2000 Ford Excursion - Alpine Head Unit, CD Changer, DVD Player - Installation - Car Audio and Electronics Magazine

Marc Collins never planned on making car audio a career; it just fell into place.

A few years ago, after taking his truck to a local shop to have a new audio system installed, Collins struck up a friendship with a long-time employee, and after a few meetings, they decided to open their own shop. Collins' Xtreme Audio and Security has now been open for nearly three years and is enjoying great success.

Collins and his team at Xtreme Audio and Security decided that a demo vehicle would make a huge impact on their sales. They decided to buy a white 2000 Ford Excursion and fill it with the latest in car audio technology and a few of their own special tricks. "We wanted a one-of-a-kind truck," explains Collins. "I've liked the design of the Excursion for quite some time, and I wanted to have a vehicle that our customers could experience first-hand."

After purchasing the truck in October of 1999, it was time to upgrade the audio system and add multiple video functions. Collins began by selecting an Alpine 7863 head unit for its unique design. "I really like Alpine and their look," explains Collins. "Cosmetically, it matched up well with the Alpine DVD unit and 6-disc changer." The changer is mounted between the two front seats.

Because a Flex Vision 12.1-inch monitor took up most of the available space in the dash, an extended center console was designed to house the new head unit, an Alpine DVA-5200 DVD player, and equalizer. Due to the placement of the monitor, the Excursion's air conditioning controls had to be moved to a lower position in the console.

A second Flex Vision 12.1-inch monitor, used for viewing by passengers in the rear section of the truck, is mounted overhead just behind the front seats. With a Sega Dreamcast game console located under the rear seats, there are plenty of entertainment options for everyone.

Collins and the team at Xtreme Audio then took the video features to an even higher level. Three cameras were installed on the outside of the truck. One is located on the left side of the fender, one on the right, and the last is mounted behind the rear license plate. When the driver hits the left turn signal, the camera engages and a picture pops onto the two video monitors. The same happens when the right turn signal is activated. When the truck is put into reverse, the camera behind the license plate turns on. "We built all of the switching for the video system," explains Collins. "The exterior cameras will override any of the other video functions including the DVD and Dreamcast."

Two pairs of Crossfire 6-inch speakers are utilized for the front stage. New doors panels were constructed from wood and fiberglass. New grills were also made from wood and mesh to match the rest of the interior.