Aftermarket Head Unit and Speaker Install

[bluetruck]

I wanted to document my audio upgrade in case it helps anyone find the right parts for their install.

Background: I've got a 2020 Ranger XL Crew with the tiny 3" sync unit. My wishlist was Android auto, capacitive touch, maestro compatibility, front and rear camera inputs. I don't like to upgrade the head unit without speakers so I planned for those too.

Parts:
Pioneer DMH-2660NEX
Sound Ordnance™ P-65B (6.5 two ways for rear door)
Sound Ordnance™ P-67CB (6.75 components for front doors/tweeters)
Metra 99-5857B Dash Kit
iDatalink Maestro RR Interface Module
Maestro MFT1 (My ford touch kit)
Metra 72-5602 Speaker Wiring Harness X2
Metra 82-5605 Speaker Mounting Brackets X2
USB 2.0 A Male to USB B Mini 5 Pin Female Adapter/Converter

Install

Im not going to give you the play by play for removing the dash trim and door panels for the install that's well documented by metra, or crutchfield if you buy anything from them.

The only particularly interesting bit of the speaker install would be installing components involves putting the crossover somewhere. I found room on the backside of the actual door panel by folding over the top corner of Ford's white door insulation where they place a sticker, placing the crossover behind it, and folding it back over. I didn't even secure it with anything, let the insulation hold it in place.

Now the head unit install. At the time of writing this Maestro does in fact have firmware for the idatalink for the 19-20 ford ranger. I installed Maestro's windows software/drivers and went through the flashing procedure and was able to find my truck and my pioneer head unit. That was quick and painless. Hooray Maestro.

The wiring harness on the other hand ... Ugh.

First of all I have to thank Casey Collins over on YouTube. I would not have figured this part out without him. So go give him a shout over there.

I started by buying the Maestro Ford F02 harness. It does power on the head unit and give you speakers so I thought I was on the right track but not so much. I actually needed the MFT1 (iDatalink KIT-MFT1). It's $150 which absolutely sucks because I didn't need anything but the harness out of it. Using that harness gave me all the good stuff - backup camera, and OBD2 stuff for guages and whatnot that you buy the idatalink RR for.

Hopefully as more people start to tackle Ranger audio upgrades Maestro will come out with a kit specifically for the Ranger. I really wanted to use the factory 8" sync trim from Ford but it doesn't fit the XL climate controls without modifications. The trim that comes with the MFT1 kit also isn't big enough to fill the gaps around a double din head unit and the sync bezel. You can watch Casey Collins YouTube again for how he made it work but I'm not that talented.

The Metra dash kit seemed kinda cheap and flimsy to me. I really didn't like how the center of the kit that goes around the head unit just clips in. It seemed like it would pop out at any moment. I ended up glueing it in. If someone comes along with another dash kit or figures out an easy way to make the factory 8" sync bezel work I'll be doing that.

At the end of the day everything works, sounds good, and looks good. I kept my factory backup camera, and my factory USB port now works with Android auto. All of the gauges show up on the head unit. It's pretty cool stuff.

Here's the finished product:

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[calistangr]

Sounds and looks like success. I have a question on the speaker adapter mounts .... I checked the metra website and they call for part #82-5604 but another retail I checked said the same as you to use the 82-5605. Did you have any issues when installing your aftermarket speakers?

 

[bluetruck]

Sounds and looks like success. I have a question on the speaker adapter mounts .... I checked the metra website and they call for part #82-5604 but another retail I checked said the same as you to use the 82-5605. Did you have any issues when installing your aftermarket speakers?

Oh man I'm trying my best to remember. I seem to remember needing to do something very minor like screwing the speakers into the plastic because the holes didn't line up exactly or something. I usually go with what crutchfield recommends. Sorry I don't have more detail for you.

 

[Nollie]

Thank you! I hadn't heard of Maestro and was worried I'd be stuck with the stock stereo; glad to see there are options

 

[Cpt.Hawaiian]

How much was the total cost ? I have a car audio place that will do this for $1400 do you think it's worth it?

 

[bluetruck]

It probably cost around 800 but the speakers are pretty cheap. I did everything myself though so I couldn't tell you what someone would charge for an install. I suppose if 1400 included the head unit with all the features you want, nice component speakers, the maestro or some other method of making all the steering wheel controls work that wouldn't be that bad.

 

[FoD]

Oh man I'm trying my best to remember. I seem to remember needing to do something very minor like screwing the speakers into the plastic because the holes didn't line up exactly or something. I usually go with what crutchfield recommends. Sorry I don't have more detail for you.

When I did my speaker install from Crutchfield, the only thing was to clip the inside tabs off their speaker fitment ring for me and I think you could not use speaker covers with front door unless your removed panel moldings - meaning exiting Ford speaker moldings didn't allow enough room to do so.

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