Looking for suggestions to replace the stock unit on 2008 F250 SuperDuty.
An upgraded unit that substitutes with easy fit, plug and play.
Thanks.

 

You have a CAN bus, so you will most likely need an interface for a new headunit. If the 08 is like the earlier superduties, you will have to do a little messaging to get a double din in place. It's not going to be a plug and play, but a nice double din with all of the features you want will be the way to go. The way I would shop around is figure out what all you want it to do (Video, back up camera, Nav, AM/FM, CD, Ipod/MP3, ect) and find the radio that best fits. I wouldn't be too concerned with the power output if you pan on adding an amp and speakers, you will be using low level outs any way.

 

Actually Double Din stereos fit fine in the 2005 up Super Duty without any cutting, just need to get a Scosche FD1432B dash kit for the 2008 SD.

In order to keep the steering wheel controls you will have to get a PAC steering wheel interface unit. Which one depends on what brand of head unit he buys.

He will have to do some wiring though. A Scosche FD23B wiring adapter will make most of it pretty simple though. Just match up the wires from the Scosche adapter to the wires on the Kenwood harness and splice them together (I recommend soldering and shrinkwrap, butt connectors will work too though). That will take care of the majority of the wiring. The rest depends on what head unit he gets and what options he installs. He will probably have to hook up to the parking brake wire, maybe the reverse sensing wire if he adds a camera, etc.

I personally am a fan of the Kenwood DNX units. I have an older DDX-6019 with the add on KNA-G510 navigation unit and I really like it. The newer DNX units combine them both into one unit that is simpler to install. The DNX-8120 even adds built in bluetooth phone support (I have the KNA-BT100 add on unit in my truck and I like it too).

Others here have recommended Alpine and Pioneer units as well, but I am not as familiar with them.

 

Thanks for the information. I am looking into the Kenwood DNX 8120 as a replacement unit in my 2008 F250 SD. Have been told it a simple installation. It will require, as you say, a dash kit and a steering wheel interface unit. Also told I will need an IPod module if I wish to connect my Ipod. The dealer states that my factory Sirius sat radio will need to be replaced with a module that is proprietary for the Kenwood, and that this may require a new antenna. I am not certain about the last two statements being accurate.
I do like the unit and its capabilities and will go ahead with it once I resolve the satellite radio issue.

 

you will not need a new sirius antenna; they're all the same connector (this was a design specification, actually). Indeed, XM antennas work on Sirius equipment, and vice versa.

You WILL have to buy a tuner that's proprietary for the Kenwood; or at least a "global" receiver that has a Kenwood adapter. Each manufacturer uses a different interface method to attach the tuner. Your Ford tuner will probably not work, although you MAY be able to find an adapter to fit your factory tuner to the Kenwood, assuming you have the patience to play with Google.

-blaine