Radio upgrade

[Kkellycpa]

OK, I've had with the radio unit that came with our 2018 Vegas 24.1. I'm looking for Apple and Android compatibility.

I have read many older posts about the Axxera units. Mine seems to have a 6.75 inch screen and about 10 inch total diag dimension.

I found recommendations to go with larger, swivel screen? I also found that DUAL offers a unit that plugs into harness.

Does this still all work? Price is not much of a problem. I just want quality.

 

[ducksface]

Go to local stereo installer.
Buy what they tell you.
Have them do the install while you have lunch somewhere nice.

 

[SGilbert]

Do what duckface says, or go to Amazon or Crutchfield and buy what you want. Many fine units for $250-$350. Spend 2-4 hours installing yourself IF you're a bit handy.
Top of the line brand names are $1-2,000.

 

[dkoldman]

I'm looking for Apple and Android compatibility.

If this is your only or primary concern, I would strongly advise you to read this thread. My Radio Is Missing Android Auto & Carplay

In my case, I had trouble buying a new radio just because I could not use Android Auto. When I ran across this thread it became a Game Changer. I love it, has larger screen, exact same android auto that is in my Lincoln, I can talk to it handsfree, it has dash cam and a rear camera that I have not bothered to install, because I use the display on the OEM radio to show the towed or the rear 24/7.

If that is not enough, when RV is not being used, I have plug to put the same system in my older SUV.

 

[dcmichphoto]

OK, I've had with the radio unit that came with our 2018 Vegas 24.1. I'm looking for Apple and Android compatibility.

I have read many older posts about the Axxera units. Mine seems to have a 6.75 inch screen and about 10 inch total diag dimension.

I found recommendations to go with larger, swivel screen? I also found that DUAL offers a unit that plugs into harness.

Does this still all work? Price is not much of a problem. I just want quality.

I just upgraded mine to the Car1000. It is double din. Fit right in without and issue and it was plug and play. The only thing that does not work is the rear camera will not stay on as long as you want, only when you put your MH in reverse. Otherwise, you unplug the Axxera, and plug it into the CAR1000, and it all works much better. There is a Carplay wire that comes with it, sound is much better, everything is much better. Took me 10 minutes to swap out.

 

[12vdash]

What model is your current Stereo? If it starts with AVM you could upgrade to any of the new CarPlay Android Auto head units Thor uses today. The main power harness have not changed.

 

[naturescott49]

I had a professional installer put it a very nice Pioneer that has all the goodies and it works really well, with one big exception. All the controls are touch activated. That means your finger has to hit the exact spot just right. I wish it had nobs that turned!

 

[dkoldman]

I had a professional installer put it a very nice Pioneer that has all the goodies and it works really well, with one big exception. All the controls are touch activated. That means your finger has to hit the exact spot just right. I wish it had nobs that turned!

My OEM radio is a Pioneer with both touch screen and the buttons, even so I hated to reach for it when driving so I had a Wireless Steering Wheel Remote added. It worked great, but today my OEM radio is only used to show the rear camera 24/7 and to process the audio for the 10.1" Android Auto portable radio I mentioned above.

 

[Jimbo57]

I heard this from another person post , tried it and love it it’s a 10” screen mounts on top of dash so I’m looking down like the existing screen with Axxera. It uses my phone via Bluetooth, only wire is power from lighter. Has a built in camera with chip for recording and there is rear camera included but I didn’t use that. All this for $130 from the jungle as some people call it. And now I have CarPlay though speaker that comes with it is as bad as Axxera radio, if needed get a wire speaker that you can move with you.

 

[dkoldman]

I heard this from another person post , tried it and love it it’s a 10” screen mounts on top of dash so I’m looking down like the existing screen with Axxera. It uses my phone via Bluetooth, only wire is power from lighter. Has a built in camera with chip for recording and there is rear camera included but I didn’t use that. All this for $130 from the jungle as some people call it. And now I have CarPlay though speaker that comes with it is as bad as Axxera radio, if needed get a wire speaker that you can move with you.

I put in post #4 a link where that idea surfaced.

I have the exact same model as you. It is incredibly sturdy. One of those.... I wish I had known about earlier. I really like my stock OEM Pioneer radio better now that it is full time displaying the rear camera. It is backup, so I effectively have two radio stereo systems. I normally have 2 GPS both the Garmin and Waze running. I really would like to dump the Garmin 890, but I find it's abilities to tell me what's ahead, nearby cities and rest stops etc. convenient. When the directions conflict I always follow the Waze because 90% of the time if I choose Garmin when different I get hosed. So unless the Garmin tells me of a low bridge ahead when route is first planned ( it never has) it is not as good as advertised for me.

But for OP, the XBay unit is a good option unless you just have to replace your existing radio deck. It is built solid and heavy duty not cheaply made as one might expect. Only drawback is no battery so it must be plugged in for power. Similarly, you have to turn it off manually or unplug it when vacating the RV if you are worried about parasitic draws.

 

[ipburnout]

I did the same as what dkoldman suggested here. I replaced the junk Axxera radio with a Pioneer that I had (rear camera compatable) and installed a unit on my dash for Android Auto. The pioneer now only serves as the amplifier to built in speakers, and the display for the rear (and side) cameras.

One word of caution if you DIY... Nothing is standard in an RV, not even the OEM radio. I found that the hole they cut for the Axxera's mounting bracket is much larger than the one from my pioneer radio, so it does not secure into place. I am yet to fix this. I am thinking about just using the security screw in the back to hold it in place. Maybe someone here has a better suggestion.

 

[Jimbo57]

I did the same as what dkoldman suggested here. I replaced the junk Axxera radio with a Pioneer that I had (rear camera compatable) and installed a unit on my dash for Android Auto. The pioneer now only serves as the amplifier to built in speakers, and the display for the rear (and side) cameras.

One word of caution if you DIY... Nothing is standard in an RV, not even the OEM radio. I found that the hole they cut for the Axxera's mounting bracket is much larger than the one from my pioneer radio, so it does not secure into place. I am yet to fix this. I am thinking about just using the security screw in the back to hold it in place. Maybe someone here has a better suggestion.

Amazon has a double din to single din dash kit $15 and you get a Pocket below or above depending how you set it up https://a.co/d/hzrvyU8 not sure it I did the link right

 

[SGilbert]

Amazon has a double din to single din dash kit $15 and you get a Pocket below or above depending how you set it up https://a.co/d/hzrvyU8 not sure it I did the link right

Yes, the link works.