How to Keep a Subwoofer Box From Sliding?
Car subwoofers can literally take your listening experience to the next level. When you install a subwoofer in the car trunk, you may find that your sub bounces back & forth when you play it at a high volume.
There’s no need to feel worried as there are many easy methods to hold your subwoofer firmly in a spot. Some ways include drilling holes in the trunk (as explained by some experts). I bet you get fearful after knowing this. I will not recommend you use that method to keep your subwoofer box from sliding, as there are effective ones mentioned here too.
Let’s dive in!
8 Ways to Keep a Subwoofer Box From Sliding Around:
These are the most effective and easy ways that can quickly solve your subwoofer moving problem:
1. Use a Pad or Rubber Feet:
One of the best ways that helped my subwoofer box to remain stationary was by installing a pad or rubber feet on the edges of it. These pads or rubber feet will create a barrier between the box and the trunk floor, preventing any undesired movement while you play music.
The pads also provide an additional layer of insulation, absorbing some of the vibrations created by your subwoofer. Furthermore, the rubber feet will help the trunk avoid scratches caused by moving enclosures.
2. Mount Sub Box With Bracket:
Mounting your sub-box with brackets (especially L-Brackets) can help your subwoofer stay put and prevent it from sliding around in the trunk of your car.
L- Brackets also provide a neat solution for organizing the cables associated with the sub-box setup. Not only does this look more professional, but it also makes maintenance and repair easier.
Brackets also increase the durability of the sub-box by providing additional support and protection from wear and tear. Follow the steps below to install the L-Bracket:
- Start by measuring the size of your subwoofer box and mark the positions where you want to install the L-Bracket.
- Make holes at marked points on your subwoofer box using a drill.
- Now attach the L-Bracket using screws and nuts, ensuring it’s tight.
- Once the L-Bracket is attached, firmly secure it to the trunk of your car using screws and bolts.
- Finally, tighten all the screws and bolts to ensure a secure fit, so your subwoofer box doesn’t move around in the trunk when you drive.
Now you can enjoy your music without worrying about the subwoofer box moving around. Enjoy!
3. Implement Double Sided-Tape or Velcro:
This is the most common and effective method to keep your car subwoofer in place. To prevent your subwoofer from moving, you can easily install double sided-tape or velcro strips on the base of the subwoofer so that it will remain firmly in place.
Double sided-tape offers a strong and secure hold but can be challenging to remove after installation, whereas velcro strips are easier to take off if needed. Both options will help keep your subwoofer from shifting during use.
If you want to use double-sided tape, ensure that the surface is free of dust and debris before applying it. Otherwise, the adhesive may not stick correctly. You’ll also want to ensure that the tape is applied smoothly and evenly around the subwoofer’s base for added stability.
If using velcro strips, be sure to position them so that they don’t interfere with sound or restrict the movement of the bass reflex port. I suggest you go with velcro, as it allows you to remove the subwoofer anytime to tune it without making any mess.
4. Use Bungee Cords or Straps to Secure Sub Box:
Using bungee cords or straps to secure a sub-box in the car trunk effectively prevents it from shifting and rattling around while driving. The cords are designed with hooks at both ends, allowing them to attach securely to the sides of the enclosure or even directly onto the car’s structure if necessary.
This way, you can quickly create a tight and secure hold, keeping the sub-box in place. You can also use bungee cords to tie down any additional items within the trunk, such as amplifiers or extra cables.
Doing so will help ensure that nothing shifts when you play the subwoofer at high volume and reduce noise caused by rattling boxes and parts.
5. Put Heavy Weights on Subwoofer Enclosure:
I do not recommend you use this method. However, you can try putting extra weight on your subwoofer enclosure to quickly solve the problem without investing additional money in your setup.
The weights will help anchor the enclosure and keep it in place regardless of driving conditions or speed. If you are a person who uses a car subwoofer facing upward, don’t add weights on it as it can damage your speaker.
This method is only recommended if you use the car subwoofer facing the front or rear direction.
6. Install Anti-skid Mat in Trunk:
Another excellent method that I love to use is to install an anti-skid mat on the trunk floor. Not only it prevents the subwoofer from bouncing back and forth but any item placed inside the car trunk.
As discussed above, playing a subwoofer at a higher volume can cause it to shake and move around, resulting in unwanted noise. Installing an anti-skid mat in your car’s trunk can be a great way to prevent this from happening.
The anti-skid mat provides cushioning and friction between the trunk surface and the subwoofer, reducing any vibrations caused by the car’s movement. This will help keep your subwoofer in place and ensure you get the best sound quality out of it.
7. Attaching Subwoofer With Trunk Using Bolts (Non-Recommended):
I will never suggest you drill holes in the car trunk as it can damage it. However, bolting your subwoofer to the trunk of your car can help keep it from sliding around, rattling, and making a lot of noise.
