What we researched for this specific generation: where an enclosure actually fits, what the factory speakers are, how the factory audio is wired, and which real builds and commercial products exist for it. Confidence badges say how well each figure is sourced — this is research, not manufacturer spec.
Body styles covered: 4-Door SUV, 3-row
These are researched envelopes, not a guarantee. Measure your own vehicle — the numbers here tell you what to expect, not what you have.
| Location | factory sub bay, driver-side 3rd-row area, under the cargo tray |
|---|---|
| Outer bounding box | No independently measured raw cavity envelope found — the real JL Audio Stealthbox's direct-bolt-in fit is the best available reference point. Vehicle-specific enclosure catalogues; published box footprints are lower bounds on the cavity, not the cavity: NET Audio '1997-2002 Ford Expedition Sub Box Dual Downfire Sealed': 49 x 21 x 17 in (as printed; axes not labelled), 4.85 ft3, behind third row seat [only 1997-2002]; NET Audio '2003-2006 Ford Expedition Sub Box Downfire Sealed': 51.5 x 15.25 x 18 in (as printed; axes not labelled), 4.4 ft3, behind third row seat [only 2003-2006]. Vehicle-specific enclosure catalogues; published box footprints are lower bounds on the cavity, not the cavity: Ground Shaker 'BLACK 10" SINGLE SEALED SUB BOX, FITS 96-24 FORD EXPEDITION (w/3rd row seat)': Height 18", Length 25 1/2", Top Depth 10 1/4", Bottom Depth 13 1/2" (labelled by Ground Shaker), 1.53 FT3, behind the 3rd row seat; Ground Shaker 'BLACK 10" DUAL SEALED SUB BOX, FITS 96-24 FORD EXPEDITION (w/3rd row seat)': Height 18", Length 41 1/2", Top Depth 10 1/4", Bottom Depth 13 1/2" (labelled by Ground Shaker), 2.58 FT3 (2 chambers), behind the 3rd row seat. |
| Known obstructions | None specifically documented beyond the factory bay's own footprint. |
Suggested configurations for this vehicle, not prescriptions. Run the numbers in the Box Builder before you buy anything.
| Subwoofers | 1x8" (named product: JL Audio Stealthbox, direct bolt-in to the factory bay) |
|---|---|
| Box type | n/a — factory-bay direct fit |
| Location | driver-side 3rd-row factory bay |
| Subwoofers | 1x15" infinite baffle (named components: Kicker KEYLOC + SI SQL15) |
|---|---|
| Box type | infinite baffle, under cargo tray |
| Location | under cargo tray |
Sizes and depths below are what research turned up for this generation. Confirm against your own vehicle before cutting or ordering — trim levels vary.
| Factory speaker size | 5x7" — specific, confirmed via retailer/forum sourcing. Blunt owner critique: factory door speakers are widely described as 'junk' and lack any tweeter — a specific, sourced complaint rather than a generic caution, with owner consensus recommending a full replacement with two pairs of quality 5x7" speakers. |
|---|---|
| Known obstructions | None specifically documented |
| Adapter bracket needed | unconfirmed |
| Tweeter | n/a — explicitly confirmed absence, not just unresearched: owner consensus is this generation's factory door speakers have NO tweeter at all, part of why they're widely criticized as 'junk.' A genuinely different, simpler architecture than the later 2007-2017 Expedition page's confirmed 1.570" door tweeters. |
| Factory speaker size | 5x7" — same as front, on Mach-equipped trims specifically (4 total 5x7" speakers driven by the Mach amp). |
|---|---|
| Known obstructions | None specifically documented |
| Adapter bracket needed | unconfirmed |
| Tweeter | n/a — same confirmed no-tweeter architecture as the front doors |
| Factory amp / premium audio | Mach premium system (available trims): a named, specific tier — an 80W amplifier unit driving four 5x7" door speakers plus the factory 8" subwoofer. The Mach system sends a DIFFERENTIAL PREAMP-LEVEL signal to its own subwoofer, with power drawn from a dedicated plug on the factory wiring harness — a specific signal-type detail (differential, not standard single-ended) worth knowing before assuming a generic high-level tap works the same way. GENUINELY IMPORTANT: trucks WITHOUT Mach Audio have ZERO factory wiring for a subwoofer at all — the bay is simply empty, matching the same 'no factory sub provisions on base trims' pattern already confirmed on our Ford Escape (non-Sony) page. |
|---|---|
| Adding subs without a head-unit swap | Confirmed via the real JL Audio Stealthbox direct-bolt-in approach (works on both Mach and non-Mach trucks, though non-Mach trucks need fresh wiring run since none exists from the factory) and the more involved infinite-baffle 15" build. |
| Head unit | No replacement needed |
Specific factory location confirmed: pop off the rear tray piece near the 3rd-row cupholders, driver's side, to access the factory subwoofer bay — on Mach-equipped trims, a real 8" factory subwoofer already lives there; on non-Mach trims, the SAME physical bay exists but sits completely empty (no factory wiring). Specific named product: a JL Audio Stealthbox bolts directly into this same factory bay location with no modifications needed, on either Mach or non-Mach trucks. Creative, more ambitious alternative: an infinite-baffle 15" subwoofer install under the cargo tray, using named components (Kicker KEYLOC processor, SI SQL15 driver) and 4AWG wiring with real fabrication work involved.
Outside links. Some are commercial products, some are owner builds posted on forums — the label says which. We do not endorse any of them.
Each link opens the tool with this vehicle already selected.
Measure your own vehicle. Trim levels, factory subwoofer options, and mid-generation changes all move these numbers, and a box cut to a researched figure that does not match your truck is wasted wood. Where a badge reads Unconfirmed, treat the value as a starting point for your own measurement, not as an answer.