Use an iPad mini for your Tacoma A/V System!

That is correct. The mounting kit is $295 and the Radio / Wiring integration is $360.

 

It doesn't have to. In fact, mine is interfaced with a home audio iPod dock which gives me a digital optical sound output. I still managed to retain steering wheel controls and hands-free, too.

Setting up that specific head unit behind the the iPad is a very practical and effective way of tying the iPad into all of the features such as steering wheel controls, bluetooth, factory speakers without amplifiers, am/fm radio, etc... It actually works very well, and based on most of the inquiries that I've gotten, this is the best solution for most people, more specifically ones that only want to replace their radio, and do not currently, or plan to, have aftermarket systems.

There are plenty of ways that I can wire up iPad interfaces for car stereos. It all depends on what features you want. The biggest factor in all of it is whether or not people need steering wheel control integration. When that is taken out of the picture, tons of other possibilities open up, and this can be done for much cheaper.

 

This is a good idea!

 

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I'm intrigued, this looks awesome.

How does this interfere with the back up camera? Is there a way to integrate it with the ipad mini?

 

whats up shane...i see you sold your old prerunner (the system in that truck was beast!!)

kits look good bud!!

 

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ok, now for those of us who have a system with decent head unit already installed (I have a kenwood excellon unit in mine), would we be better off keeping the head unit in the truck for all the extras and what not or doing it another way ?

 

nice meeting you today shane, looking forward to the finished product

 

Anything is possible. I know of one way to do it, but it is VERY expensive. Like over $2,000. More worth it to get a video monitor / rear view mirror combo instead.

 

Kenwood Excelons are great units, I had one in my last truck and they were the only double din radios we recommended at our stereo shop before we closed. But for an iPad application, the Sony head unit I mentioned before has a lot to offer that no other head unit does. While you could use pretty much any modern head unit with the iPad, I would expect a much better experience from the Sony unit. Reason being is that Sony has made the App Remote application which allows almost complete control of the head unit and other sources through the iPad, which keeps the interface as fluid as possible. With other head units, I would expect that users would find themselves needing to access the controls on the head unit itself much more frequently, whereas the Sony unit would really be able to remain behind the scenes 99% of the time.

The good news is that Kenwood Excelon units are EXPENSIVE and you can probably sell yours for enough to completely offset the cost of the new head unit, wiring, and dash kit.

 

Likewise, Bryant! I'll keep you and everyone else updated with progress!

 

Thanks man! I definitely miss that old system, but this one is gong to be bigger and better by the time I'm done with it!

 

Interested...but waiting for someone to make a similar android system.

 

I've unfortunately got a single DIN excellon unit, wish I had a double din, I'd just keep using it lol

but that is a lot to think about, now to figure out what I want to do lol

 

Ah, I see. Well, you could always plug your iPhone and iPad into your Kenwood and play around to see what the interface would be like with nothing but the iDevice being accessible. Worst case, you could always swap the head unit out at a later date. Moving your current head unit further back into your dash is pretty easy.

 

I wouldn't want stearing well controls but is there a way of having the I pad run off of the iPhone data kind of like the appradio?

 

Yes. That is how I use mine. You can just setup a mobile hotspot on the iPhone and the iPad will receive a data connection from it. And taking steering wheel controls out of the picture can allow for a wiring harness instead of a radio behind the iPad, as long as you already have aftermarket amplifier(s) for your speakers.

 

Thats how I mounted mine, the ipad its connected to the head unit through bluetooth so I have all the features like steering wheel controls, calls, FM/AM, CD receiver, aux, USB receiver and just get data from my cellphone

 

Looks good! So I'm guessing it's removable from the front, does not charge, and does not allow for hands free calling through your phone?