Considering After Market Radio/Nav replacement

[Maverick494]

Anyone had any experience with anything like https://amz.run/89B3 ? I found this while random ideas were rolling around in my head about what I wanted to change on my Ranger. I have seen the smaller units and I am thinking it might be really nice to have the ability to see the climate controls and the Android auto at the same time.

Thoughts? Alternatives?

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[Dr. Zaius]

I have Android head units in my other vehicles and I really like them.

A few things I will say up front:

1. BUY the extended warranty. I've had several of these and they have ranged from great to absolute crap. The warranty gives you a bit of peace of mind when you're spending this much.

2. ALWAYS set up a separate Google account for the head unit. You DON'T want a Chinese unit to have access to your personal info. Some people buying the cheaper units have had their Google account hacked soon after setting the unit up.

3. DO NOT get a unit with less than 2GB RAM. 4GB is better. Onboard storage isn't really much of a concern if you plan on using it with Android Auto/Carplay since your phone will be handling most if not all of the music and navigation chores. Wireless Carplay is great btw.

The things that you might run into are poor phone quality. Cheaper units have dreadful microphones and you will sound awful to other people. Some units also won't let you adjust the call volume separately from the audio volume.

Poor backup camera quality. Many will include a backup camera and some will let you use the factory camera. The factory camera is almost always better.

I looked and there were several on Amazon. I'm now intrigued as well as I would love one of these in my Ranger.

I like THIS ONE.

Edit: This is the one I had in my Grand Cherokee. It was terrific.

 

[RedDakooter05]

Oh that's actually nice looking.

 

[Frenchy]

If you have a XL Ranger then I can see why you would want to swap the head unit. If you have an XLT or Lariat I don't see the reason as that unit works well and you can have Android Auto and Apple Carplay simply by hooking up the phone. If I were to change it I would go with something like this from 4D tech. https://www.4dtech.com/ranger-2019-4-to-8-touchscreen-conversion-w-sync-3/

Now if you were ok with just a simple GPS I would simply get a Garmin of your choice and have it mounted to the dash tray on the top center.

 

[RangerPNW]

If you have a XL Ranger then I can see why you would want to swap the head unit. If you have an XLT or Lariat I don't see the reason as that unit works well and you can have Android Auto and Apple Carplay simply by hooking up the phone.

Oh I don't know about that... the factory units in the xlt and lariats seem to have plenty of issues that would drive people to go aftermarket depending on how ford addresses the issues.

 

[Frenchy]

Oh I don't know about that... the factory units in the xlt and lariats seem to have plenty of issues that would drive people to go aftermarket depending on how ford addresses the issues.

If you are talking about the General Sync system issues you are not wrong. I know the only issue i had with mine was it wanting to be slow every once in a while and I did not have factory navigation. That said just think how the Chinese aftermarket infotainment center will act..... Might be worse when you get down too it.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

If you have a XL Ranger then I can see why you would want to swap the head unit. If you have an XLT or Lariat I don't see the reason as that unit works well and you can have Android Auto and Apple Carplay simply by hooking up the phone. If I were to change it I would go with something like this from 4D tech. https://www.4dtech.com/ranger-2019-4-to-8-touchscreen-conversion-w-sync-3/

Now if you were ok with just a simple GPS I would simply get a Garmin of your choice and have it mounted to the dash tray on the top center.

At almost $2k, there's no way I'd get that unit instead of the Android head unit.

I've had 6 different full Android units and, other than the Joying piece of flaming excrement, they have ranged from good to great. The one I just installed in my wife's Toyota is full-on awesome, even better than the one I had in my Grand Cherokee.

Even the cheapo Hizpo (~$150. Don't want to spend a lot on a head unit that might get rained on. Like this one already has once) that I currently have in my Wrangler is far nicer and more responsive than the Sync system in my Ranger. Built-in wireless Carplay/Android Auto too.

I just recently replaced a Pioneer NEX head unit in my wife's Toyota with an Android and it is also far better than the Pioneer was.

To be fair, I initially tried a cheaper Android unit in my wife's car and never could get steering wheel controls to work right. I suspected the head unit itself had an issue so I returned it.

I bought a better unit and everything simply plugged in and works, which is saying a lot since her car has the JBL system.

With the Pioneer, I had to buy the Maestro adapter to get it to work with the JBL.

The Android unit came with the JBL wiring harness adapter and everything plugged right in. Steering wheel controls immediately worked perfectly.

The Android unit sounds far better than the factory or Pioneer units did (32 band DSP equalizer) still using the factory JBL speakers.

And with 4GB RAM/8 core CPU it is much, much, MUCH snappier and more responsive than the Sync in my Ranger. Or the Hizpo in my Wrangler, or the Pioneer that was in the Toyota.

 

[Frenchy]

At almost $2k, there's no way I'd get that unit instead of the Android head unit.

I've had 6 different full Android units and, other than the Joying piece of flaming excrement, they have ranged from good to great. The one I just installed in my wife's Toyota is full-on awesome, even better than the one I had in my Grand Cherokee.

