Howdy fellas. Well I got stationed in cali, and i'm going to treat myself before I leave in september to a new head unit. I will be upgrading the whole system eventually (speakers, maybe 2 8" or something to give a little more kick) and am looking for a double din head unit. It has to have Nav. (not requiring a CD to operate with) and the ability to plug a primary iPod into it (in the back wiring through the glove box). thats about all it requires...all the extra other stuff doesn't really matter, don't need touch screen (if I can get it don't mind that either lol) but I need help, I don't know squat about head units, but would like to start it with a nice one. Thanks for your help!!
~Phil
"Semper Fi"

 

Oh yeah, needs to be Sirius, or XM ready (eventually as well) and nav must be good. DVD capability is a whatever, I don't plan on watching DVD's while i drive or just sit there so doesn't really matter.
~Phil
"Semper Fi"

 

Pioneer Avic F900B
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1209774346683

or the Kenwood DNX5120
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1207352154437

The avic has some KILLER voice recognition features (very similar to Ford's Sync system). The Nav on the Pioneers is now built in vs. pioneers old DVD system. The kenwoods biggest upside....Garmin Nav. Let me know if theres anything else I can answer for you

 

Outstanding! Thank you very much sir! I like the Kenwood, but no longer like Garmin. They have lost all my trust with their new update, in fact I am currently on hold with them trying to get my money back for the new street update, total garbage. I really like the Pioneer. How hard would the install be to do myself?
~Phil
"Semper Fi"

 

I installed my Pioneer AVIC D3 myself with a little guidence from a stereo shop. The hardest but not too hard part was cutting out the dash behind the bezel so the Double din will fit the hole. cut a little at a time and trial fit and not bad. Get the install kit for your truck before hand with the wiring harness that plugs into your existing one. Makes it easy. I ran wiring for my backup camera too. If you get the Pioneer I sugest you do the DVD bypass to it before hand so you can program Nav and watch DVD's while in motion. Also, lots of Great help at www.AVIC411.com.

 

In our year trucks, it can be a PITA to mount a double din. There are some pieces behind the dash that need to get cut out to make the double din fit. This is the reason i went with a flip out screen.

What happened with your garmin? Aside from a bad shipment of nuvi 200 and 200w's, i never had a problem with a garmin in the 2 years ive been in the industry.

 

The Garmin's had an issue with their new 2009 update, which is all based off of a different company now (one of their owners) when I made mention of that to the lady at Garmin and told her the navigation is no longer as quick, it will loose routes, and I still don't have some of the major roads (I 17). WHen I told her I was having trouble with roads around Camp Lejeune, she said "well sir camp lejeune does not show street names" i told her I understood...but she got even more rude, asked to speak with her manager, she started to transfer me, and I lost the call I just wanted to relay to her manager how rude and pompous she was. Long story short, even my dad who has been a garmin man tried and true is upset with the new update. Not as great as previous models.
~Phil
"Semper Fi"

P.S. How much cutting are we speaking about as far as the double din install goes? Is it difficult cutting around wires etc?

 

Theres not a whole lot in the way of wires behind the radio. In mine, it was just the 2 radio harnesses and the antenna. If you pull your radio, you can see a metal bracket in the top-back of the cavity. You'll also notice that your radio is taller towards the face then it is in the back. Aftermarket double dins are as thick at the face as they are at the back.

 

Go with the Kenwood DDX812, deck is sick take a look at my profile I got a pic on it.

 

Just bought this unit, can't wait to install it.

 

hope you enjoy it as much as i do.

 

I just installed the JVC KW-NX7000 for $950. It does everything, nav, dvd, sat. radio, h.d. radio, bluetooth and so on. Really impressive unit. Will post pics once I fix the photo program on my comp. Gettin a rearview cam on Sat.