Anyone use Alpine double-din head units?

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-BRSupN887RE/p_500ILXW650/Alpine-ILX-W650.html

It seems that the Alpine ILX-W650 has all the features (Apple Car Play, backup camera) of a head-unit I've been looking for, somewhat around my budget (~$250). I don't mind that it doesn't play CD's. Has anyone used this one before? I'm just worried that it's not going to let me use the touchscreen interface while my truck is in motion, the website mentions something about it requiring a connection to the parking brake before I can access additional features on it.

I'm choosing this over Kenwood/Pioneer because it has the biggest screen and I don't like physical buttons on my head-unit.

 

The issues I have with Double Din is screen glare... call Crutchfield, they are the most helpful stereo people you will EVER find. You might even be able to downkload the manual and read about the disabling of the screen via the parking brake connection to see if it is as they say it is.

 

I have no first hand knowledge but I have heard the parking brake wire can just be grounded so the head unit thinks that the brake is always set

 

Don't have the Alpine, but I did install a Pioneer touchscreen Double Din unit with Apple Carplay I purchased from Crutchfield in my 03 DC. Best functional upgrade I have made to the truck. The fitment of the unit was so good it looks factory installed. I don't have an issue with screen glare whatsoever, so I wouldn't be too concerned with that. The truck is so much more functional as a daily driver now that I can do everything handsfree and stream whatever I want thru the speakers. Best of luck!

 

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS731US731&hl=en-US&ei=bKPFXclHlvL6BJG7tPgP&q=alpine+kta-450&oq=alpine+kta&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-serp.1.0.0l8.2864.5544..6594...0.1..0.175.1505.15j2......0....1.........0i71j41j0i22i30j33i22i29i30j0i131j46.JCAwCRl8zGU

This amplifier is made for the back of the stereo. I want to upgrade to a 10” sub with some decent speakers. Can anyone tell me if this amplifier is any good based on the numbers it’s putting out, or is it better to just buy a traditional amplifier?

 

I have the Alpine in my truck and added a PAC TR-7 to make sure it had full functionality while driving. You just add in the relay with like three wire splices and you're good to go. I have no complaints with the head unit and have liked putting some modern features into the truck.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002J22BO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Sounds like that's an easy enough feature to get around, if you really wanted to. You just need to figure out if the sensor wire from the radio needs to be grounded to allow functionality, or needs voltage, and just do that. Grounding the wire should be easy enough.

That said, there IS a very good reason this feature is included. It's a safety feature. You shouldn't be staring at your big ol screen playing with buttons and stuff when you're driving anyway. That's literally how people die. I definitely find it annoying that my wife can't enter certain things on my '17 4Runner while I'm driving. My parent's older Tundra used to make you click something like "I'm not the driver" and would allow full functionality, but obviously the driver would just tap it to get around that, defeating the purpose of the safety feature.

Besides, how much functionality do you REALLY need to have constant access to that can't be done while stopped, or when you first set it up?

 

Correct! This is how I did it in my old car. Just need to ground it

 

I just bought an ILX w650. Do I need to buy a dash kit trim ring for my 2002?