HU advice needed

Good peeps of TW (and far more knowledgable than me), I need some advice. Your input is greatly appreciated...

I have a 2010 DCLB TRD. Sport with JBL. I build temporary structures (tents and boxes) and therefore spend lots of time in parking lots during installs and dismantles. Over the past year I've made a migration to an iPad Mini in addition to my iPhone. I just purchased a Tech Deck Extreme that will allow me to mount both in my truck. I'd like a better / more connectable head unit than the OEM that I currently have.

Local audio shop keeps pushing me towards the Apple CarPlay compatible double din units. I'm not entirely sure this is the route I'd like to go, so I thought I'd seek out some advice here.

I would like to be able to connect my phone via Bluetooth for calls and audio (if I want) and to connect my iPad via USB for audio for music/videos/video conferences. This would allow me to have an office away from my office for the months when I'm working on job sites. It would also allow me to utilize the same setup when the wife and I are wheeling or on road trips.

I'm agnostic about double or single din. I strongly prefer to have a HU that has USB connection at the rear so that I don't have a mess of cables floating around up front. I'm not certain that CarPlay is necessary, but could be convinced.

I'd like to get a high quality mic for the Bluetooth - this is very important to me.
I'd like the HU to deliver higher quality audio than the OEM unit (for further future upgrades).
I'd like the ability to stream music via Bluetooth.
I'd like the ability to deliver music via USB as well.
I'd like to be able to hook up a backup camera to the HU (planning to install a SnugTop Outback that will delete my tailgate and eliminate my rear view backup cam).

Is double din necessary to get what I want/need? Is CarPlay the way to go, or for the extra money a worthwhile luxury?

What unit would you recommend and why? I'm price conscious as I've got about $15k of other upgrades (suspension, topper, lights, racks, armor, etc) in process for the truck. I'm also a realist who believes in buying the right tool one time instead of the wrong tool 2x or more.

Because all posts are more interesting when pix are included, I'm attaching a sample of the kinds of boxes and tents that I typically build.

 

Why not just use your iPad as your head unit, primarily. Check out the link in my signature.

 

Shane, I use tapatalk on my iPad and for whatever reason can't see your signature or a link. How are you connecting your iPad to audio output in the vehicle and how do you handle Bluetooth from the phone? I think what you are suggesting is basically what I'd like to do...just that my iPad will be mounted to Ram rather than in dash. Thx in advance for your feedback.

 

I recommend using a Single DIN head unit that can mediate the normal source functions that an iPad does not directly support (Bluetooth calling, am/fm/xm radio, cd, etc....)

 

Is there any more or less logical choice for a single din unit (brand or model)? Also, I assume that single din means that a backup camera isn't an option. Have you or anyone else found a way to integrate a backup camera via the iPad?

 

Yeah, I would use the Sony GS610. The app remote that it connects to the iPad through is pretty good.

As far as the backup cam goes, you can get a module that syncs video via wifi to the iPad but I haven't used it.

 

@shaneckc thanks for advice. I was also eyeballing the Pioneer digital media units. Do you find the Sony GS610 to be at all wonky with iOS? A few of the reviews that I read seemed to suggest that it was a bit wonky with iOS devices vs Android devices.