2010 Ranger factory stereo needs replacing. Recommendations & guidance requested.

[Gary_Williams]

Recommendations & guidance requested, please.

 

[DonC]

I'm in the same boat with my 2008 Ranger: needing to replace the crummy factory radio. Although there are numerous cool double-din options (which, I understand, is the correct size), the factory dash/bezel complicates things. From what I can tell, there aren't any "big screen" android/GPS/DVD/multimedia heads that will fit. All the ones I've seen on Crutchfield carry the following "installation notes:"

• You'll have to modify your vehicle's sub-dash to install a new car stereo.
• The factory radio cannot be reinstalled once you've modified your vehicle's dash panel or sub-dash.
• Use care when installing the dash kit. Once the kit is snapped into place, you won't be able to remove it without also removing the entire dash panel.

I'm far from an expert, so I'll stay tuned to this thread to see what others say. . .

 

[ericbphoto]

I will be doing this in a '97 F150 some time in the next couple weeks. The exact same notes came up for my installation, too. Once everything arrived, I read through the installation instructions. It appears that my dash has an inner part that slopes down from the top in the back and I will have to cut some of that away with a Dremel tool. Then there are two side pieces that look like they will snap into the OEM bracket to hold the new unit in place. It doesn't sound too bad. But I haven't done it yet. I got my backup camera cable routed to the tailgate and have made and installed a bracket to hold my satellite radio tuner dock. But other than researching wiring connections, that's as far as I have gotten so far.

 

[8thTon]

I was going to do a swap as well. When I do I'll probably go with a single DIN and get an adapter with the little extra storage bin. That way I can move the stereo lower so the reflection I get off the rear window in the mirror isn't so annoying at night.

In the meantime I dragged out a bunch of old cassette tapes I hadn't listened to in ages and have been enjoying that. Sounds rather good actually.