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Red Pear Realty
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1:50p, 6/4/25
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I have been seeing videos of homemade turtle boxes and like a new task every once in a while, so decided to give it a go. Finished my first one Friday and am going to build at least two more for myself and for gifts. A turtle box is about $400 for the medium size and $750 for the large size. I built the medium sized one that is waterproof for about $200 in materials and can probably do the large size for about $350 in materials. If you don't want them to be waterproof you can save some decent money on speakers. The one I built is pretty loud.

Materials list (I used a Harbor Freight Apache 2800):

https://builtnotboughtboomboxes.com/pages/polk-2800-internal-battery-build

My first build:



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Red Pear Realty
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1:52p, 6/4/25
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AG
https://www.youtube.com/@Builtnotboughtboomboxes

Pretty good resource for instructions as well.
Sponsor Message: We Split Commissions. Full Service Agents in Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Red Pear Realty
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SanAntoneAg
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1:55p, 6/4/25
AG
Ingenious, way to go.
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Texaspainter
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1:58p, 6/4/25
AG
Awesome! How does it sound?
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Red Pear Realty
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2:05p, 6/4/25
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I used a Polk 6x9 marine speaker and honestly it sounds good. Had a dance party with the kids when I got it running. I'm afraid to turn the volume up beyond a certain point but so far it has not disappointed.
Sponsor Message: We Split Commissions. Full Service Agents in Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Red Pear Realty
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El_duderino
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2:07p, 6/4/25
Essentially a miniature stereo cooler. They do not disappoint on the sound quality or volume
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jt2hunt
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In reply to Red Pear Realty • 2:21p, 6/4/25
AG
How long does a battery last playing at 3/4 or more?
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Gunny456
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2:38p, 6/4/25
AG
Guess I'm getting old. When I started reading this I thought it was about trapping turtles. Damn.
TAMU Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences
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Red Pear Realty
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In reply to jt2hunt • 2:41p, 6/4/25
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I haven't had the battery die yet, so I can't say for sure, but supposedly, the 24v battery that I bought from that parts list will last for about a day's worth of play. You can also build it where it runs on DeWalt or Milwaukee tool batteries, but have to add a low voltage cutoff switch or you can kill your battery.
Sponsor Message: We Split Commissions. Full Service Agents in Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Red Pear Realty
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Red Pear Realty
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In reply to Gunny456 • 2:41p, 6/4/25
zooguy96
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3:48p, 6/4/25
AG
I had no idea what a turtle box was, other than what I'd put a turtle in when I find it on the road.
I know a lot about a little, and a little about a lot.
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javajaws
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In reply to zooguy96 • 3:51p, 6/4/25
AG
zooguy96 said:
I had no idea what a turtle box was, other than what I'd put a turtle in when I find it on the road.
I would be worried about him chewing the speaker wires.
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Howdy Dammit
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8:03p, 6/4/25
AG
I am 31 years old and have zero clue what I'm looking at. A briefcase speaker?
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Red Pear Realty
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In reply to Howdy Dammit • 8:11p, 6/4/25
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AG
I'm 38 and a half and you're looking at a homemade version of this:

https://turtleboxaudio.com/
Sponsor Message: We Split Commissions. Full Service Agents in Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Red Pear Realty
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Howdy Dammit
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In reply to Red Pear Realty • 8:41p, 6/4/25
AG
Still confused. Thought most speakers were waterproof. But saving half the money is nice
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AgLA06
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9:47a, 6/5/25
AG
So like this, but much more expensive and loud?

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Soundcore-Bluetooth-Exclusive-Water-Resistant/dp/B01MTB55WH/ref=sr_1_3?crid=36HOT6N34TLM7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MtQEATNtlwXkZ_XS7vPloU3p-G_-IDNl0VGwbmfNhQ31AgmItpLG46a9z9s8N8rDVfoncPBAPGoabgFd38zuQwzHDmSj5uHpyKx7fjqCiUnR-OiZeZLkfcg79mGirrh0Y6DtVYZkMzVHCQIxncTf4_dMCNJjKxHnjZ7bfGjCbHQTFA9yjQXO5mceHAxKFKkSqcyGlyohOf4-B_Jupc2q-1hecFsJY8XvXgs4mauSols.Aeg52vx6hC7r3jAPP4qkskyRI8FTEs2CcZQeh9jqPTU&dib_tag=se&keywords=waterproof%2Bspeaker&qid=1749134705&sprefix=waterproof%2Bspeake%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-3&th=1



I guess I'm officially old. I don't get the want for a massive speaker to interrupt the waves of a beach or the wind through the trees if outdoors. This must be something the cool kids in the 80s and 90s with boom boxes find appealing.
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Red Pear Realty
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In reply to AgLA06 • 12:44p, 6/5/25
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AG
Yup. There's a time and place for both.

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StillNotAnAggie
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1:10p, 6/5/25
I made this one for around $100. Not as waterproof as the Turtlebox, but cheaper and still works great. The battery I had in it was smaller, but would last for days. I mounted the battery and Bluetooth module on the side of the cooler and glued the wires down to clean up the inside. Everything was ordered off of Amazon.


https://imgur.com/a/JTNhAq1
https://imgur.com/a/kra31h7

Edit: Sorry, not sure how to embed the videos.

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Red Pear Realty
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5:58p, 6/5/25
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AG
That's awesome. Well done.
Sponsor Message: We Split Commissions. Full Service Agents in Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Red Pear Realty
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drummer0415
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6:19p, 6/5/25
AG
Lol, OP in case you didn't know, this is a topic that gets people fired up. Old man shaking his fist in the air doesn't like you polluting "his" outdoor scene (beach, lake, river, campfire, whatever) with your gosh dern music!!!


