Show Off Your Wagon Audio (7 Viewers)

[overton]

The OEM AM/FM Cassette deck gave up the ghost in my 88 FJ62 so I broke down and put in a Pioneer deck today. It's been a while since I bought car audio units and all I can say is wow you sure get a lot of bells and whistles for a little bit of money. This dual din bad boy Pioneer has AM FM CD iPod Bluetooth & looks like a freaking spaceship for $250 bucks installed. Makes driving this thing a lot more fun with hands free phone too.

 

[Spook50]

My older Clarion unit. I think it was an '07 model. Whichever year just before they started selling to big name retailers and their quality as high end units took a dive. The iPod and cellphone cradle bracket is still there, but I'm going to fab a different one at one point with a cradle for my Galaxy S3 phone that can be swapped out with a tablet cradle once I can afford one. With a big Clarion 4 channel amp and JL Evolution series speakers (and a buttload of Dynamat) it sounds AWESOME. Especially for one of these old trucks. Easily spanked the Infinity system in my dad's later model Grand Cherokee.

 

[KellyW]

Crazy! I just installed that deck in my fj62 today as well. I also installed some cheapo kenwoods (31 bucks) in the rear and it really sounds good even with stock front speakers

 

[gregnash]

Mine, JVC KDX50BT (was $80 at the time and I installed with the help of a buddy) has just about everything I wanted and then some. Sounds great, super customizable, only thing I don't like after months of owning it is that it takes about 30-45 seconds for the bluetooth to sync (our 2011 4Runner is within seconds of the car turning on). Other than that, LOVE this deck. Currently coupled with Rockford Fosgate Punch 6.5" in the doors and Rockford Fosgate 6x9" in the rear panels. Definitely can thump when I want it to.


Untitled by renofizz, on Flickr

 

[thewall151]

Doesn't it stink when the head unit and speakers are worth more then the cruiser !!!

 

[wardharris]

It took a couple of tries, but finally got it right.

The previous audio gear was a Pioneer "mechless" head unit that integrated with iPhone/Android phones. Lots cheaper since most of the work is done by the phone. It worked ok, but no streaming Pandora - it was necessary to hook up HDMI cable.

The wagon is my daily driver and I spend a lot of time in it - getting in/getting out, etc. including down time waiting for ferries, planes or sitting on the boat. The cable thing for Pandora was a pain, so I swapped it out for this Alpine nav unit. Fast Bluetooth connection, HD radio, excellent phone support, realtime traffic info and Bluetooth streaming for Pandora (see photo). I could have gone with the Alpine version of the "dumb" head unit and had streaming Pandora, but I got a good deal. See Alpine units INE-W927HD (full nav unit) and ICS-X7HD (mechless phone front end).

Also have some RAM mounts for tablet, phone and HAM. Samsung Tab shown below - the articulated arm can reposition the tab holder over a broad area, so you can see the radio, etc.

Here's how I currently use the set-up:

• Street navigation, services, etc.
• Cabled iPod for music and audio books downloaded via iTunes
• BT for Android phone audio books downloaded via Audible (Amazon), Google Play, etc.
• BT for Android phone music streaming via Pandora, Google Play, Amazon, etc.
• BT for hands free Android phone
• CD for audio books (I still have a bunch in library)
• Tablet for movies, email, street nav (back-up to head unit and Android phone)

Future use includes offroad nav, HAM integration (my handheld has BT module), etc.

 

[r71]

It took a couple of tries, but finally got it right.

The previous audio gear was a Pioneer "mechless" head unit that integrated with iPhone/Android phones. Lots cheaper since most of the work is done by the phone. It worked ok, but no streaming Pandora - it was necessary to hook up HDMI cable.

The wagon is my daily driver and I spend a lot of time in it - getting in/getting out, etc. including down time waiting for ferries, planes or sitting on the boat. The cable thing for Pandora was a pain, so I swapped it out for this Alpine nav unit. Fast Bluetooth connection, HD radio, excellent phone support, realtime traffic info and Bluetooth streaming for Pandora (see photo). I could have gone with the Alpine version of the "dumb" head unit and had streaming Pandora, but I got a good deal. See Alpine units INE-W927HD (full nav unit) and ICS-X7HD (mechless phone front end).

Also have some RAM mounts for tablet, phone and HAM. Samsung Tab shown below - the articulated arm can reposition the tab holder over a broad area, so you can see the radio, etc.

