What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

That Hamilton CarPlay kit was $350 a few days ago and some claimed $300 with a discount code. I see it's gone up to $470 now. For that much I'd swap the entire radio instead.

 

Added boat decking to the rear seat delete.

 

Damn you for posting that TGP link, just saw that they’re running 30% off on Sony units. Incredibly tempted to go for the XAV-AX 3200 which would give me CarPlay for under $500, but that still seems steep to essentially move my maps down a few inches from my windshield mount. Gonna simmer on it for a couple of days.

 

Simmer all you want.

I've been eyeing the sony 9500es for well over a year. I still have the 2017 factory radio with nav paired with kicker key 200.4, kicker key 500.1, focal rse-165/rcx-165 and the JL Stealthbox.

 

When I was looking a few yrs ago maybe, it was the 6600 I was eyeing

 

The Sony's have better reviews and are less finicky.

 

Good to know, I’ll take a look.

 

why go for a wired carplay unit in 2025? Wireless is almost standard now

 

Don’t let the “sale” sway you. I’ve been watching a HU on the site for over a year. Despite getting emails saying whatever brand is on sale that month, the price remains the same. I’m not trying to dissuade you from going with trailgridpro, that’s who I’ll use whenever I pull the trigger, just suggesting you not feel pressured by getting a “deal”

 

When I was shopping the OEM version online at my local dealer was actually cheaper than the pop n lock. Actually a lot of things are strangly a lot cheaper OEM. 1in rear lift blocks(the ones in the TRD lift kit) for example were only $8 each.

 

the oem version is 10x what an actuator kit and wire would cost. Thats alot of savings

 

It just works and continues to work. Not sure if a non-functional, non-OEM unit is worth the effort. They're louder and I've only ever heard of them failing to function, not the OEM version. I mean we bought a Toyota partly because of their reputation for reliability, didn't we? Why would you not use the OEM gear when given a choice? Again, to each their own but that's my irrational logic.

 

if you're non DIY and couldnt fix it yourself i could understand. For me i just had to buy the actuator and they came in a pack of 2 for 15 dollars. Wiring, self tapping screws etc were already in my parts bin.

 

Mine didn't come on my truck either, I bought it through my dealer and installed it myself, (FYI that's DIY) so I fail to see the difference other than the OEM version doesn't fail...

 

about $100 dollars difference? If it fails you just use your key

 

To each his own but the ENTIRE reason I got mine was to not have to use my key every time I need into my bed. Fortunately the OEM version doesn't fail!

 

I actually feel so much better about it than I did when I posted about it late last night lol. I figured that the sale probably wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be, I feel like most places nowadays inflate their sales a little bit to make things sound like a better deal than they are. I actually just found the same unit for $350 at Crutchfield.

 

how often do you think it fails? every 3-5 years?

 

Lol

 

I would like to think the OEM one I installed in my Taco will last the life of my truck and never fail, that is how Toyota does things. I'm not sure how much the Pop and Lock version is but the complete OEM kit is 169.00 which isn't too bad in my opinion. Hey, it's totally up to the individual, if you prefer the non-OEM version then go for it, I was simply suggesting that if you want to avoid failures you're probably better off getting their OEM kit which is very comprehensive and comes with OEM installation instructions that are easy to understand. Has the heat shield for near the exhaust, the new grommet and everything you need.