Aftermarket Navigation Options

It's the dash mount.

They sit level in the mount so they are flush at the top of the opening, but recessed at the bottom, so there's no space below the face for the plate to pivot.

 

Okay, thanks for the heads up.

 

Nice write up Rich. I've always wanted an honest solid real world comparison between the OEM look units and name brand. I have a pioneer avh p4400 so my mind is already made up. Just good to know.

Also.. I haven't had an issue with either my avh p4300 or p4400 with the flip down screen not working in my truck. Pics are in my build. Those mounting brackets have multiple positions as well as using the stock vs metal brackets will charge the angle.

 

Josh that is good to hear about your Pioneer. I am really hoping I can make my Eclipse work. I had it installed in my Tundra and pulled it out before trading it on my Tacoma. I am really hoping I don't have to pay for a new unit.

 

You should be fine honestly. A local member here in Az had an eclipse in his Taco. No issues either.

 

Nice. I suppose I could always modify the opening in the dash kit to make it work if it is a problem. That would be cheaper than a new unit.

I know I am giving up a bunch of features compared to the newer units, but I am used to the Eclipse and O/S interface matches the OEM nav my wife has in her Lexus.

 

I think Crutchfield is being cautious.
If the HU door design ONLY moves forward and doesn't extend below the perimeter of the closed face, then there's no reason that it wouldn't work.

The face on the Toyota OEM unit in my Tundra (it was a Solara unit) could change it's angle for use, but opening the door caused the bottom to extend straight out and the top slid down, so it never violated the space around the unit itself and you could mount it deep into a shoebox and it would work.

I suspect that many units open like this, but I have seen some that operate like they are on a simple hinge, and if the face is 1/2" thick, then they end up extending 1/2" below the frame when open.

There may be other dash kits that will work. The caution is on the Metra, which seems to be a cleaner looking install than the Schosce (sp?)

 

Got ya.

I had the Metra dash kit on my 06... even tho it was textured to match the stock stereo.. it never fit right. Always had issues.

I tried the Scosche kit this time around, and although it isn't textured.. its a much better fit and I would recommend the scosche over the metra.

 

Oh ya... something I forgot to mention on my Rosen unit.

You can't turn it off.

Tapping the volume knob only adjusts the screen brightness and can blacken the screen.
But the radio plays any time the vehicle is on.

There is a Mute button, and it works, but the thing self-mutes for BT phone use anyways, and if you use the mute, then shut the truck down, when you restart, the HU comes in at full volume.

So the only way to turn the radio "off" is to simply turn it down.

 

That's odd... the reviews I saw here on TW indicated the opposite, and the pictures of the Metra installations looked nice.

I guess if I get a Metra and don't like it, it's only another $20 to replace it.

 

Maybe I got a bad Metra... but it was off and looked like crap. Im just goin off what I have dealt with. Post up what yours looks like with whatever you decide on

 

Did you try and hold in the left knob to turn it off? That's how mine works

 

Ya... it ended up initiating a system reset. Lost everything except for the Sirius presets (I assume they are stored in the Sirius receiver).

 

Sub'ed

 

Sub'ed

 

Yeah didn't go through all 4 pages but not sure if this mentioned.

Basically, if your unit isn't specifically using Garmin software, or maybe TomTom, the Navi is crap.

The POI database will be super outdated, the mapping software will be subpar, and just overall it sucks.

Get something with actual Garmin software in it so you can put the latest City Navigator or whatever their thing is now. Pretty much guaranteed to regret it otherwise if Nav is one of your main desires.

 

another option is look at the hi end 'eclipse' navigation and a/v systems. they do all of that and more, way more! those eclipse units are actually toshiba rebranded as eclipse in the US and the actual manufacturer is fujitsu who makes some of the best computers and electronics in the world! o and lexus uses them too!

i put one in my 2006 like 30 minutes after i bought it new off the lot because i liked the NAV in my lexus. so its an older one of course. but still works 100%, never a hint of a problem! and they have completely seperate controls for voltage to youramps and hi/mid/low range etc, an audiofiles wet dream! you control everything! the physical box it came in said Fujitsu

good stuff, worth looking into!

and yes ALL systems are module systems, meaning if you want sat radio you plug in a module, if you want weather satelite you add a module, etc... all are like that even OEM