I have a 14 year old cousin... they have no idea how much awesome stuff they missed out on. Most importantly, we can hold conversation and entertain ourselves without a cell phone

 

My OEM rear sway bar parts came in. The threads on this forum were very helpful on parts list and installation tips. Hope to have it on shortly.

 

Do you have the part number for the OEM XLT Fog light kit and the sway bar, and where you got it from ?

Thanks !

 

Ordered the OEM fog lights off Amazon from sherwoodparts

I ordered the sway bar parts through my BIL. There are many threads here that list the parts and installation instructions.

Here is a screen show of the parts and prices...

 

Brown Santa just dropped of a bunch of stuff to play with over the weekend

- Rugger Liners for the rear wheel wells (I'm on the fence over mud flaps)
- New front/rear speakers (Kicker DS Series 6x8)
- Backup camera (Accele Low-profile license plate camera)

I'm waiting on a new head unit (Kenwood Excelon DDX793 w/iDatalinke Maestro)

Plus I need to find a decent front camera since there are two video inputs I figure I'll add a front camera too.

My plan is to use 2 of the Upfitter switchers for the cameras; this way I can turn themon whenever I want.

I believe these have to be my last upgrades for a while. The "minister of finance" is starting to get upset. ;-)

 

Cool. Would love to hear your thoughts on the camera/head unit once you get it all up and running.

 

I'll try to take some pics and post up how it all goes. I'll need to buy my BIL a case of beer, at the minimum, for this project.

 

The "Minister of Finance" was awesome!

I look forward to seeing this as well.

 

I like mud flaps on a truck. I have duraflaps on my F250 & think they are great. They do a nice protecting the trailer.

 

Got up early to start on the new head unit/camera installs.



I learned that the 2011 sirius DOES NOT work even with the Maestro. Not a big loss since I only have 3 months free and never kept it on my 09 150. Just not what I was expecting after talking this through with a Crutchfield "expert".

Lots to learn, but it all works; at least what I have done.


Speakers were fast and easy, as expected.

Everything is torn apart, new harness hooked up the head unit, Maestro flashed and hooked up too. Synch works, gauge screen/vehicle info works as best I can tell, I still Need to run camera wires and button it all back up, but I just got a call and have to leave, so..... This is what I am leaving...



I hope I'm posting camera & completed pics tomorrow!

 

Sirius will work with the truck and the Maestro, if you really want it it's another receiver unit to buy though. When I was pricing earlier this year it was around $70 through Crutchfield. If you don't care about Sirius, then no loss for you.

 

Yeah, this is what I learned; it is not what I was led to believe though. I asked specifically if maestro was going to allow me to keep satellite. I was told yes. Not a real loss but I was enjoying it. When I called crutchfield support, the person he said 2012 works that way not 2011 I just hope there are no more surprises.

 

Looks good. So you had the non-touch screen sync stock? That's what I have and would like to upgrade. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on any difference the speakers alone made if you tried it at all that way before changing the head unit?

 

I did listen to the speakers as I hooked each one up and then all together. I did not want to rip everything out without testing the speakers were working.

The sound improvement with them alone is noticeable. Not nearly as muddled as factory.

I will let you know how it all goes once I get this damn rear camera wire snaked into the cab. It is kicking my ***.

 

Much progress made this morning before everyone woke up...



















Still have to cleanup the wire loom for the rear camera and secure the grounds for each camera.

I also discovered the 4 original bolts to hold the head unit in are not long enough. I am off the hardware store later to pick some up.

I also broke 2 of the nut clips for the front wheel well liner when I removed it to gain easy access to the large wire grommet for the camera wires.

I hooked up the power for both cameras to Aux 3, so I can control when they have power and use them as I please.

I always thought HD radio was a gimmick, and it may be, but it does sound better when the station switches to HD.

Long project, and I need time to play with it to learn all the settings, but I like it so far.

Off to swim with the family to prevent a "too much garage time" mutiny!