Intermediate build

A Pickup Truck Bass Build

Researched from published relations and manufacturer specifications. Updated 2026-09-17.

The complete parts list

Grouped by function rather than by price, so you can see what each part of the system costs on its own. Every line links to the product, and the total is computed from catalog prices rather than typed by hand.

What you can skip

Telling you not to buy something is what makes the rest of this list worth reading. On this build, these are the things people add that are not earning their place.

• A ported box, in most extended cabs. There is rarely enough volume for one to work properly, and a sealed box in the space available beats a compromised ported box.
• A capacitor. On a truck with a large factory alternator, the big 3 upgrade usually clears the sag on its own.
• A generic rectangular box. In a cab it wastes exactly the volume the driver needs.

What to upgrade first

When the budget comes back around, this is the order that gets the most for the money.

1. Sound deadening on the rear cab wall and the floor. A truck cab is loud and the panel behind the box is thin.
2. A high output alternator, if the truck is a work vehicle running lights and a winch as well.
3. Door speakers, since truck doors are large and usually have a factory speaker that never had a chance.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a shallow mount subwoofer in a truck?

It depends entirely on the cab. A crew cab usually has enough depth under the rear seat for a full depth driver, while an extended cab often does not. Measure the available depth behind the seat before choosing, because the mounting depth is a published figure on the driver specification and it is the one that decides whether the build is possible at all.

Will a vehicle specific box fit my truck?

Check the fitment list on the listing against your own year, cab style and body, and do not assume. Cab shapes change between generations that look similar from outside, and a box for a 1999 to 2006 extended cab does not fit a 2007 to 2013 one despite both being extended cabs. We cannot tell you whether a given box fits your truck.

Is under seat the best place for a subwoofer in a truck?

It is usually the only place with usable volume, and it works better than it sounds like it should. The cab is small and well sealed, which gives strong cabin gain at low frequencies, so a modest enclosure under the seat produces more than the same box would in a sedan trunk. Firing the driver into the cab rather than the seat back matters.

Why does a truck need heavier wire than a car?

Mostly because the run is longer. The battery is under a long hood and the amplifier is behind the rear seat, so the one way distance is often several feet more than in a sedan. Voltage drop scales directly with distance, so the same amplifier in a truck needs a larger conductor than it would in a hatchback to reach the same voltage at the amplifier.