I posted my full blown cooler stereo build here once and it really ruffled some feathers. Your build looks great though. Great job doing it yourself and saving some money, and having fun with the process.
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Red Pear Realty
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In reply to drummer0415 • 6:43p, 6/5/25
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I didn't realize that! Sorry your build wasn't received well. It was a fun project and I wanted to share it.
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ttha_aggie_09
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In reply to AgLA06 • 6:46p, 6/5/25
AG
AgLA06 said:
So like this, but much more expensive and loud?

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Soundcore-Bluetooth-Exclusive-Water-Resistant/dp/B01MTB55WH/ref=sr_1_3?crid=36HOT6N34TLM7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MtQEATNtlwXkZ_XS7vPloU3p-G_-IDNl0VGwbmfNhQ31AgmItpLG46a9z9s8N8rDVfoncPBAPGoabgFd38zuQwzHDmSj5uHpyKx7fjqCiUnR-OiZeZLkfcg79mGirrh0Y6DtVYZkMzVHCQIxncTf4_dMCNJjKxHnjZ7bfGjCbHQTFA9yjQXO5mceHAxKFKkSqcyGlyohOf4-B_Jupc2q-1hecFsJY8XvXgs4mauSols.Aeg52vx6hC7r3jAPP4qkskyRI8FTEs2CcZQeh9jqPTU&dib_tag=se&keywords=waterproof%2Bspeaker&qid=1749134705&sprefix=waterproof%2Bspeake%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-3&th=1



I guess I'm officially old. I don't get the want for a massive speaker to interrupt the waves of a beach or the wind through the trees if outdoors. This must be something the cool kids in the 80s and 90s with boom boxes find appealing.


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JB!98
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In reply to Red Pear Realty • 6:48p, 6/5/25
AG
Red Pear Realty said:
https://www.youtube.com/@Builtnotboughtboomboxes

Pretty good resource for instructions as well.
It must be something in the air! I am putting together a parts list as we speak. I wanted to buy a Turtlebox until I started looking at the prices. They seem to be the new Yeti when it comes to river speakers!

I am going to use a 20V DeWalt battery in mine, the make a LVS built in to the charging cradle for Power Wheels so that part is easy. Trying to decide on the amp right now. Also, not a fan of buying a marine set of 6x9's and then only using one.

I figure I can get out of this for $150-175.

The Built Not Bought guys also have a facebook page that I joined. Really good info there as well.
Today, unfortunately, many Americans have good reason to fear that they will be victimized if they are unable to protect themselves. And today, no less than in 1791, the Second Amendment guarantees their right to do so. - Justice Samuel Alito 2022
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DargelSkout
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In reply to JB!98 • 6:10a, 6/6/25
AG
I guess you need to build 2 JB. I'll come pick up the second one when you're finished.
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aarontx
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In reply to StillNotAnAggie • 7:01a, 6/6/25
Would you be willing to post a parts list for this build? I'd like to make a copy of that setup.
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ValleyRatAg
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In reply to AgLA06 • 7:16a, 6/6/25
AG
I'm about to finish my first prototype that allows you to carry two turtle boxes on one shoulder. It links them together physically by a "bridge" that rests on your shoulder allowing you to walk around the neighborhood listening to your music and sharing it with everyone else. I call it The Ghettoblaster.
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Caliber
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7:25a, 6/6/25
AG
I'm 41 and think this is awesome. The turtlebox has always looked like a good speaker and I wanted one till I saw the dang price tag. This is pretty palatable though.

Thinking about making a pair, 1 for me and 1 for a gift.
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ValleyRatAg
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7:26a, 6/6/25
AG
Make it run on D size batteries so they have to carry 100lbs of batteries around if they want to use it all day.
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JB!98
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In reply to DargelSkout • 8:34a, 6/6/25
AG
DargelSkout said:
I guess you need to build 2 JB. I'll come pick up the second one when you're finished.
Split the speakers with me and buy the case and you have a deal. I probably owe you one for your continued silence through the years!!!!
Today, unfortunately, many Americans have good reason to fear that they will be victimized if they are unable to protect themselves. And today, no less than in 1791, the Second Amendment guarantees their right to do so. - Justice Samuel Alito 2022
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StillNotAnAggie
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In reply to aarontx • 9:04a, 6/6/25
aarontx said:
Would you be willing to post a parts list for this build? I'd like to make a copy of that setup.

Sure. Let me find the links to everything in Amazon and I'll add them here.
Speakers: https://a.co/d/9JUcsD5
Battery: https://a.co/d/fCuhpcI
BT Amp: (New Version.) https://a.co/d/iXftwl9
Cooler: https://www.walmart.com/ip/681417013
Not shown, caulk and weatherstrip around the lid.

My email is my username at Gmail if you have any specific questions.
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EFE
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9:21a, 6/6/25
AG
I made something similar a few years ago when I priced turtle boxes


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strohag
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9:29a, 6/6/25
AG
I wanted a Turtle Box til I saw the pricing. If you run Milwaukee Tools this is a solid option. Not water proof like Turtle Box but It sounds good and you can link more than one together. I've been happy with it.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-18V-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Wireless-Bluetooth-Jobsite-Speaker-Tool-Only-2954-20/329967572
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Whitetail
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In reply to DargelSkout • 10:28a, 6/6/25
AG
DargelSkout said:
I guess you need to build 2 JB. I'll come pick up the second one when you're finished.


Im in for 2.

When we doing this?
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Centerpole90
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In reply to Caliber • 11:52a, 6/6/25
AG
If you didn't strap your ghettoblaster to the umbrealla bracket of a 4020 or the ROPS of a 4630, were you even an early 80s farm kid?
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ValleyRatAg
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In reply to Centerpole90 • 12:23p, 6/6/25
AG
I knew you'd show up!
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