2005-2011 Toyota Tacoma DoubleCab
2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011

In a Nutshell
This article will explain how to install new car stereo gear in your Tacoma. Check it out and then use our vehicle selector to find the gear that will fit your car.
Whether you are working with the standard factory radio or the JBL system, Toyota's factory speakers are pretty good. With that in mind, we suggest upgrading your receiver first and adding cool features like Bluetooth™ connectivity, multiple imputs, and more. You can get to the speakers later.
If you decide you want the best possible sound in your pickup, install some aftermarket speakers, and a subwoofer. Adding an amplifier will make all your speakers sound better, and a sub will give you the big bass you crave.
Full Story
Overview of the Toyota Tacoma
The 2005-11 Toyota Tacoma DoubleCab is a rugged hauler with plenty of room for passengers. Toyota built this tough truck with a basic stereo system or an upgraded JBL stereo system, and you'll find lots of possibilities for upgrading either system, including easy replacement of the stereo and speakers.
If you want to add bass to your system JL Audio offers a custom-fit Stealthbox sub enclosure that's made to fit perfectly in this popular truck. You can also continue to use your factory-equipped steering wheel audio controls with a new stereo by using a special adapter.
This article is an overview of your vehicle's audio system and its upgrade options. If you're looking for step-by-step instructions on installing a car stereo or speakers in your Tacoma, we'll include a Crutchfield MasterSheet™ free with your Crutchfield order, or you can purchase one for $9.99.
Replacing your factory radio
Factory radio in 2005-08 non-JBL system (Crutchfield Research Photo)
6-speaker system
Installing an aftermarket stereo will make your factory system sound better, plus it's a great way to add new features like iPod® control or HD Radio™ reception. You’ll need a dash kit to install a DIN (2" tall) or double-DIN (4" tall) radio, and kits are available in gray or black. You'll have to remove the display from your dash and reinstall it in the Toyota kit.
You'll also need a wiring harness that allows you to install a new stereo without having to cut into the factory wires. Crutchfield will give you a very nice discount on the dash kit and harness needed for this installation with most orders. Our step-by-step Crutchfield MasterSheet™ instructions for your Tacoma are free with your order.
If you want to keep the factory look, you’ll find it easy to add additional features to the Toyota radio. You can add an adapter that lets you control your iPod® with the Toyota radio (and your steering wheel audio controls). Adapters are also available for adding Bluetooth or satellite radio to your Toyota radio.
You can build a full system around the factory radio with new speakers, amplifiers, and subwoofers, but an aftermarket stereo will give you a cleaner sound that will make these upgrades sound even better.
Installation notes: You can't install a car stereo with a fold-down face in this truck. If you have the Toyota satellite radio option, you’ll lose it when you install a new stereo.

Tacoma DoubleCab's dash, disassembled (Crutchfield Research Photo)
JBL system
You’ll know that you have the upgraded Tacoma system if you see the JBL logo on your radio. You’ll need the same dash kit to replace the radio in the JBL system, and you’ll also need a special wiring harness that retains the JBL system amplifier. It's a lot easier to keep the JBL amplifier for a couple of reasons.
First, you’ll have to run new wires from your new radio to each of the speakers in order to bypass the JBL amp, which is a time-consuming job. Second, you might think that keeping the JBL amp will mean that you won't hear a change in sound quality, but a new aftermarket receiver will send a cleaner signal to the amp and you'll hear the difference.
PAC offers a Toyota Factory Integration Adapter (TATO) to plug into the factory harness and keep the JBL system’s amplifier working. Crutchfield offers a very nice discount on this special adapter and the necessary mounting kit.
Your new stereo must have two sets of preamp outputs in order to connect to PAC's TATO adapter. Again, you can't install a car stereo with a fold-down face. If you have the Toyota satellite radio option, you’ll lose it when you install a new stereo.
Steering wheel audio controls
It's relatively easy to retain the steering wheel audio controls when you install a new stereo in your Tacoma. When you enter your vehicle information, our database will choose the adapter you need to make your factory steering wheel controls work with your new receiver.
Tools needed: 10mm socket, panel tool
Shop for car stereos that fit your Toyota Tacoma
Replacing your factory speakers
The front door in a Tacoma with the 6-speaker system (Crutchfield Research Photo)
Basic 6-speaker system
This basic system comes equipped with tweeters in the upper front doors, 6"x9" speakers in the lower front doors, and 6-1/2" speakers in the rear doors. Toyota typically uses 4-ohm speakers in their factory systems, so most aftermarket speakers will work well in the Tacoma.
Front door speakers
The Tacoma's front door houses a 6"x9" speaker molded to a mounting bracket, so an aftermarket 6"x9" speaker will not fit unless you build a new mounting bracket. We recommend that you install a 6-1/2" or 5-1/4" speaker in the front door with the help of a mounting bracket because it will mount to the existing screw holes. A nice set of component speakers would be a great choice for this Toyota.

