iPad Mini In Dash?

[jangoforhire]

So I'm thinking about doing some interior work on my truck. I'm not annoyed enough with the stock navigation unit to swap it out with an aftermarket solution. I've had enough experience with them to know they're plagued by their own little annoyances and most of the time don't look as stock as I'd like them too. Also id lose the real time gas mileage info and maybe steering wheel controls (depending on the unit I chose).

So I'm thinking about getting a local audio shop to do some fiberglass work and put an iPad mini in my dash. This would allow me to have a great interface for music, navigation, plus OBDII integration. Ideally I'd want this to work WITH the factory head unit. (Just have the music play through Bluetooth to the factory head unit). But after playing with it in the car, there isn't really a better place to put the iPad than where the factory head unit is now. I've thrown around the idea of putting it below the navigation (moving the air controls), or even installing it in the center console lid.

If i take the factory head unit out, I will have to somehow connect the iPad to the factory amp and I'd also lose hands free calling. I want to keep steering wheel controls and hands free calling. So the easy way to get both of those would be to leave the factory head unit Installed.

Anyone ever thought of doing this before? I know there are tons of videos online about people doing this, including the one in the Tacoma. I also know about the RAM mounts, but I'd prefer a cleaner, more permanent install.

I've contacted a few local shops but this is still in the idea stage.

 

[H2O_Doc]

I assume you've seen the iPad mini Camery Install on YouTube?

Mountek makes a iPhone mount that installs into the CD slot (which I never use). I was thinking about seeing if that could be adapted for the iPad mini.

In my opinion, the smart phone/tablet apps are so much better than most head units that it would be worthwhile to me. I use Waze or Navigon for navigation; Mog (320 Kbps), Pandora, and TuneIn for music; and then there are all the other car and travel relevant Apps. Siri is actually useful through the steering wheel controls.

 

[DannyLlama]

That sounds good on paper, but I would be scared of the GPS reliability in remote areas. I would imagine in-dash units are more reliable with stored in-dash maps + GPS chip.

 

[Intruder]

I run a RAM mount for my Nexus 7. Thought about doing something in-dash, but honestly, these devices don't last forever and your truck will definitely outlast your iPad. Apple changes things like form factor and connectors so I'd just be worried that when your iPad dies and you have to replace it that the new one won't quite fit. You could also be like me and decide to ditch Apple entirely and move to Android, which will also have a different size, form factor, and connector. At the same time though, I only use my Nexus 7 for GPS on trails since it's wifi only and I use my phone for turn by turn navigation and everything else with a windshield RAM mount.

That sounds good on paper, but I would be scared of the GPS reliability in remote areas. I would imagine in-dash units are more reliable with stored in-dash maps + GPS chip.

I only use my tablet for GPS in remote areas and it works fine. You just need to use an app that allows you to cache offline maps if you're going to be somewhere with no data signal. Google maps on Android allows you to cache maps, so you could cache your entire route on a long trip beforehand.

 

[jangoforhire]

I assume you've seen the iPad mini Camery Install on YouTube?

Mountek makes a iPhone mount that installs into the CD slot (which I never use). I was thinking about seeing if that could be adapted for the iPad mini.

In my opinion, the smart phone/tablet apps are so much better than most head units that it would be worthwhile to me. I use Waze or Navigon for navigation; Mog (320 Kbps), Pandora, and TuneIn for music; and then there are all the other car and travel relevant Apps. Siri is actually useful through the steering wheel controls.

I have seen the Camry install. And yes I completely agree, the apps is one of the big reasons to use the iPad as a head unit. It's head and shoulders above normal head units made for your car.

That sounds good on paper, but I would be scared of the GPS reliability in remote areas. I would imagine in-dash units are more reliable with stored in-dash maps + GPS chip.

I generally use my phone for navigation instead of the in car gps and haven't had any problems yet. Plus the model with built in LTE has it's own GPS. And some navigation apps allow you to download maps for offline use.


Also two more perks I just thought of while researching this. Verizon gives you the hotspot feature free when you add it to a data share plan (which I have now) so I could also have a wifi hotspot in my car for passengers.

Also with the wifi sync in iOS6 you would never have to take it out of the car to sync. Just pull up to your house and connect to home network. Then Sync from inside. Easy as pie.

 

[jangoforhire]

I run a RAM mount for my Nexus 7. Thought about doing something in-dash, but honestly, these devices don't last forever and your truck will definitely outlast your iPad. Apple changes things like form factor and connectors so I'd just be worried that when your iPad dies and you have to replace it that the new one won't quite fit. You could also be like me and decide to ditch Apple entirely and move to Android, which will also have a different size, form factor, and connector. At the same time though, I only use my Nexus 7 for GPS on trails since it's wifi only and I use my phone for turn by turn navigation and everything else with a windshield RAM mount.



I only use my tablet for GPS in remote areas and it works fine. You just need to use an app that allows you to cache offline maps if you're going to be somewhere with no data signal. Google maps on Android allows you to cache maps, so you could cache your entire route on a long trip beforehand.

I'm not to worried about replacing it, the iPad mini has more than enough features to hold me over for a while. Plus they just switched connectors so it should be a while before a new one comes out.

I thought about android as well. I had a galaxy tab 2 7.0 for a while with the intention of putting it in the car, but other things came up (icon lift) and I returned it. I don't have a problem with android ( I use a galaxy note 10.1 in college for notes and textbooks) but I'm so invested in the apple ecosystem and I really love their products that I don't see the need to change. Android is definitely head and shoulders above where it used to be when I had the original Verizon droid. But apple devices are just my preference.

