2013 Ford Explorer Sport / Whelen, Soundoff, Howler

[alr22508]

2 SoundOff Ghosts Red/White in the grill


2 SoundOff Ghosts Flush Mount Red/White


-With 10-75 Licence Plate Bracket


2 Red/Blue Whelen Vertex Hideaway LEDs


Whelen Dash Talon Red/White


Whelen Cencom Gold


Whelen Howler

 

[alr22508]

Cencom Gold, Howler


-The Howler, Cencom Gold controller, and fuse block were mounted to a piece of wood that was cut to fit under the drivers seat. Wires were run along the drivers side floor board to the front and rear.







View attachment 103676

 

[alr22508]

The Whelen Howler was installed inside of the drivers side fender with 2013 Ford Explorer utility mount. It fit almost perfectly except for one of the holes on the mounting bracket does not line up with the chassis. The hole needs to be drilled on the chassis, not a big deal just an unexpected extra step. Also the stock horn needs to be bent back slightly to accommodate the Howler speaker.

 

[alr22508]

Soundoff Ghost red/white in the Grill


Soundoff ghost red/white for the intersection mounted on the 10-75 licence plate bracket.


Whelen Talon Installed on passenger side headliner.

 

[pdk9]

Nice, clean work bro. When everything was Said and done, about how much time did it take you to install & wire the howler? Also, is this your POV, or did you do this job for a customer?


If it were mine, I would've stuck with all solid red lights (stronger punch and they won't drown out as easily at nightime with the headlights on OR if you add one of the newer HLFs that some members here offer for the PI), and utilized more side & rear warning. That'd be a perfect amount of warning for a courtesy light, but IMHO, I would have something in the rear side windows and something on the rear headliner if I were the one responding code 3 in that vehicle. But like I said, nice clean work ;-)


PS how/where did you mount the cencom control head? If love to see a pic of the interior

 

[alr22508]

Nice, clean work bro. When everything was Said and done, about how much time did it take you to install & wire the howler? Also, is this your POV, or did you do this job for a customer?

If it were mine, I would've stuck with all solid red lights (stronger punch and they won't drown out as easily at nightime with the headlights on OR if you add one of the newer HLFs that some members here offer for the PI), and utilized more side & rear warning. That'd be a perfect amount of warning for a courtesy light, but IMHO, I would have something in the rear side windows and something on the rear headliner if I were the one responding code 3 in that vehicle. But like I said, nice clean work ;-)


PS how/where did you mount the cencom control head? If love to see a pic of the interior

Thank you!! It is a POV I am the Chief of a Volunteer Ambulance Corps I don't respond to many calls in it. It is more of a just in case type of thing was not looking to make it all flashy was looking for low key. In addition did the install this way because everything except the tail lights can be pulled out with any marks/drilling damage to the vehicle which was my main goal. I agree to be honest i don't like the ions flash pattern and they are a pain to program. I think i am going to put another talon in the front window as well. To be honest with the howler i think all i need is one red beacon and people will move, might be one of the best warning devices ever created.


I did this whole install in a day took me about 8.hrs. The howler is really easy to install if you don't use the horn-ring feature. I will get a picture of the controller, its mounted with Ez-pass Velcro in the center console front most compartment above the shifter so i can remove when i want to. Any other questions feel free to ask.

 

[alr22508]

 

[Eric1249]

Looks good. I would just slow the dash light down a bit

 

[tvsjr]

Slow the Talon down, and why aren't those rear lights synced?


I've considered an Explorer Sport. The 3.5EB motor would be quite entertaining. But it's a big change from an F150.

 

[FollowingNFront]

He has the Dual Talon on the same flash pattern that every single unmarked NYPD police vehicle uses. I think with the slow grill lights its not the worst thing in the world, but it could be slower.

 

[hoj1192]

He has the Dual Talon on the same flash pattern that every single unmarked NYPD police vehicle uses. I think with the slow grill lights its not the worst thing in the world, but it could be slower.

That actually isnt the same one, the flash pattern they use on almost all the NYPD unmarks is only on the FS viper

 

[FollowingNFront]

That actually isnt the same one, the flash pattern they use on almost all the NYPD unmarks is only on the FS viper

Its some kind of crazy fast hyper flash.... How different can it be? lol...


Many NYPD unmarks have very similar speed to their Vipers like so:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb2Eo6yh30M

 

[TritonBoulder47]

Looks good... I like how the IONs are all synced red then white, lessens the "split fail"... The only thing I'd changed really is making the Grille IONs solid red and then using an ERM HLF for these vehicles... http://elightbars.org/forums/f59/ford-police-interceptor-headlight-flasher-51291/


Regardless it looks great...

