How labor intensive is a speaker upgrade?

So planning on taking delivery of my new Tundra Pro next month - and amongst the mods I "want" to have done up front is the JBL speakers.

Plan is ordering upgrade from tech12volts - but finding a local shop to do the work.

How labor intensive is it to put this in - I'm ballparking it at 5-6 hours for someone who knows what they are doing/doing it right and has a shop to do it in - sound reasonable ?

I know some places won't like that I'm handing them equipment saying "here's a flat rate for the install" - but too many good reviews not to trust them and I know if something goes wrong there's support. So many places will push whatever they have on hand or just some overpriced "upgrades".

Thinking this should be simple enough that the local "jack of all trades" can do it cleanly and not screw it up too badly (and hopefully if they get stuck they admit it and call for help). I'm not mechanically inclined enough and at under $500 - its not worth one of my weekend days doing this.

 

Its a piece of cake. However, if some shops get the idea that you have no idea whats involved, they may overcharge you for a simple job.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/tut...-panel-and-replace-speakers-2014-tundra.2486/

Your asking a forum, so 90% of the people on here would do it themselves.

 

Are you going to have them do sound deadening?

This is a pretty easy install but time consuming. You’re gonna pay a lot for labor I fear.

Where do you live?

 

I'm guessing it's relatively simple - popping door panels and swapping speakers.

Thats why I plan on going in with everything and having a flat rate up front. I mean if it takes a Pro 45 minutes to do what would take me 3 hours - and I pay them 250...is it really a bad deal for either of us? Yes - he only worked 45 minutes- but if my time is more valuable than 75 bucks an hour...I'm still getting value not DIY.

I'll be doing some DIY I am sure - just prioritizing some things - don't want to have to look at a pile of boxes knowing my speakers are just waiting for me to have free time to install them for weeks.

 

Sound dealing is an absolute while they are in there in my opinion.

 

They are gonna hammer you for the deadening install

 

If you’re replacing door speakers only, figure 30 mins per door at the most. Very simple procedure. I bought the adaptor plugs so I didn’t have to splice into factory wiring. $10 for 2

 

Just speaker swap: first door 30 min, second door 15 min, third door 10 min, forth door 5 min!,,

 

Hey man, I just finished my audio upgrade on my 21 Double Cab. Bought everything from @james@tech12volts and did everything myself. Here's what I'll tell you; other than speaker replacements I had never upgraded a car audio system myself before. The idea of running the power from my battery to the amp had me all kinds of stressed out. I straight up asked James for his opinion on whether I should try to do it myself or take it to a shop, and he replied, "we make it easy brother!" He was right! He sent me detailed instructions for every step of the way, filled with tips on what to look for and what to watch out for. Through my own dumbassery, I wired one of my two subs backwards. Everything was working, but the subs just sounded weak...I was ready to take my truck to a local installer to help me figure it out. I told James about it, and he texted, called, and emailed me telling me that we'd figure it out. He had me run a test with a 9V battery, and pinpointed my issue right away!

Bottom line, you can't go wrong with Tech12Volts. If you want to take to an installer, that's on you. If you don't mind spending a few hours (yes, it'll take a few hours) and try to do it yourself, I'm confident you can do it with James' instructions and coaching (if needed). If I did it, anyone can!

 

I’m glad I have a installer and owner I know. They don’t over charge me and I don’t have time to do a install with my job. Also I know when it’s done everything looks like it did before they tore everything out. Just my opinion. I know some areas it’s hard to find a good reliable installer. But my audio place has been in the business for over 20 years. So when the time comes to doing this they will be doing it. Good luck if you need to find someone. Unfortunately you read up on to many things where installers did not know what they were doing.

 

Totally DIY thing but, patience will be the key. I’m about 90% done on my build. From sound deadening all 4 doors and back wall( I should’ve done the floors too LOL) installing a new HU, installing new wires for the upgraded speakers, fabricating my own Amp Rack, running all wires and rca cables all over that truck, totally doable. As for the speakers upgrade, if you don’t have any plans on running new wires. It shouldn’t take more than 29mins for each door .

 

100% concur. I won’t give advice on having a shop install a tech12volts kit because that’s bad advice. A lot of pride in doing it yourself. Also know that a lot of “professionals” are anything but. You’ll take better care of your new baby than they will.

 

I am on the fence about tackling this myself, its mostly the wiring I am not confident about. Did you run new wires to your speakers or use the factory. Also did you replace your head unit ?

 

Stock HU, and no I did not replace my speaker wires. Got an LOC and plugged right in to the factory harness... everything I did is 100% reversible

 

Not that sound deadening is labor intensive, but cost wise it is. I chose to do that part myself. Removing seats, carpets, door panels...Shops make their money doing that.