Well, a few months ago I found a radio that I really like. The Pioneer AVIC-D3. It does everything I want it to do and at a good price. The only set back was that it was a double din radio. I will never understand why Dodge decided to go away from the aftermarket norm of single or double din. After being told over and over again that it wouldnt fit, or that if I made it fit it wouldnt look good, I decided to go for it anyway. It took 2 days of cutting and hacking and molding the trim bezel. But it finaly fits, and I would highly recomend anybody thinking about doing it to go for it. As you can see by the picttures the only thing I lost was the ashtray and cigarrette lighter. I intend on moving the cigarrette lighter to another location, so I will only have lost the ashtray wich I never use anyway. So I think its a fair trade off. I just wish that I had been able to find pictures of sombody else that had done it before, then I would have done it a long time ago.

[IMG]local://upfiles/49445/FBA49DD9EFE44B79AC6DEAE98246B1C3.jpg[/IMG]

 

that looks real goodman , that pionner is the one that has the GPS built in right?

 

Yes it does. It also has the XM nav traffic and you can control an ipod remotely with it. You can see all the specs on it here; http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pn...264980,00.html

 

I jsut read my original post and realized that I didnt give props to the installers. I am currently in Iraq so this was installed by Car Toys on Mississippi and 225 in Aurora Colorado. I havnt see oit in person yet, but from the pictures I think they did a hell of a job. I would recomend them to anybody.

 

I put a regular size pioneer in mine but it gets hot and shuts down from the heat in the dash.Maybe your installers could help me out with this one.

 

I believe the unit I have comes with a fan in the back, like a computer does. So its not really an issue with mine. I do know that you can go to any electronics or computer store and buy a computer fan and mount it at the back of the radio, iether to the dash blowing across the radio or up against one of the air vents on the radio. I would make sure i used a 12V fan though. Just an idea, hope that helps.

 

Ok so I wouldn't have to have the air coming from outside the dash as long as it had air movement across the heat sync?I can pop the cup holder out and throw a fan in there pretty easy.

 

Thats what I would try before I did anything else. It would only cost a couple dollars and you can do it yourself. You would be suprised how much just the airflow would make a difference. What worries me the most is that what is so different about the amount of heat in the dash that is effecting the new raadio and it didnt effect the old one. I have read posts on heating issues before, and it seems to go away when they replace the radio with another one. You might be the unfortunate owner of a radio that was made on a monday, or is defective in one way or another. They are designed to work in the environment that is is in. And if it doesnt then there is an issue. That is if I was atatched to that radio anyway. Personaly I think double din is the way to go. If you hang on to the truck for another few years the single din radio will become what the tape deck is today. (obsolete) Just my 2 cents worth.

 

Nice job on the radio.

 

n1rigger9
Your double din installation shows a lot of hard work and attention to detail that is very admirable!

Looking forward to posts on any other projects you tackle.

If the 'rigger' in your id means you work in cranes and heavy lifting
that is also a demanding profession.