out the rig in the winter to avalanche control in the mountains. 4 T60's at the right frequency could set of slides I'm sure.

[TheSWATguy]

Thanks BCBoom. I am planning on a total of 4 T-60’s , two DR250 flats, two DR250 melded. If I were to slide the subs all the way up to the cab of the truck will the 4 ½ ft of flat truck bed in front of the mouth work like they were on the ground or improve the bass at all?

[Rick Lee]

If I were to slide the subs all the way up to the cab of the truck will the 4 ½ ft of flat truck bed in front of the mouth work like they were on the ground or improve the bass at all?

No. However, that sounds like a crazy rig!

[TheSWATguy]

I'm having second thoughts about the DR250 and think I may go Dr280.

[Dantreige]

I'm having second thoughts about the DR250 and think I may go Dr280.

I think everyone has a tendency to build bigger then they should.

That's why I am building 200's and 39's. I need to prove it.

[subharmonic]

Welcome to the forums. Cool truck.

As for your setup you may want to consider the DR280/290s. The reason I say this is that at 3.8' to the ground from the truck bed you will get a 24db cancellation in the 72 hz area. So whatever top you choose needs to go low into the 70s with enough punch to keep up with the subs. The DR250s will get there but just not with the same gusto.

Other options would be to back up to a plateau area that is close to 3.8' off the ground and has a sharp drop off so you can get close and that would be a continuation of your truck bed. Or just crush a couple Hummer (H2&3 models) by driving over them with your truck and using them in the same manner as the plateau mentioned above. That way you also don't need to pull them out on the trails too.

[TheSWATguy]

I'm having second thoughts about the DR250 and think I may go Dr280.

I think everyone has a tendency to build bigger then they should.

That's why I am building 200's and 39's. I need to prove it.

I'm sure if you are playing in your living room small is fine...I'm talking about outdoor with no wall loading and it has to match the scale of the truck @ 25ft long, 9ft tall, and 4ft tires... I don't think the bose system will work for this project. Haha

[UROK]

...it has to match the scale of the truck @ 25ft long, 9ft tall, and 4ft tires... I don't think the bose system will work for this project. Haha

That's a T60 / DR280 truck if ever I saw one!

Just hope you got music to match.

[Dantreige]

I'm sure if you are playing in your living room small is fine...I'm talking about outdoor with no wall loading and it has to match the scale of the truck @ 25ft long, 9ft tall, and 4ft tires... I don't think the bose system will work for this project. Haha

I'll do just fine outdoors with no wall loading.