Even the cheapo Hizpo (~$150. Don't want to spend a lot on a head unit that might get rained on. Like this one already has once) that I currently have in my Wrangler is far nicer and more responsive than the Sync system in my Ranger. Built-in wireless Carplay/Android Auto too.

I just recently replaced a Pioneer NEX head unit in my wife's Toyota with an Android and it is also far better than the Pioneer was.

To be fair, I initially tried a cheaper Android unit in my wife's car and never could get steering wheel controls to work right. I suspected the head unit itself had an issue so I returned it.

I bought a better unit and everything simply plugged in and works, which is saying a lot since her car has the JBL system.

With the Pioneer, I had to by the Maestro adapter to get it to work with the JBL.

The Android unit came with the JBL wiring harness adapter and everything plugged right in. Steering wheel controls immediately worked perfectly.

The Android unit sounds far better than the factory or Pioneer units did (32 band DSP equalizer) still using the factory JBL speakers.

When talking about the 2019 and up Ford Ranger I would go with a factory unit over and aftermarket unit. I say this because a lot of newer vehicles use the radio for a lot of communication stuff. Of course one would think differently since Ford clearly can't seem to figure out the Sync system. An older vehicle that doesn't rely on communication between all the systems (pre can communication) then I would be ok with it. Just depends on the vehicle

 

[daczone]

Anyone had any experience with anything like https://amz.run/89B3 ? I found this while random ideas were rolling around in my head about what I wanted to change on my Ranger. I have seen the smaller units and I am thinking it might be really nice to have the ability to see the climate controls and the Android auto at the same time.

Thoughts? Alternatives?

I don't have experience with THIS one and have used many of the China made android units. Though not specifically in my Ranger. They looks beautiful but because they are android based pay close attention to boot time. For me this was a deal killer as I hop in my vehicle expecting the backup camera to just WORK and have to wait for the thing to boot up and come alive. My 2nd issue was the sound quality. I could not get quality Bass from the unit I was using... I don't think they are ALL BAD, as I have used several of these over the years. But after changing out my amps and then to realize it was the head unit. I switched to a Kenwood which resolved my camera issue and sound quality. This is in my current Audi TT and not my Ranger.

 

[jflogerzi]

Oh I don't know about that... the factory units in the xlt and lariats seem to have plenty of issues that would drive people to go aftermarket depending on how ford addresses the issues.

Not a single issue with mine. almost 2 years

 

[Frenchy]

Not a single issue with mine. almost 2 years

For the 2 years and 4 months I had mine there were no issues either. I think once or twice I had it run a little slow, but I managed to get by afterwards

 

[jflogerzi]

Anyone had any experience with anything like https://amz.run/89B3 ? I found this while random ideas were rolling around in my head about what I wanted to change on my Ranger. I have seen the smaller units and I am thinking it might be really nice to have the ability to see the climate controls and the Android auto at the same time.

Thoughts? Alternatives?

Also anything but OEM and you wont get Climate stuff. Find a used unit off of ebay or a wrecker/pick a part for the XLT 8 inch OEM.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Many of the aftermarket units can also control climate.

The one I linked controls climate and even has real knobs to control it ?

Not sure if I'm ready to drop $1k to try it out yet though.

Questionable units that are similar are on Aliexpress for $600 or so.

Amazon has easy returns, a BIG selling point in these units.

If Amazon gets one with specs I like for that price, yes, I'll spring for it.

I'm watching the one I linked, hoping it goes on a good sale.

 

[Maverick494]

If you have a XL Ranger then I can see why you would want to swap the head unit. If you have an XLT or Lariat I don't see the reason as that unit works well and you can have Android Auto and Apple Carplay simply by hooking up the phone. If I were to change it I would go with something like this from 4D tech. https://www.4dtech.com/ranger-2019-4-to-8-touchscreen-conversion-w-sync-3/

Now if you were ok with just a simple GPS I would simply get a Garmin of your choice and have it mounted to the dash tray on the top center.

I am not sure where you get the idea that the stock touchscreen units are good. It constantly goes black screen, drop android auto from the AA wireless I have, echoing on voice commands via Android auto, won't automatically update, and I could go on and on with it.

Not sure why I would pay 2 grand for that as opposed to 1250 for the aftermarket setup which would be far better.

 

[Frenchy]

I am not sure where you get the idea that the stock touchscreen units are good. It constantly goes black screen, drop android auto from the AA wireless I have, echoing on voice commands via Android auto, won't automatically update, and I could go on and on with it.

Not sure why I would pay 2 grand for that as opposed to 1250 for the aftermarket setup which would be far better.

I've never had too much issue with my touch screen in the Ranger. Mind you I did use Android Auto and I never had the wireless function either. I think that's something Android Auto took out on purpose so connectivity wouldn't be a problem. That said if you never took a chance to try and go straight to the dealer to have them resolve the issue then that is your problem

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