The factory 6"x9" speaker in its molded bracket (Crutchfield Research Photo)
You'll have to remove the door panel to get to the factory speaker, which is attached to the door with four 10mm bolts. The factory speaker is molded to the bracket, so you'll need a new bracket to mount any aftermarket speaker.
To get the door panel off, you'll start by removing the sail panel. When you (carefully) pull it off, the little white retaining clips stay in the door. Make sure you pull those clips out of the door (if they didn't come out with the sail panel) and reattach them to the sail panel. Otherwise, when you push the panel back into place, it'll push the clips into the door.
As mentioned above, mounting brackets for aftermarket 6"x9" speakers are not available, so if you have your heart set on putting 6"x9"s in there, you'll need to fabricate your own brackets or use our universal backstraps. Use Posi-Products speaker connectors to connect your new speakers to the factory wiring, so you won't need to splice into the factory wires or cut the factory plug to attach a new speaker.

The Tacoma's front door tweeter (Crutchfield Research Photo)
Front door tweeters
The Tacoma's tweeters are located in the front door just below the window. If you decide to disconnect the tweeters and put full-range speakers in the front door woofer location, you'll need to do a little work. The speaker wires are paralleled together at the tweeter location, so the Crutchfield-supplied speaker harness won't work if you're unplugging the tweeter.
You can cut off the factory heat shrink off the plug pictured above, cut the connections when they parallel together, and connect them to your speakers.
Now here's the good news – if you're installing new tweeters, look for a tweeter with a threaded hole on the back. Then you can use a backstrap to mount the tweeter to the holes in the factory tweeter bracket.

