Use an iPad mini for your A/V system

[foxtrot]

Hey everyone, I have been in contact with Shane (screen name shaneckc) on tacoma world. He makes a dash kit where you can use an iPad mini as your A/V system. He also sells wiring adapters and stereos to make everything work.

He said he could make one for the fourth gen 4Runner if he can get his hands on one to make a prototype. He is located in SoCal and would need someone with a fourth gen to come over to make the prototype. He is also offering a discount to whoever comes to get it made up. After that he would be able to sell them and ship them just like he does for the tacoma. Here is his thread on tacoma world so you can check his stuff out:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/buy-sell-trade/347739-use-ipad-mini-your-tacoma-v-system.html

Please send him an email if you are willing to be the prototype truck so the rest of us could benefit from it. Thanks!

 

[nathanours]

Wouldn't the iPad need data reception for the gps to work? I thought unless they were connected to an internet source the gps didn't work.

 

[foxtrot]

That is correct, you can either get an iPad with cellular, or a lot of smart phones have hotspot capabilities where you can use the iPad theough cell phones data.

 

[foxtrot]

And it only needs data connection to start the gps from what I've seen. If I start my gos in my phone and lose reception, the gps antenna keeps it going

 

[nathanours]

And it only needs data connection to start the gps from what I've seen. If I start my gos in my phone and lose reception, the gps antenna keeps it going

See, I've noticed it gets really spotty once I lose cell reception. I take my truck lots of places with no reception so that'd be a no go for me. My Alpine works great in those spots though.

 

[svana]

I've looked at having an iPad fabbed into the dash and it's too large to fit without either a) removing the clock/display or b) having a bump over the top that's higher than the existing console. Has he indicated how he plans on doing it? I guess it might be too early for him to tell until he gets a vehicle in.

 

[foxtrot]

He said he needs to get a vehicle in before he can come up with a plan for it. If I did my own, I would just take the console out below the hvac controls, and move the hvac and clock down.

 

[foxtrot]

This is the best one I've found that still keeps everything

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_cETiP1RTU8

 

[svana]

That's pretty nice. I went and checked Soundwaves of Tampa out when I was down there to see about an install. They were charging around $1500 to get it done not including the iPad. Pretty damn steep but their work is nice. I wonder how much the CA guys charge? Nice to see it actually done on a 4R (SOT hasn't done one to my knowledge). It's got that bump up that I was talking about but seems to work nice. One of the caveats for my install will be that it'll have to fit an Otterbox though.

Soundwaves of Tampa, Florida (813) 849-1104 - Photo Gallery

EDIT: Just called the CA guys, they're willing to have you ship the bezel to them (very convenient, SOT won't do that), but they'd be charging $1300 for it. However, the deal breaker is that if I wanted to keep it in the Otterbox they're asking $3,500. SOT indicated that there wouldn't be a difference in cost because the charge to fab a mount from scratch is offset by not needing to purchase the regular magnetic iPad housing that they use.

 

[foxtrot]

Ya, I looked into it also, and that's why I eneded up contacting Shane, because he sells them for the tacoma for a fraction of the cost. Now I'm expecting the 4Runner version to be more than the Tacoma version just because it uses a lot more plastic, but I'm sure it will still be cheaper than $1300

 

[foxtrot]

Bump

 

[badbasser98]

I'm interested, but unfortunately on the wrong side of the country to lend mine for a prototype. hwell:

 

[Oneluv13T4R]

Where in SoCal ...I'm down to do it.

 

[foxtrot]

If you could send him an email at [email protected]

He will get with you on what he would need. Thanks for doing this and let us know how it goes!

His profile says Thousand Oaks for location

 

[ardanzhan]

I thought unless they were connected to an internet source the gps didn't work.

 

[foxtrot]

Were you able to get in contact with him?

 

[earthrealm]

following

 

[CXS]

I thought unless they were connected to an internet source the gps didn't work.

It does but as a pseudo gps that gets pretty frustrating. Not trying to throw water on this but a very good dedicated gps is really the best choice to enable use almost everywhere.

In defense, I still carry my iPad with cellular in my truck but rely on my Garmin.