How I Added BlueTooth and Wireless Charging to My Truck

[SerialHobbyist]

Hello everyone! I just finished this project, and I figured it'd make a good first post. Basically, I replaced the tray in the center console with one that has a wireless charger for my phone and a BlueTooth module for playing music. Details are in the article here:

How I Added BlueTooth and Wireless Charging to My Land Cruiser 100 Series

And here are a few photos:

Hopefully you all find this useful, or at least interesting!

 

[hellgate1969]

Nice I like what you’ve done

 

[pjess50]

Nice! I didn't even know there was stuff like this available. I'm not an electronics guy but this would be cool

 

[hundyHAM]

Cool stuff. Is that 3d printed?

 

[hatchethead]

Nice work. I like the concept and I like the write-up. I just bought a 100-series, and the ancient technology of the stereo is one of the biggest problems for me and my family. Your approach solves that problem for much less than replacement. Just placed an order for the BT unit and cassette adapter. Thanks!

 

[Juanblzer]

Which cassette adapter did you use

 

[Juanblzer]

ever thought about selling this? I'd buy one!

and
can this work instead of the unprotected DROk unit you used? https://www.amazon.com/DROK-Amplifi...rd_wg=JFqek&psc=1&refRID=9XEFPQ21SY8RMANS2VKV

 

[hatchethead]

ever thought about selling this? I'd buy one!

and
can this work instead of the unprotected DROk unit you used? https://www.amazon.com/DROK-Amplifi...rd_wg=JFqek&psc=1&refRID=9XEFPQ21SY8RMANS2VKV

That looks different. It has an amp and requires more power. Also it’s not clear if it can act as a bridge to the AUX in on the stereo.

 

[corboto]

Wow, great project! Did you consider trying a bluetooth cassette adapter? I'm thinking about adding one to my rig. ION Cassette Adapter

 

[hatchethead]

Wow, great project! Did you consider trying a bluetooth cassette adapter? I'm thinking about adding one to my rig. ION Cassette Adapter

Nice find. I like @SerialHobbyist's build because the BT unit draws power continually from the car and the cassette adapter effectively allows an AUX input to the stereo, too. Dual function. The Ion Cassette Adapter for BT needs to be charged periodically, and it does not provide an AUX connection to the stereo. So it doesn't meet my needs. But I bet it's the perfect solution to others' needs.

 

[SerialHobbyist]

Cool stuff. Is that 3d printed?

The yellow bits are 3D printed, the big black frame is laser cut acrylic

Nice work. I like the concept and I like the write-up. I just bought a 100-series, and the ancient technology of the stereo is one of the biggest problems for me and my family. Your approach solves that problem for much less than replacement. Just placed an order for the BT unit and cassette adapter. Thanks!

Awesome, glad it helped!

ever thought about selling this? I'd buy one!

and
can this work instead of the unprotected DROk unit you used? https://www.amazon.com/DROK-Amplifi...rd_wg=JFqek&psc=1&refRID=9XEFPQ21SY8RMANS2VKV

I might consider it! The parts really aren't that expensive, but the 3D printed parts take a while, so I'm not sure about how much I'd have to charge. Also, I'd have to come up with a way to make it so the cradle works with different phones and cases.

As someone else pointed out, that is a powered amplifier model. Aside from needing a more substantial power source, it's just not necessary to have that kind of output. Though it might work well if you tapped into the CD changer connection, which is pre-amplified (so too quiet for regular aux input). Might be worth investigating! If you have the nav stereo, I can tell you which wires are the input from the CD changer.

Which cassette adapter did you use

Honestly, I have no idea. I just had it laying around in my box o' parts. Any of them should work though!

Nice find. I like @SerialHobbyist's build because the BT unit draws power continually from the car and the cassette adapter effectively allows an AUX input to the stereo, too. Dual function. The Ion Cassette Adapter for BT needs to be charged periodically, and it does not provide an AUX connection to the stereo. So it doesn't meet my needs. But I bet it's the perfect solution to others' needs.

Yup. I actually didn't even realize devices like that existed, but I think dealing with charging would be a deal breaker for me.

 

[SerialHobbyist]

ever thought about selling this? I'd buy one!

Gave it a few minutes more thought, and if people were interested the best way to do it would be to sell a kit that includes everything except the phone cradle. Then people could order the 3D printed cradle from a service like Shapeways, so that I'm not spending all my time flipping parts on my 3D printer, haha. I could provide the STL files to fit people's individual phones (I'd just need to resize my original design).

But, to make it worth the time/effort, I think I'd have to charge something like $75 (parts would cost me about $55) for the kit, and then ordering the 3D printed parts from Shapeways would probably run you about $20-25.

So, figure somewhere around $100 for everything you need. If that's something you guys would be interested in, let me know!

 

[vj95]

I guess I'm thick between tears, but I don't understand how the BT module pairs to the Cruiser head unit.

 

[SerialHobbyist]

I guess I'm thick between tears, but I don't understand how the BT module pairs to the Cruiser head unit.

With one of these things:

The audio quality isn't amazing, but it's cheap and easy. I would have preferred to solder into the stereo somewhere, but couldn't find a good input that wasn't supposed to be pre-amplified. I might still end up doing that if I can find a good connection, mostly because I don't like the look of a wire running out of the tape deck.

 

[SHIfTHEAD]

I got tired of the bluetooth FM adapter I had because it would eventually suffer from interference as you drive. I liked the way the cassette adapter sounded but hated the wire. So I combined some parts and now have Bluetooth in the truck with great sound all the time.

I used the cassette adapter from Sony (https://goo.gl/vvkGT9)

A bluetooth adapter for AUX input (https://goo.gl/2fFAwq)

And a 3.5mm adapter (https://goo.gl/tKzoFb)

Then tuck all the extra wire and adapter into the faux ashtray in front of the gear shifter and play some tunes. Sounds great, always there when you start the truck and never has any interference.

 

[SerialHobbyist]

I got tired of the bluetooth FM adapter I had because it would eventually suffer from interference as you drive. I liked the way the cassette adapter sounded but hated the wire. So I combined some parts and now have Bluetooth in the truck with great sound all the time.

I used the cassette adapter from Sony (https://goo.gl/vvkGT9)

Nice! Probably a less expensive solution for those of you who don't want wireless charging (not to mention you don't have to worry about custom made parts)

 

[hatchethead]

Then tuck all the extra wire and adapter into the faux ashtray in front of the gear shifter and play some tunes. Sounds great, always there when you start the truck and never has any interference.

I do the same thing. Works great!

 

[ADEEL]

Thanks for the feedback friends.