Rear door panel removed (Crutchfield Research Photo)
Rear door speakers
You’ll find 6-1/2" speakers in the rear doors of the Tacoma DoubleCab. You'll need to remove the rear door panel to access this location. You can replace these speakers with aftermarket 6-1/2" or 5-1/4" size speakers by using a mounting bracket. There is a wiring harness available for the rear speakers so cutting or splicing won't be necessary.
JBL speaker system
This system is rare so we haven’t been able to research its speakers fully. It has the same speaker setup as the basic 6-speaker system, with the addition of a subwoofer, which is located behind the rear seat.
At this time, we are unsure of the impedance of the JBL speakers, and we don't have any details on the JBL sub. If you're familiar with this system drop us a line. We'd love to learn more.
Tools needed: Phillips screwdriver, small flat screwdriver, 10mm and 14mm socket, panel tool, wire stripper/crimp tool, crimp caps
Shop for speakers that fit your Toyota Tacoma
Bass in your Toyota Tacoma
JL Audio Stealthbox® installed (photo courtesy of JL Audio)
If you're looking to add a subwoofer to your Tacoma's system, JL Audio offers a custom subwoofer enclosure that fits behind the rear seat, and many powered subwoofers or shallow subwoofer enclosures will fit under a seat. Finding room for an amplifier to power your subwoofer shouldn't be a challenge either.
Shop for vehicle-specific subwoofers for your Toyota Tacoma
Other options for your Tacoma
Here are some other ways to improve your Tacoma:
Amplifiers
If you're installing new speakers in your truck, an amplifier will give you an enormous boost in sound quality, providing the clean power and headroom that an in-dash receiver just can't deliver. (We don’t recommend using an amplifier with your factory speakers as they are built for lower power handling.) This truck really is a great candidate for component speakers in the front doors, and an amp will give you maximum performance from a nice set of components.
Satellite radio
If your factory radio came equipped with satellite radio, you will lose that option with a new car stereo. Look for a new car stereo that’ll work with an outboard SiriusXM tuner, or consider adding a Dock-and-Play satellite radio that you can take from car to car.
Navigation
An aftermarket in-dash navigation receiver is a great option for your Tacoma, because there’s plenty of room behind the dash. Not only will you get great directions, but you'll love using the touchscreen to control your new audio system.
Security
Installing a security system in your Tacoma isn't easy (security systems rarely are), but it's definitely a good idea. Our Crutchfield Advisors can help figure out what you need to get the job done, but we usually recommend taking your car and new gear to a professional installer.
Shop for car security systems for your Toyota Tacoma
Find the audio gear that fits your car or truck
Visit our Outfit My Car page and enter your vehicle information to see stereos, speakers, subs, and other audio accessories that will work in your vehicle.
-
Steven E from Las Vegas , NV
Posted on 6/9/2015I currently own a 2009 Toyota Tacoma with the JBL upgrade W/Subwoofer. its located where you have the stealth box setup, its just molded into the plastic, single woofer almost centered on the lower back wall. if you need more info, contact me via email. Ps, there has to be a way to retain the factory satellite receiver at least, because its a nice built in. better then the cheap magnet one from the box.
-
Bobby Vanover from United States
Posted on 7/5/2015What kind of stero andspeakers d9 u all recaend been long time since i have bought after market stuff with real good sound quality sound crisp clear and with good bass
-
Kirk from Wards Creek
Posted on 8/21/2015Just trying to find out if the different models of factory stereos can be swapped in my 09 Tacoma?
-
james from san jose
Posted on 10/5/20152010 tacoma has factory installed satellite antenna. If ordering from crutchfield, do you have directions on how to utilize the factory gps antenna for integration to after market gps nav units?
-
Daryl
Posted on 10/9/2015If I wanted to install component speaker up front (to avoid doing anything to the stock tweeters) would you recommend components in the back doors? Would it be better to use full range coaxials in the back doors?
-
Jon from NLR
Posted on 11/25/2015Hello, Is there a double-din aftermarket radio that has a screen/gps, and will be able to plug into the back-up camera?
-
Murrey from Salt Lake City, UT
Posted on 12/3/2015I have a 2008 Tacoma, and I'd like to put in a double din deck, but I've heard that I cant install a 7" touch screen, or a flip down face! do you know why? I've seen video's of people having a 7" flip open deck, Is there mods that can be done to implement one. Any help would be appreciated. looking at a Pioneer 4100NEX
-
Ryan from West Virginia
Posted on 12/11/2015I bought a 2007 Tacoma with stock radio. Recently I bought a 2011 stock radio that is satellite capable to replace it so I could transfer my Sirius. What do I need to get to make it all work. Thanks
-
Davison from Miami
Posted on 3/27/2016I am looking for suggestions for a double din stereo for my 2006 Tacoma. I was looking into the JVC KW- 910BT. I would like to stay under $200 for the stereo.
-
Drew from Florence
Posted on 4/13/2016I have a 2015 Tacoma and would like to keep the stock radio interface but would like to replace and amp my door speakers. Do you have an adapter that will make that work.
-
Al from Calgary
Posted on 5/3/2016Trying to determine the diameter of the tweeters in the Tacoma. A friend has some Kicker KS35 speakers that he was going to give me but I can't tell if they would fit, no size listed with the tweeters.
-
Aaron from Greensboro
Posted on 6/9/2016I have the Jbl System on my 2007 and I want to keep the Steering wheel interface. Is their one harness for both?
-
Kenrick Venett from KINGSPORT
Posted on 7/23/2016I have a 2016 Tacoma with JBL and looking for a DSP to mix the channels. I don't think the JBL amp is sending out a full range signal to the rear speakers. I'm thinking of the JBL Fix 86 to sum and remove favorite equalization. Will I need another DSP to add EQ back to the signal or can I use the aftermarket amp to process the signal to sound good?
-
David Jamison from Peachtree city
Posted on 8/7/2016I have a 2007 Tacoma with the JBL system. All I am looking for is some way to bring in a line input from an iPod or iPhone. I don't want to use an FM transmitter. Does Crutchfield make something that I can plug in the harness to make this possible? Thanks.
-
Jesse Raines from Kenmare
Posted on 8/7/2016I'd like to know why I can't fit a 7" flip face double din unit in my 06 tacoma. The dimensions are the same as a fixed face. Looking at a pioneer avh x4800bs. Any info will help thanks.
-
John from Peoria
Posted on 8/10/2016I have a 2006 Tacoma with the factory Radio/6 CD changer. The CD player stopped working so I picked up the same radio but a JBL type. When I tried to connect the wiring, there is a difference and I cannot complete the install. Is there a conversion kit to connect the JBL type to a non-JBL system? The non-JBL has four wire connectors and the JBL has only three wire connectors. Can you help?
-
rebecca from powhatan
Posted on 1/17/2017how do I tell if I have jbl system or not in my 2008 Tacoma trd sport?
-
Mike from Hanna city
Posted on 5/25/20172011 Tacoma 4 door, need a little more volume. What are my options?
35 comments