Running cable from front to back

[Fozzie]

I'm in the process of moving the rear stereo speakers to the tailgate card... The original wires from the radio in the dash sort of tuck under the rubber mat on the cab floor and then go sort of under the trim around the door, but it's all falling out and getting worn/crushed. The only thing to do is unbodge it and do it right with new cable.

Is there a secret channel I can use for routing cables from the dash area to the living area? I believe some cables run up the A pillar on the driver's side (mine's a LHD) but I can't see how to get into that, or indeed out of it at the top. Has anyone done this? Any other ideas?

[1664]

Why not just run the cables through the floor (by gear lever?) and run them along the underside of the van and then just pop back in via the engine bay and wardrobe? The other possibility is to run them behind the furniture but you'd still have to run them under the mat to get to the furniture in the first place. Getting them into the tailgate will prove problematic too, I struggled for ages just getting the rear heated screen and rear wiper cables back in after my respray. I'd be inclined to put the speakers either side of the overhead locker at the back myself..................

[kevtherev]

Why not just run the cables through the floor (by gear lever?) and run them along the underside of the van and then just pop back in via the engine bay and wardrobe? ............ I'd be inclined to put the speakers either side of the overhead locker at the back myself..................

simples

[Mocki]

its dead easy to get them up the a pillar and right along the top to the rear where the tail gate joins the van and throu the grommet into the tailgate, the interior light wires go up there, dis connect one of them from the interior light, carefully connect a "pulling wire" of twice the length of the a pillar to it, pull it down, connect light wire, and speaker wire and pull back through....... then route along top. Use a "threading stick" at the tailgate end to pull wire through.....

mine however go from the stereo , down through the heater pipe grommet, under the van to the back, and up the side wall to the tailgate grommet.because i have 12 lighting cables going that way already.

dont make goffin great holes in the furniture when the tailgate is space you cant use any other way!

[Fozzie]

Thanks all for the input. My preference is eventually to run through the A pillar, but clearly that involves pulling off the Autohomes top cabinet, and I haven't worked out what's holding that up there yet. So, have now run the cabling along inside the furniture, held in place with blutak and tape, as a temporary fix.

Will no doubt get round to finishing it next summer (or the one after....)

dont make goffin great holes in the furniture when the tailgate is space you cant use any other way!

Absolutely. The whole point of moving the speakers was to liberate the original holes. And if anyone's interested the sound is fantastic from the back.

[1664]

but clearly that involves pulling off the Autohomes top cabinet, and I haven't worked out what's holding that up there yet.

Quite simply, you can't; as I found out when I re-trimmed my interior. It would appear that Autohomes constructed it before the roof was attached so all the fixings etc holding it together are now inaccessible. You'd have to destroy it get it out which is a bit OTT for a speaker wire.

[Fozzie]

[ Autohomes constructed it before the roof was attached ... You'd have to destroy it get it out which is a bit OTT for a speaker wire.

Fantastic... Why am I not surprised to hear that? Clearly removing it is OTT for a speaker wire, but it has to come out sooner or later anyway. Better get out the wrecking bar.

(BTW I just had a gander at your garage pics; looks great. I take it you completely rebuilt that top cabinet, even though it looks just like the original?)

[chippieshaun]

Hello there.........i removed that top cabinet ok.
It had screws through the back of it.
I had to , firstly , remove the 'ceiling soffit' above the R&R bed. If you do this first , you will find more fixings(all will be revealed)
1664 , i can only imagine your situation is different because you have a 4 berth and , i think , Fozzie's is a 2 berth like mine (the cheaper one!)
To be honest , removing all of the autohomes furniture is a real faff but possible with a lot of patience and is very necessary if you want to re-do all of the lining carpet.

[AngeloEvs]

My Autohomes had speaker wires up through the drivers side pillar into the top front locker and from there they ran behind the carpetted cosmetic panel to the rear. I had to remove them (rather than fit) but they were easily accessed by removing the slide out locker (drivers side) and the self tappers holding the cosmetic panel (the first one above the curtain rail).

[1664]

(BTW I just had a gander at your garage pics; looks great. I take it you completely rebuilt that top cabinet, even though it looks just like the original?)

eer, not exactly. They look original because they are. Those are old photos and I suppose I should update my garage really. Been re-sprayed and stuff since then. New interior looks like this https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=53698" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That cupboard does not come out.............well, not on the Komet anyway

[chippieshaun]

[ Autohomes constructed it before the roof was attached ... You'd have to destroy it get it out which is a bit OTT for a speaker wire.

Fantastic... Why am I not surprised to hear that? Clearly removing it is OTT for a speaker wire, but it has to come out sooner or later anyway. Better get out the wrecking bar.

(BTW I just had a gander at your garage pics; looks great. I take it you completely rebuilt that top cabinet, even though it looks just like the original?)

Fozzie.......following a couple of PM'S between us , here is how i removed that top locker. Luckily , for you , the adhesive i used to stick the new lining carpet on all the panels had failed , in places and that top ceiling soffit has had to be removed to re-do. So have taken some pics to show you.

This is that ceiling panel that you need to remove


It comes off by removing lots of little screws around the outside


This is the top locker you want to remove , right?


This batten is attached to the top locker and screwed up into roof. If you remove these two self tapping screws , you are half way there


Next are the two screws through the back of the locker


And one here........i dont have a zig unit. If you have one then that will have to be removed first.


That is all that holds the top locker in place on my van. Of course yours could be different , as could 1664's.
Obviously there is a load of wiring that you need to deal with aswell.
So , thats it.........takes about 15 mins and not a hammer or crow bar in sight!
Hope this helps.
Shaun

[1664]

I know those lockers come out - I thought we were talking about the locker over the driver and passenger seats? Isn't that where the 'A pillar' is?

[Fozzie]

I know those lockers come out - I thought we were talking about the locker over the driver and passenger seats? Isn't that where the 'A pillar' is?

Ah... My point was that routing cable to the back via the A pillar is only a good idea if there's access to the channel all the way to the back - which there isn't until the rear top locker is taken out.

Sorry for the confusion.