Kicker for the rams: 6 FAQ Answers Before a Rush Audio Install

If you’ve ever scrambled to install a subwoofer before an off-road trip, you know the feeling. In my role coordinating rush audio orders for dealers and installers, I’ve processed more than 270 same-week orders in 11 years. These are the six questions that show up every time.

1. What does “kicker for the rams” mean?

When a customer types “kicker for the rams,” they usually want a Kicker audio upgrade for a Ram truck. I treat it as an under-seat space problem, not a brand problem. Ram crew cabs have limited room under the rear seat, so the practical solution is usually a Kicker CompRT shallow sub or the powered Kicker Hideaway. If the order is urgent, the Hideaway can save the install because it does not need a separate amplifier to be mounted.

2. Can a sub fix road noise from mud kicker tires 35x12.50r20?

No—and don’t let a customer think otherwise. If the truck is rolling on mud kicker tires 35x12.50r20, you will get tire drone centered much higher in the frequency range than a subwoofer’s output. A sub is there for the 20-80 Hz foundation; tire drone lives around 250-800 Hz. To make Kicker sound good, start with door treatments and a Kicker component speaker set, then use an amp with DSP to cut the drone frequencies. The sub alone just makes the noisy bottom end louder.

3. Does a flat rooftop tent change the plan?

Yes. A flat rooftop tent may be lighter than a large fold-out tent, but it rides high and raises the vehicle’s center of gravity. Once customers add a tent and gear, payload tends to disappear. I recommend putting the Kicker amp and sub in the lowest practical spot, usually under a rear seat or against the cab wall in a bed install. That keeps the heavy part of the audio system near the center of the vehicle rather than on a storage rack.

4. Is a 10x10 tent floor liner really necessary?

A dealer once asked me this while quoting a camping package: the customer had a Kicker system in the truck and a 10x10 ground tent in the bed. The tent floor liner is cheap, and people treat it as an upsell. It isn’t. A rock or tree root will not cut through a 10x10 tent floor liner easily, but it will wear a hole in the tent floor. Same logic applies to a wiring kit: cheap CCA wire may save a few dollars, but a voltage drop can shut down the amp on a hot day. Spend on protection. It is the lower total-cost choice.

5. Can you polish out scratches on car?

Can you polish out scratches on car? It depends on depth. If the scratch is light and sits in the clear coat, polishing with a dual-action machine and finishing compound will usually clear it. If your fingernail catches, polishing will not fix it because the scratch has gone through to the color coat. I have also seen installers hide scratches by waxing them, which is temporary. Do the paint inspection before mounting roof racks, tent brackets, or pulling trim for a Kicker amp. It prevents the need for a later scratch-polish callback.

6. Why do rush orders prove that total cost is more important than price?

The cheapest quote is rarely the fastest or the most reliable. In March 2024, a dealer called me about a Kicker enclosure that was listed at a suspiciously good price. The part failed the fit check after he had already spent two hours removing the rear seats. He ended up ordering a Kicker vehicle-specific drop-in enclosure from a distributor who could confirm stock and ship next day. The first enclosure, plus the wasted labor, cost more than the drop-in would have cost in the first place.

I use Kicker’s published spec sheets for enclosure volume and mounting depth. If the part number is not on the list, I do not guess. Guessing creates rework, and rework eats the entire budget. That total-cost view is what keeps me out of late-night rescue calls.