What is the best install kit out there to install a double din in a 2004 F-350. Radio is on it's way and i'm still deciding on a kit. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Metra previously listed the 95-5818 but they are now listing the 95-5817 for my truck. And to be honest the 5817 doesn't look all that pretty in the picture on their site.

 

I also have been wondering about this, although I have a F250 it should be the same. I know mine is not quite a double din, so trimming is required but once that is out of the way it'd be good know what kit to use. what head unit did you go with?

 

Pioneer AVH-P4200, i only wanted the ability to play dvd's as i plan to install monitors in the headrests down the line. And after reading all the reviews, i have yet to read of any issues with the unit.

 

Yep, I was eye'n that one to. Looks like a solid unit, hopefully someone who has installed one before can let us know which kit to use.

 

Well i have the Metra kit and the American International kit is arriving Monday. So i'll decide when i have them both in my hand. Probably do the install middle of next week. I'll try to take some pics if anyone needs them.

 

There's A post over on the 99.5 2003 7.3 page about this with some links.

 

Yeah I wouldn't mind seeing the pics if you could, that'd be cool.

 

There's pic over on the 7.3 forums if you want to take a look.

 

Hey BGMSPD.. how'd it turn out? Any feedback on which kit looks/ installs best? Pics? Hope you got er' in without difficulty.

 

Install was painless and i used the Metra kit since i wasn't patient enough to wait for the American kit. After trimming the top and bottom "lips" of the dash the radio slid in. The next thing that had to be addressed were the two bolts that attach the face of the dash to the frame of the dash. The bolts protrude into the space for the radio and had to be removed. I tried to shave them off and keep them but they were still too long. I wound up using a button head Phillips screw to secure the dash and then the radio fit.

Next was the trim ring from the install kit. I took the easy way out and since the radio fit securely i trimmed the tabs off that would secure the trim ring. I used double sided tape to secure the trim ring to the radio which allows for easy removal since i put the screw in the dash, the radio need to be removed first in order to get the dash back out at a later time. Had i not used the screw in the dash i could remove the entire dash to then remove the radio. Just a matter of choice i guess. I just didn't want the dash to be able to move without the screws in the center to hold it in place.

For now there are 2 pics in my gallery showing the end result. I'll post more shortly.

 

If you were doing it again, what would you change if anything? Did you have to trim much on the face of the dash. I have the same stereo arriving any day now

 

I really wouldn't change anything. install was pretty straight forward and looks good. I recently had to pull the unit to add XM and everything came out easy and went back in just fine.

 

great, thanks for the response. I am excited to move forward with this.

 

If you need any other pics during your install send me a message and i'll do my best to get back to you. I know how cutting your dash can be a little difficult to jump into.