Help with selecting parts for audio system 01 DC

Hey guys, I'm a stereo (and electronics in general) noob, so I was hoping to get some quick and straightforward answers to make this as painless as possible. The stereo in my 2001 Doublecab is shot--the CD player doesn't work, and the display is broken so I can't read what FM station I'm on. Been driving around like that for a long time now, and just want to bite the bullet and replace it. Was looking on eBay for a replacement head unit, and figured for a few extra bucks I could probably upgrade the whole thing and get an iPod/input jack (I listen to an iPod ~60% of the time with a cig lighter FM tuner).

1. Should I just replace the head unit with a used one from a junkyard or eBay?

2. If I replace it with an upgrade, what do I need? I was looking around and came up with:

$10 Carxtc Stereo Wire Harness Fits Toyota Tacoma 95 96 97 98 99 2000 01

Wiring harness

$19 Metra 88-00-8000 Toyota Lexus Radio Replacement Pocket 1982-2004

Pocket (??)


Receiver:


To be honest, I picked one of the first receivers I saw that was relatively cheap--I just want something quick and easy (hence ordering it all from Amazon--see links). I know a lot of the audio gurus around here would turn up their nose, lol, but whatever. How do I know this receiver will fit? Will the pocket fit? Will it look like crap?

Thanks!

 

Soche and Metra make specific kits for our vehicles. Any Single DIN sized head unit will fit any of their single DIN sized kits. They make iPod capable head units that have connections in the rear that can be routed to the glove box or anywhere else you want and will play your iPod, have on screen head unit mounted controls or allow for your steeing wheel controls (if you have any) to operate the iPod while also charging it. If you will do a full system upgrade or need to bypass a factory amp you may need to go to a generic harness for your receiver and tie in each wire individually or at least tie in some parts off the harness with plugs on each end (non generic) for things like a steering wheel controler, amp turn on, etc.