Head unit upgrade

Hey guys, considering a new head unit, looking for a more interactive and or user friendly navigation features and to retain steering controls , plug-n-play install etc... not really concerned too much with improving the audio as it seems well enough as is.. suggestions welcome.
Thanks.

 

As of right now, I don't think there is anything that is fully compatible (to retain all of the OE features).

the Stinger unit seems to be popular, but I'm reading some people having issues that appear that they're being addressed, but I'm also not sure it's fully compatible either.

I am going to wait. It's most likely an updated controller from Maestro to make it all work. In the meantime, I will be upgrading speakers and adding an amp. I'm hoping there will be a 9" unit that is flush. I don't know that any of the floating units like the Alpine's will look good.

 

You are going to be very hard pressed to get a "plug and play" option. Everything that I saw, prior to swapping out my head unit, required a maestro unit to maintain steering wheel controls and dash displays.

 

The easiest thing to do is upgrade the speakers and add an amp like the alpine power pack to the factory unit. You will want new speakers anyhow.

if you want a bigger screen then the alpine floating ones are an option but you will need that mastrio device to keep many of the factory features like steering wheel controls. Crutchfield is a good place to look they have a lot to pick from and can match up units that fit.

I don't like those Chinese android units. They aren't well supported and have bugs.

 

As with anything there are options. A headunit with a Maestro converter deal is your best bet. You'll retain most everything and more than likely get a few new features. I've tried a few of the Chinese Android units, and if you're willing to work through some bugs or whatever, they're actually pretty cool. In the end, I went with a Kenwood headunit near the top of their line and I love it. I've never said that about any aftermarket headunit. It does alot and there's a huge touchscreen for my old eyes. Fortunately, when my Tacoma died, I was able to swipe the headunit and transfer it over to my new vehicle.

I've looked at the Stinger stuff, and I think they're horribly overpriced for what they are. At the time, I spent the same for my Kenwood (the headunit has since increased in price) and I feel I got a better product.

 

Check these guys out Installed mine in less than 20 minutes.

https://trailgridpro.com/shop/tacoma-accessories

 

Call Crutchfield. They have compatibility gadgets that are pretty good.

 

Not a horrible option, but from what I understand you won't get as much functionality as you would with a Maestro unit.

 

I retained all my controls. I use Carplay for GPS, Pandoro, etc.

 

The basics, yes. Did you lose the media display in the center of the gauges? Maestro doesn't retain 100% of it, but most of it functions. With Maestro, I can check TPMS, reset/check diagnostic trouble codes, and view gauges on the headunit. I can also remap the steering wheel buttons. There's a few other things that can be done, but not as useful. There may be more I'm missing. I'm not sure if all aftermarket headunits are capable to do all the above, but I have a flagship Kenwood headunit and a lower-end headunit, and they both do all of that (if equipped). If a headunit you're looking at doesn't take the Maestro RR2 I don't think it has all this functionality. Depending on what you want, any of the options are great. The Trail Grid Pro joint does a very clean job at all the wiring. Which makes me happy.

 

I went looking on Crutchfield again and I thought I saw either an Alpine or Pioneer unit that was 8" or even a 9" unit that was flush (not floating unit). I can't find it listed anymore.

is the media display the only thing you lose in the center gauge?

 

I have the Sony ax-7000 from them and it's great. All prewired up install was easy. Only features lost was the nav and music display on the center screen of instrument panel. The built in amp is absolutely fantastic and overall I don't miss any of the entune crap that's gone.

 

I bought the stinger heigh10 with the Tacoma plug and play kit. Absolutely love it. You do lose some items in the instrument panel. Also you can not change your truck settings.
When I bought the truck I set all my settings the way I like them and have not changed in 3 years. Also never looked at the instrument cluster for radio info. Apple CarPlay is all I use. Also you do not have to buy there Igo nav sd card for offline nav. Just download google maps offline areas. Does the same thing for free!
For all the foil heads makes me wonder if Toyota can not track me and my info now that I got rid of the oem HU. The plug and play is a breeze. I also added a front camera and still have where I can add 2 more. The cost was on the high side but I now have my truck exactly the way I have wanted it for 3 years now. Plan on keeping it for another 7+. I can then add the oem HU back when I do get rid of it.

 

After almost five years of listening to the Entune system, three of those with aftermarket speakers, I finally dumped it and got the same system.
The sound difference is incredible. I also added an under-seat Pioneer subwoofer, so it took quite a while to tweak everything to my liking.
That subwoofer is nuts. I have it set to about 3% of what it's capable of outputting, which is plenty enough bass for me.

I had some issues with the backup camera due to the manual tranny, but Cliff at Trail Grid Pro was very helpful and responsive. A little
bit of wire cutting and soldering got everything working.

 

Anyone know why they don't offer it for 20+ models? Wiring has changed?

 

Don't quote me on this, but I vaguely remember reading something like that. A possible easy way to find out is to go to Metra's website and see if they list the same adapter harness for '19 and '20.

 

Actually I reached out to them and this was their response:


Trail Grid Response:
We'll have some bundles for 2020+ Tacomas very soon!

 

You lose your compass in the instrument panel display.

 

Awesome info!!.., thank you all for the response

 

With the maestro you also lose the compass and media controls from the center dash are weird. I use android auto for most everything so it's a non issue for me