 

[H2O_Doc]

That sounds good on paper, but I would be scared of the GPS reliability in remote areas. I would imagine in-dash units are more reliable with stored in-dash maps + GPS chip.

Navigon has stored maps and you can select, if you want, only the States you use. I think others are similar. I think the iPad mini gets the GPS chip if you get the Wifi + cellular version. With that, you can take it out of the car and use it for hiking/camping in remote areas. Add a solar charger and you are really in business.

 

[jangoforhire]

Navigon has stored maps and you can select, if you want, only the States you use. I think others are similar. I think the iPad mini gets the GPS chip if you get the Wifi + cellular version. With that, you can take it out of the car and use it for hiking/camping in remote areas. Add a solar charger and you are really in business.

This. Exactly what I've been thinking. And yea I'd probably throw some goal zero stuff in the back eventually for camping.

 

[efil4frus]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately also. The only thing I could come up with, is if you create a mount over the stock unit with a "window" to the stock unit. So when you want to use the stock unit, you would have to slide the ipad mini out to see the stock unit.

 

[harper7]

The main problem I see in replacing the HU with a iPad is your giving up the audio quality . The music from my Pioneer still accounts for at least 95% of what I listen to in the truck. Ipad's just can't compete with a stereo/amp set up unless you throw big bucks into it with a custom job using sound processors and amps. Those that did the big buck custom dash ipad installs with them a couple years back are already outdated.

IMO....better to get a car mount as there are plenty of choices out there or like efil4frus suggested a custom mount with small L brackets to slide it in to in front of the stock unit if that's where you want it.

 

[Hellamatic]

There are a few companies out there that are starting to make relatively affordable preamp/processor boxes so you can ditch your head unit entirely. A GPS app would be sufficient for city/highway driving, and you could buy a handheld GPS for when you're out wheeling or hiking. I also carry physical back road map books for when I'm out wheeling too - very handy for when your truck and GPS die when you're in the sticks.

It would also look pretty cool to have the iPad integrated in the dash too....I dare you to do it!

 

[tjnaples]

Not reading the thread at all but posting this on the topic title alone. #AwesomeIdea

 

[lezavw90]

Digging up an old thread

I was reading the forums of people who've installed this and it looks like it works well.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/123256-anybody-custom-installed-tablet.html

http://www.vaistech.com/dev/home.php

Something I'd be interested in if the price came down a bit

 

[adio3x]

I'm getting my verizon ipad mini on friday, getting a ram mount for it when it comes out in Feb. I agree with harper, its going to sound pretty crappy with an ipad lol.

 

[H2O_Doc]

I'm getting my verizon ipad mini on friday, getting a ram mount for it when it comes out in Feb. I agree with harper, its going to sound pretty crappy with an ipad lol.

Wasn't harper's point about an iPad integrated into the dash as a replacement for the HU? I think you're talking about just sending audio input to the existing HU which can give pretty good results depending on the bit rate etc.

 

[adio3x]

Thats what I was talking about. I don't plan on connecting my ipad to my existing HU, I plan on using mine strictly as a GPS unit & internet on the go. I was saying it would sound crappy if it was just playing straight from the ipad.

 

[H2O_Doc]

Thats what I was talking about. I don't plan on connecting my ipad to my existing HU, I plan on using mine strictly as a GPS unit & internet on the go. I was saying it would sound crappy if it was just playing straight from the ipad.

Ahh..ok. My apologies. Although only slightly worse than the stock speakers : )

 

[adio3x]

Ahh..ok. My apologies. Although only slightly worse than the stock speakers : )

haha no worries, i love my stock speakers, ok thats not true lol.

 

[Quentin]

Siri is actually useful through the steering wheel controls.

Ohhhh, I need to try this.

 

[jangoforhire]

The main problem I see in replacing the HU with a iPad is your giving up the audio quality . The music from my Pioneer still accounts for at least 95% of what I listen to in the truck. Ipad's just can't compete with a stereo/amp set up unless you throw big bucks into it with a custom job using sound processors and amps. Those that did the big buck custom dash ipad installs with them a couple years back are already outdated.
IMO....better to get a car mount as there are plenty of choices out there or like efil4frus suggested a custom mount with small L brackets to slide it in to in front of the stock unit if that's where you want it.

Normally, this is the case. BUT, I have the JBL system, meaning my speakers/sub are already amped. So I am not relying on the little internal amp in the factory headunit. So as long as I can get the signal from the iPad to the amp, I should still get some decent sound. I may add a signal processor in between depending on what I hear from the audio shops I go to. I have a lot of experience with sound systems, both designing and installing them. But playing with factory equipment is a bit new, my old style was just rip it all out and go all aftermarket, so I am still doing some research.

Still good advice though, I will still look into mounting it like this.

I'm getting my verizon ipad mini on friday, getting a ram mount for it when it comes out in Feb. I agree with harper, its going to sound pretty crappy with an ipad lol.

Nice, I got a wifi version when it was released and love it so far. It was a great upgrade from my iPad 1 (yes, the original). I had it since launch day and it still worked perfectly when I sold it 3 years later, which makes me feel better about putting one in my dash.

Wasn't harper's point about an iPad integrated into the dash as a replacement for the HU? I think you're talking about just sending audio input to the existing HU which can give pretty good results depending on the bit rate etc.

Ideally I would want to just send audio to the existing head unit, but if I have to pull the factory nav out I will.