Hello everyone and thanks in advance for any input on an upgrade. I have a 2011 1500 Big Horn. The only thing I'm "less than impressed" with is the 130 media center stereo. It's ok for an entry level radio but I would like more. I'm looking to upgrade to a touch screen Nav unit with a rear camera. With all of the free phone apps for music, the Serius Radio is not that important. I do have it now but I don't use it that much. My options are to have the dealer install a factory 430N unit or venture into the land of aftermarket. Im looking for something that is "Iphone friendly", has Nav, can accept a backup camera and is compatible with the steering wheel controls. Has anyone done a similar upgrade? And if so, what did you do. Also, if you don't mind me asking, what was the approximate cost. Again, thanks for your input.

 

I`m sure this isnt much help to you,
but if you should decide to go with aftermarket (which i highly disagree with) make sure the installer DOES NOT CUT OR SPLICE ANY WIRES, or you will end up with nightmares you thought never existed. At least if you go with the stock OEM, it wont have any issues later on that you WILL regret. No, the OEM dosent have ALL the bells an whistles that the aftermarketers try to sell you on, but the OEM nav system is pretty dam good. (my choice of OEM would be the alpine system that is in the Laramie trucks) I like OEM because you KNOW it will work with your truck without issues. Whatever you decide to choose, do your homework. Measure twice, cut once.

Good Luck..!

 

My opinion. AFTERMARKET! I have the 730N and its an alright unit, but going to this from an aftermarket unit sucks.

I had a Kenwood DNX6960 or something like that. It did, well...EVERTHING! It is one of the nicer ones out there, you can go cheaper but its all in what you want. This unit that I had was equipped with parrot bluetooth (best of hands free!), and fully capable of everything. With these decks you usually have to buy an "adapter" to make the function work. I had to get a sirius adapter, and the steering wheel control adapter. Both of them were 80 bucks total, or somewhere around there. I liked this one because it still had the volume ****, most of the decks out there don't, its all touch + or -. It had a built in GPS, I think it was Garmin but it was very good! I could have added a rear view camera in but didn't. You also have a full manual EQ, something you don't get with OEM. If you ever plan on doing an aftermarket sound, or subs there is no issues! It has many preouts, RCA outs, and ins I believe. Its just an all around very good unit.

The only thing that might raise some concerns IMO is installation. I did have to fabricate the bezel to make mine fit, this was on my 07 going from the cheap deck. I could not tell you if you have to do it on your new ram, but check into that! You will have to buy another adapter to go from your factory harness to your new deck. I'm not just talking wire adapter either, it will be an electronic module that will sync with your trucks computer. This WILL be needed, the deck is tied in with the system. I don't know if you plan on doing it yourself, but I know I wouldn't. I know I could do it easily but because of warranty and computer issues I don't dare to touch it. Take it to a licenced installer, that way if something goes wrong they MUST cover it. (make sure it is in writing somewhere to make sure!) IF they don't cover it then don't take it to them.

Going OEM is probably your safer option, but you will get less options. I also don't think its as easy as taking the old one out and putting the new one in. The dealer will most likely have to reprogram the new one, which could get pricey. I know that here they charge 75 bucks just to read the truck let alone reprogram. Also im pretty sure the labor rates at the dealership are going to be much larger then your average interior specialist.

With the proper people doing the job, both options should work just fine without issues. It all depends on how much money you are willing to spend and what options you want.

Hope this kinda helps...

 

[quote=LU229;2693033]No, the OEM dosent have ALL the bells an whistles that the aftermarketers try to sell you on, but the OEM nav system is pretty dam good. (my choice of OEM would be the alpine system that is in the Laramie trucks) I like OEM because you KNOW it will work with your truck without issues. [quote]

Yes, the OEM works and you don't have to rip your new truck apart to install it.

And it has a THREE BAND graphic equalizer!

(Wow)

 

Go aftermarket. Get the proper adapters so you don't have to splice wires and you'll get a more capable system.


PAC C2R-CHY4
PAC SWI-RC
Audiovox CMOS2 5
Pioneer AVIC-Z130BT_
Scosche CR1291B / CR1291
Scosche VWA3 / VWA3B

Here's what I ordered. It came to about $1300 ish. I'm really happy with my system. I had the Alpine system was was not happy with it. (because no nav mainly) Here's a pic. I have a install thread if you want I can repost here.

 

OEM has a hard drive. i don't know which aftermarket have that. not saying it doesn't exist because i never really have looked seems how i am happy with the laramie alpine setup. hard drive trumps all options imo.

 

Hardly! If you haven't noticed they say 30 GB. But in fact if you have the 730n you really only have 12GB of space, all the rest is taken by system files. You can stream from a hard drive but many functions are not available. Random artist or album/song of that artist, and many others...All of these functions are available from most most drives. In my old kenwood I had no hard drive, BUT I had a 120GB Westurn digital in the glovebox and it acted pretty much like a built in drive. Worked much better then the built in.

I however am a guy that listens to music by artists and not songs. I will listen to an artist then switch so I need lots of space. I don't want to have to be transferring files back and forth whenever I change artists. To those who have a playlist and a list of songs it might be alright, but still...

 

[QUOTE]"Im looking for something that is "Iphone friendly", has Nav, can accept a backup camera and is compatible with the steering wheel controls."[QUOTE]

Compatible w/steering wheel controls i think would be the key issue w/aftermarket. Maybe you hi-tech guru`s (NATE769) should look a little more deeper into what the OP is asking. I dont see anywhere in the thread(s) that says your hi-tech "aftermarket spaceship radio`s" are compatible with the steering wheel controls. If so, why dont you add a video in here to show off said spaceship radio`s to show the OP. Also you guys should post some links to these radios in here so the OP can check out what they offer on their websites, as that would keep the "yeah it does this and yeah it does that" scenario out of question.

 

[QUOTE=LU229;2694318][QUOTE]"Im looking for something that is "Iphone friendly", has Nav, can accept a backup camera and is compatible with the steering wheel controls."http://www.kenwood.ca/Car_Entertainm...utions/DNX6980

This is higher model then mine, but understand that my model was 3 years old.

If you look right on the top of the page at all the icons, there is everything its equipped with. Also under accessories you can see the optional adapters for sirius, rear view camera, etc.
With my radio I needed an optional adapter for the steering wheel controls, I don't see one listed here so maybe this one has built in, which in that case everything will be controlled by the factory to kenwood module.

This is the only issue you will be faced with going aftermarket. Because each vehicle has their own different computers and own different programming. For aftermarket manufactures it would be nearly impossible to create a deck thats plug and play. This is why there are "3rd party" people who make simple plug and play adapters to make things work seamlessly.

Also understanding that these trucks are all electronic now its easier to pay a guy to install it. Again you keep your warranty, and this installer will know which 3rd party hardware to use with your truck.

 

[QUOTE=LU229;2694318][QUOTE]"Im looking for something that is "Iphone friendly", has Nav, can accept a backup camera and is compatible with the steering wheel controls."Mine operates by the steering wheel controls. The SWI-RC takes care of that. I don't have a hard drive but I can run music off a sd card or flash drive or I phone or stream via bluetooth from my android phone, listen to pandora radio as well as receive traffic info, twitter and facebook updates via my head unit. The oem isn't even in the ballpark.

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Car/GPS-Navigation/AVIC-Z130BT