Bolts effectively secure the subwoofer firmly so that even when you drive on bumpy roads or take sharp turns, your subwoofer will stay in place. You place the bolts at the corners of the subwoofer, which can be attached to metal posts or holes that you have drilled in the trunk’s floor.
Doing this will help to keep your subwoofer from shifting and vibrating while you drive. However, you will face spending extra time whenever you want to remove the enclosure.
Follow the steps to use this method successfully:
- Find the best spot to bolt your subwoofer in – you should choose an area where it won’t interfere with other components and is secure enough to hold the weight of your subwoofer.
- Mark the spots for drilling holes in the trunk’s floor where you’ll attach the bolts – use a drill.
- Attach the bolts through the drilled holes and secure them with nuts on their other ends – ensure that you fasten the bolts tightly so they won’t wobble or come off quickly.
- Before you attach the subwoofer to the car trunk, ensure you use dampening material between the subwoofer and trunk- this will help absorb any vibrations.
- Finally, please test it out to make sure everything is working correctly.
8. Using a Wooden Board and Metal Fasteners (Requires an Extra Budget):
Another best method to help prevent a subwoofer box from sliding around inside a car’s trunk is using a wooden board and metal fasteners. The board acts as an anchor, keeping the subwoofer in place while the metal fasteners help to secure it and reduce vibration.
By attaching the subwoofer to the board with metal fasteners, you can ensure the car subwoofer will stay securely in place regardless of how much cornering or braking is done.
The wood board also provides additional cushioning between the subwoofer and trunk floor, helping to reduce any rattles during driving. Furthermore, it helps to protect the subwoofer from direct contact with metal components inside the trunk, which could corrode or damage the subwoofer over time. Use this method only if you are willing to spend extra money on the setup.
Problems You Can Face by a Moving Subwoofer:
If you don’t know the potential problems that you can face with a moving subwoofer, you can check the list below:
Sound Distortion: A moving subwoofer can produce noticeable sound distortion at higher volumes. In simple words, it has the potential to wreak havoc on your car’s sound system.
Overheating: As the speaker moves back and forth, it generates heat, which gets trapped in the vehicle’s trunk. Additionally, if the subwoofer is not adequately ventilated, the heat can remain trapped and increase the temperature in the trunk.
Electrical Interference: A subwoofer can quickly move to a place where it can cause electrical interference with other components if not installed correctly. This issue is widespread in older vehicles that lack proper shielding against electromagnetic interference (EMI) (1).
Port Noise: Port noise is one of the most common problems faced by car owners when installing a subwoofer in their trunks. When a car subwoofer bounces back & forth, it causes air to move through the port and create sound waves inside the trunk. The sound waves then travel through the walls of the vehicle, making an unpleasant noise that can be heard outside the car.
Which Way to Face Your Subwoofer in a Trunk?
How you set up your subwoofer in the trunk of your car can significantly influence its performance. To get the most out of your subwoofer, you must face it in the correct direction.
Generally speaking, a good starting point is to place the subwoofer in such a way that its woofer points directly at the rear of the trunk. However, this is only a starting point – depending on your specific car and setup, you may need to experiment with different orientations to find out which provides the best sound quality for your system.
If you have multiple car subwoofers installed in your trunk, spreading them out so each point is in a slightly different direction can be helpful. However, we have a detailed article to help direct your subwoofer in the best way.
General FAQs
How Do You Secure a Subwoofer Box?
Securing a subwoofer box is essential to ensure that your vehicle performs optimally and the bass in your audio system sounds clear and powerful. To do this, you must ensure that the box is stable and won’t rattle or vibrate when you turn up the volume.
The best way to secure a subwoofer box is to use braces or l-brackets between the back seat frame and the floor of your car. This ensures that the box remains firmly in place, no matter how loud you play it.
How Do I Protect My Subwoofer From the Trunk?
When it comes to protecting your subwoofer from the trunk of your vehicle, there are a few things you can do:
1. Ensure your car audio equipment is mounted securely and that any wiring or cables are properly insulated and protected. You can also install sound-deadening material like Dynamat in the trunk floor of your vehicle to reduce rattles and improve bass response.
2. Use an amplifier rack or enclosure to protect your subwoofer from direct contact with metal surfaces or other items in the trunk. This will not only help protect against damage but will also provide additional insulation for better performance.
3. Cover any exposed trunk parts with paddings such as foam rubber carpeting or a custom-fit soft case designed for car audio equipment.
Should I Use Screws for Subwoofer Box?
Using screws to secure your subwoofer box is a great way to ensure it’s firmly in place and that the components don’t get loosened. The best type of screw for this application is wood or drywall screws, which are available in both metal and plastic finishes.
A good rule of thumb is to use two screws per corner of the box for added security. Be sure you ditch holes smaller than the screws so they will not split the plywood.
Also, if you’re using sheet metal upholstery, self-tapping sheet metal screws may be necessary; these should be applied with caution since they can pull through some thin materials, such as MDF board or thin particle board/pressed wood products.