Here's how I currently use the set-up:

• Street navigation, services, etc.
• Cabled iPod for music and audio books downloaded via iTunes
• BT for Android phone audio books downloaded via Audible (Amazon), Google Play, etc.
• BT for Android phone music streaming via Pandora, Google Play, Amazon, etc.
• BT for hands free Android phone
• CD for audio books (I still have a bunch in library)
• Tablet for movies, email, street nav (back-up to head unit and Android phone)

Future use includes offroad nav, HAM integration (my handheld has BT module), etc.

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What is that shifter????

 

[dbbowen]

Kind of a weird pic because i have my interior out and pulled the carpet and a bunch of wires but Ive got this pioneer head unit that works sometimes. Sometimes its slow, and the bluetooth range on it is like 3 feet

 

[DrRock]

Blaupunkt Frankfurt reissue with USB input and other modern amenities. Wanted a period correct update. Sounds great! Added bonus I can change the backlighting to match the truck. Ended up staying with the green.

 

[majdomo]

Blaupunkt Frankfurt reissue with USB input and other modern amenities. Wanted a period correct update. Sounds great! Added bonus I can change the backlighting to match the truck. Ended up staying with the green.

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Looks good! What did you use to adapt it to the single DIN and attach to the studs in the dash?

 

[DrRock]

Looks good! What did you use to adapt it to the single DIN and attach to the studs in the dash?

Torfab makes a nice bracket with the surround that you see to adapt to the DIN size.

Torfab 60 Series Radio Brackets » Torfab » The NW destination for Everything Land Cruisers parts and service, including complete one-off custom built Cruisers, maintenance, suspension, and expedition builds

The NW destination for Everything Land Cruisers parts and service, including complete one-off custom built Cruisers, maintenance, suspension, and expedition builds

torfab.com

 

[majdomo]

Perfect, thanks. I was trying to figure between Torfab's version and the one from Cruiserhead. Both look cool.

 

[DrRock]

FYI the Torfab one requires dash removal. Not sure if the other one cruiserhead one requires that too.

 

[majdomo]

FYI the Torfab one requires dash removal. Not sure if the other one cruiserhead one requires that too.

Well that makes more sense. I was trying to figure out how to attach the HU to the bracket and it seemed difficult if not impossible without pulling the whole dash. The Cruiserhead one uses a DIN sleeve. I'm looking at non-mech head units, which are really light and don't put as much strain on the plastic.

 

[cruiser86]

Blaupunkt Frankfurt reissue with USB input and other modern amenities. Wanted a period correct update. Sounds great! Added bonus I can change the backlighting to match the truck. Ended up staying with the green.

I have the Blaupunkt Hamburg sqm 23 dab at home ready to go in.
Super cool stuff from Blaupunkt, will share a picture once done.
Just need to find a power source as the plug dangling behind the hole in the dash doesn't have one

 

[cruiser86]

Put the radio in yesterday, found a switched 24v in a loose plug somewhere under the dash.
Decided to make for a neat installation it work within the timeframe that i had.
Used a Victron transformer to step down to 12v. and some Wago connectors to connect to the existing speaker wires and ISO radio plugs.
Had the Cruiserhead din converter ordered a long time ago, install was easy enough but needed the spacers that where supplied with the kit.

Previous owner used self tapping wood screws to butcher in a din sleeve which still shows a bit.
Luckily i'm not into concours condition cars
Radio itself is very neat, colour change and colour shade of the top display is possible. The rest stays amber.
I used the bluetooth only (non of the 3 non-original antenna's is hooked up) and this works great.
Picks up automatically once i put the stereo back on. Radio is super lightwheight and a bit shorter than the normal radio's.

 

[DrRock]

Put the radio in yesterday, found a switched 24v in a loose plug somewhere under the dash.
Decided to make for a neat installation it work within the timeframe that i had.
Used a Victron transformer to step down to 12v. and some Wago connectors to connect to the existing speaker wires and ISO radio plugs.
Had the Cruiserhead din converter ordered a long time ago, install was easy enough but needed the spacers that where supplied with the kit.

View attachment 3959497

View attachment 3959498

View attachment 3959499

Previous owner used self tapping wood screws to butcher in a din sleeve which still shows a bit.
Luckily i'm not into concours condition cars
Radio itself is very neat, colour change and colour shade of the top display is possible. The rest stays amber.
I used the bluetooth only (non of the 3 non-original antenna's is hooked up) and this works great.
Picks up automatically once i put the stereo back on. Radio is super lightwheight and a bit shorter than the normal radio's.

Looks mint!! I will say setup was easy once one reads the 500 page users manual….. Germans…. I can joke about this as I work for a German company and love the attention to detail.

 

[87CRUSR]

Alpine Halo9 iLX-F309 with anAlpine amp parked under drivers seat.
Front door speakers and 6x9s in the cargo panels.

 

[87CRUSR]

Amp