Ok,
I finally got it done today, what a pain in the ***! Hopefully i can share some thing that i have learned during this process :-)
first things first....

1) i used the pac-audio connector i forget the model number but was necessary for RAP, remote amp turn on, and who knows what else.
I learned that if you have this installed and attach the "reverse gear" wire and have the park assist feature - it will break your truck!
everthing was fine for about a day, but as soon as i started backing up and the park assist alarm went off, then the radio went off, as well as all my guages wend out as well as pretty much everything else elctrical. i could still drive mind you....oh and my wipers went on and i couldn't shut them off. all of this was followed by a message to service park assist...so i pulled the radio, put the stock one back, checked all of the fuses and even disconnected the battery for about 15 minutes...nothing. calling 2 dodge dealerships, nobody had ever heard of the problem. a few hours later, i get in, to bring it to the dealership, and everthing is back to normal....so i go ahead and put everything back in minus the reverse sense wire....

2) bring a dremel and tin snips, anda few cutting bits....and anything else that you can think of. I saw someone on here say that only the plastic needed to be trimmed, but i had to trim the metal plate behind it to. and that was no treat at all.

3) there are 3 connectors in the back of the stock radio, i only needed to use one and it only had a few wires....the others....sirius??

so those are my two horor stories, otherwise everything else went ok.
The pioneer unit has really improved the sound quality from the alpine system, and has really brought out the bass from the sub, it does however really show the limitations of the system, but it is still much better than it was.

I routed the ipod cable through the light hole in the top glove box, and droped the USB connector into the bottom one in case i ever want to put a USB drive in there or something.

The microphone is currently wedged in the vent, which seems to have worked out pretty well so far.

I sent the wire for the GPS antenna along the windshield and into the speaker plate and then down into the dash.

I may add a backup cam later, but for now i am done....

pics to follow soon...

 

pics. please.

 

what would you say is the best way to remove the faceplate (bezel) without damage? i know there's two screws on the top, haven't seen any others. How clean is the cut for the plastic faceplate?
thx

 

Jason, there are 2 screws on the top, and you have to remove the plastic plate that the screws go through. I also had to remove the bezel around the inverter plug and there was a screw there. the clips that hold it are pretty tight, so you really have to give it a firm pull




Here is a photo of the harnesses and antennas. the leftmost harness is the one i used, the middle gray one and large white one are just hanging now....everthing seems A-OK though

 

Here is a quick test fit....i shaved a lot of metal and plastic and it still doesn't quite fit 100%

 

and here is the final fit....i'm pretty happy with it!

 

here is the GPS antenna on the dash, i placed it over a removable plate that hides a bolt to (i assume) remove the dash pad

 

here is the ipod cable routed through a hole in the upper glove box that is used for the light in there

 

i left a small loop in the lower glove box so i can access the USB connector if needed

 

nice. very nice.