 

[mm2k5]

Nice and clean. Very nice!

 

[WhelenCollector007]

looks great! good job!

 

[iceman4122]

+1 on interior pics. How did you install the talon to the headliner?

 

[alr22508]

Whelen vertex red/blue

 

[alr22508]

+1 on interior pics. How did you install the talon to the headliner?

The headliner install was actually very simple. I used a "simpson strong tie" from Home Dept cost 90 cents pictured below. I attached the tie to the talons mounting holes with one of the pre-drilled holes on the tie. I took the car visor mount off and slipped the tie under the headliner. Once lined up i marked the ares that needed to be cut on the tie so that the visor mount would go through the tie. Took the tie back out and cut out the marked section. Once the whole was the correct size i put the tie back up with light attached and screwed the visor mount back in pinching the car visor mount, headliner and tie all together. The metal is thin enough that you can bend it if you need to.


The picture of tie below was my first try i didn't have the correct tools and i butchered it.

 

[cybercop]

Love your vehicle.

 

[NFD-102]

I think this is the first Ford explorer that I have liked since the new body style.

 

[N55]

That sport looks great! Nice clean and simple install but still effective. If you're responding much I'd consider throwing a flasher on the fogs and wig wag those. I wouldn't trust that new wig wag flasher. I'd be afraid it would burn out the headlights.


I also like the ghosts. Solid colors have a bigger footprint but having both red then both white flash at the same time seems very effective.

 

[irsa76]

Only thing I would do is flip one of the grille lights over so the same colour is outboard on both lights, my OCD playing up again. Maybe amber to the rear as well.

 

[N55]

Only thing I would do is flip one of the grille lights over so the same colour is outboard on both lights, my OCD playing up again. Maybe amber to the rear as well.

You talking both both reds out and both clear in so it does a center out pattern? That would look good too.

 

[alr22508]

Only thing I would do is flip one of the grille lights over so the same colour is outboard on both lights, my OCD playing up again. Maybe amber to the rear as well.

I am definitely going to flip one of the ghost its just such a huge process i have to take off the whole bumper to do it so i have been procrastinating. In the back i think i am going to 1 or 2 red blue slimlighter in the rear window.

 

[hlmatthews]

Where did you mount the cencom?

 

[Street7]

Where did you mount the cencom?

+1 would like to see where the Cencom control head was mounted!

 

[ff168577]

Where did you mount the cencom?

In the car. Sorry I had too.

 

[aj4vs]

In the car. Sorry I had too.

lol


But i'd like to see where the control head is mounted also. I have the same vehicle and currently planning out my setup/layout.

 

[thekameleon]

Was it behind the fusebox that you drilled out or somewhere else? How painful was it?

 

[alr22508]

Was it behind the fusebox that you drilled out or somewhere else? How painful was it?

I went just above the gas pedal

 

[minig0d]

Very nice install. Clean vehicle. Clean install! And love the sync. About the only thing that would make it ANY better would be having the talon in sync with the ghosts (external flasher) or idk if any SOS dash lights sync with ghosts but that would be cool too. But I'm super OCD and don't even think you NEED to flip the ghost. Think it looks just fine.

 

[corpsman713]

Very neat. Good install.

 

[Adam 12]

Why nitpick about the flash pattern you've got to remember that no matter how good or bad the video quality is the flash pattern will look different in person. All that matters is that the emergency lights move traffic. It's not a beauty contest thoe to be honest this set up is HOT. No crazy holes drilled inside or out makes for better resale.


I'm jealous when it was time for me to buy a new vehicle I tryed to get the Explorer sport however they had just been released and every dealer was sold out. There was a month long waiting list so I got the Explorer Limited.


How did you mount the grill lights? Was it a custom or an option when purchasing the light head? +1 for the interior photo I've been dragging my feet in reguards to installing radios as well as lighting and siren controls. Currently relying on my XTS5000 for Communication and two slimlighters with cigarette plug. I had been considering the small Federal Signal SS200 with only six buttons and slide switch. I'd like to see how a full size remote head fits in.


Just a heads up Federal and Whelen both make a bracket for the Explorer / interceptor that utilizes the passenger side sunvisor clamp as a no drill mounting point. They run around fifteen to twenty bucks depending on brand and the retailer.

 

[alr22508]

How did you mount the grill lights? Was it a custom or an option when purchasing the light head?


Grill lights came with the clamp mount no drilling required. The lights clamped right on the grill.

 

[Core Public Safety]

Why nitpick about the flash pattern

Because some people's lives wouldn't be complete if they didn't? :crazy:


Awesome install and documentation!

 

[texascop911]

Great package. Basic light set up but very effective