Confusion With Trim Kit

Hopefully someone here can really help me out. Today I received my Alpine CDE-HD149BT single din head unit from Crutchfield. With the shipment, they sent me the wiring harness, antenna adapter, and the

$32 Metra 99-8235CHG Single DIN Dash Installation Kit For 2012 Toyota Tacoma Vehicles

Metra 99-8235CHG.

Let me first say this is my first audio install so I apologize in advance. The first step of the trim kit is to install the cubby. Ok, that is really easy. Then they say to mount the head unit and you are good to go. This is where I am confused.

If I attempt to mount the head unit straight out of the package, the unit is to wide and I have a partial bend from the plastic mount from the trip kit (see below)



Here is my first question. 1.) do I need to remove the black plastic trim ring around the head unit. 2.) do I need to remove the silver casing as in the below photo?



If I remove this casing, I can slide the unit in between the trim kit mounts. But I ten run into another problem. I do not have any bolts that will fit to mount the head unit. The bolts that come with the trim kit are WAY tool small. But, alpine includes four bolts as pictured below:



The issue with these bolts is that they are not long enough to mount to the trim brackets.

Finally, if I have the black plastic trim ring around the head unit, it will not fit properly around the dash trim kit. But, if I remove the black plastic trim ring around the head unit, I have some really big gaps.

I hope this stuff makes sense, but I am really lost. I apologize if this is a dumb question, but I have no idea what to do. Any help would be appreciated.

 

here is a similar video but you dont need the silver stock radio cage. you need the brackets and use the holes that lines up and screw them to the deck in the side and add the cubby and should be good to go (FF to about 14 min):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkSWfNfDBRI

 

You'll prolly need to ditch those plastic brackets and use your stock metal ones.

 

Awesome. Thanks so much for the video. I looked around for a while and could not find anything like that.

I do have one more question though. If I use the Metra bolts to screw in the head unit, they will not work as they are too long. These bolts are only working to screw in the cubby. But, if I use the bolts that came with the alpine deck, they are too short. I have not taken apart my dash yet, but would I be using screws from my existing unit like the guy did in video?

 

Yes use your stock bolts for the bracket.

 

Since I am going from a double din to a single din, would the OEM bracket allow me to use the single din cubby as well? I am having an alarm installed in my truck tomorrow and don't want to take apart my truck prior to this, but wanting to prep as much stuff as possible so when I get my truck back on Sunday I can install everything.

 

Yes it will. It's like when you sammich the cubby it's a replica of a double din stock deck if that makes sense.

 

Man, you are a lifesaver. I really do appreciate. So basically with the Metra trim kit, I am just going to use the trim ring and the cubby, everything else will be OEM. Also started to question everything because Crutchfield sent me two trim kits.

This was just killing me. Started to freak out thinking if I can't even figure out how to mount the head unit, I am screwed on this install.

Thanks again for all of the help, I do appreciate it. Attempt number two will happen on Sunday.

 

You got it. Use the stock brackets off your current stock deck and save the screws. Transfer the bracket to your aftermarket deck and use the stock screws. Add the bottom cubby no metal cage from aftermarket deck used or plastic metra bracket used and screw the cubby to it. Plug the harness after you crimp or solder and put deck assemble in stock hole. And go drive and head bang.

 

Perfect! Thanks again.

 

No problem. Post some pics when you get done. As you can tell I'm a car audio junkie.

 

Absolutely!

 

Awesome setup by the way. I bet the truck sounds amazing.

 

I just sent you a PM and then saw this. Guess I'm a little late to the party. Sorry.

 

No worries at all. Thanks for the private message, the videos are really helping me out. Wish I would have found this stuff earlier.

 

Got it figured out! Thanks again guys for the help.