I've been thinking about installing a subwoofer and amp in my 09 SCab but I don't particularly want to rip out the factory radio/dash kit if possible...my question is what hardware will I need for the amp hook up?

 

I have the same truck and I too wanted to keep the factory head unit so I used a line output converter on the rear speakers and put a 6 1/2" Bazooka tube under the rear seat. The line output converter converts speaker level signals to preamp level signals then you can plug in your amp. right to it. I mounted a 250 watt amp. under my passenger seat and it sounds great.

 

I would start with the wiring schematic. see if either the dealer can give you one or fine one online. they offer a premium sound pkg that has an amp & sub... so I almost bet that the deck should have a preamp output & remote connections for the amp.

 

Do you happen to know where I can get a line output converter? or a recommendation on which one?

 

crutchfield.com has them

 

I replaced the factory speakers, installed a sub, an amp, and an Audiocontrol unit. I started by taking the dash apart to pull wires directly off the head unit, but quickly backed out. The wiring schemes change in the door plugs. I ran two sets of speaker wire to each speaker location. Tied one into the existing wires and ran it to the amp, and hooked the other to the speakers, and back to the amp. I basically just put a loop in to add the amp. Works great, and I have not altered the original wiring .

 

I kept the factory head unit in mine. Upgraded all the speakers to Pioneers, ran new wires from the head unit to a MTX Req-5 sound processor, then from there to a 4-channel amp for the speakers and a 1 channel mono amp for the sub. Put a sealed 10 inch sub under the rear passenger seat like the factory setup. I mounted everything behind the rear seat. Sounds great and looks factory. I chose the "premium" system over the factory Sony system because I knew I was gonna be replacing all that stuff anyway. I listened to the Sony system a few times while shopping for trucks and was not impressed at all. My total investment was under $400.

 

I keep looking at these for subs int he truck, anyone have experience with them?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

 

I'm really tempted to buy the Alpine Power Pack KTP-445 and just wire it up to the stock radio. It should work just the same as using it with an Alpine head unit but I'll just have to hard wire it instead of it being plug and play.

 

Plan your system to the music you want to hear. And be careful not to change the stereo to aftermarket or be prepared to lose the SYNC if you have it. I too left the factory system in my 09 SCrew mostly for looks but also because I didn't want to lose the SYNC.
I put in the Kenwood Excelon X1200M Amp (800W True RMS). Hooked this amp up from my rear speaker output with two Kenwood Excelon KFC-XW1200F 12" subs in a custom shallow box under the back seat. Changed all four speakers in the door with crossovers in the front to separate the sound for tweeters and midrange. Mounted the tweets up a little to elevate the sound platform. This truck bumps.