Ok, this is something I want to. Seriously. And no, I don't have anything yet. But I am researching it and am trying to gather components. My goal is to have it done sometime next summer, if not sooner.

What I have right now:
-HU: Pioneer AVH P4300DVD (this would go away after this project)
-Sub: Audioque AQ1200D, FI Q12 12" sub
-Speaks: Alpine MRP F300 4ch, MBquart front 6x8, Alpine rear 5x7
-Support: big 3, with 1/0. Singer Alternator is being built this week, it is a 230A unit.
-External Display: built into rearview mirror!

What I want:

-7" Tablet, with wifi, bluetooth, at least 32GB memory or a card slot, and acceptable dock.
-Explorer Center Console with a double DIN slot for the following Accessories.
-Interfire IF-4VU Volt, Temp and VU meter gauges (single din)
-Clarion EQS746 7 Band Equalizer (1/2 DIN)
-CD/DVD Player (1/2 DIN)

So I will be able to have all my music, in addition to still being able to use discs. I will have full control over my EQ, fader, and subwoofer like I do now with the actual car stereo. I will also finally have a volt meter, and a couple neat but semi pointless sound meters, and a totally pointless temperature gauge?
And then, of course, I will also have a badass tablet in my dash. Wifi, apps, that junk.

The complications:
-Music
All my music now comes from my ipod. My collection right now is at 16.19GB, so most tablets won't fit it. I also really like the ease of music control, so having the music on the tablet, or an ipod interface is neccessary.
Also, audio output, will most likely have to be using the 3.5mm jack to RCAs into my EQ. slightly concerned about loss of audio quality. probably wouldnt notice anyway though.

-Video
though I watch few DVDs in my truck, I still would like the ability. I don't think any tablet will take a video input, so my next though was another screen. Then I realized I had one! in my rearview mirror! it'll be small as hell, but also cool as hell. A bigger screen could be in the works though.

-Body work
not really "body" work, but custom glasswork in both the console and my bezel. I will be contracting that work out as I deem necessary (buggman, hint hint) haha. We will be working things out soon.

Hopefully it should be badass.... any input would be appreciated as this isn't going to be easy or straightforward. The biggest thing is finding a suitable tablet that meets my requirements. It will possibly be the new Google Nexus 7 once the audio dock is released, though it has no external memory, and only 16GB internal.

My first order of business is getting a center console though. Can't proceed with the limited dash space I have now.

So, there. I did already buy the meter panel. It's in the mail. Here's a pic:

 

Put TV's in the tailgate and fenders like this truck I saw this morning.

 

lul. some people have more dollars than sense.

 

I think I found my tablet.... Toshiba Thrive 7". Has built in GPS (like, no wifi) So it can replace my car GPS, has the microSD slot, a dock with audio output, even a wireless keyboard. also higher than average resolution (1280x800). I'm still looking into some reviews. Then to figure out how to mount it, and the dock!

The 7-inch Thrive™ Tablet powered by Android™ | us.Toshiba.com

 

Find a ranger console at a junkyard jeep and mod it with fiberglass to make it look good. That would probably be easiest.

 

a ranger console, or an explorer one? ranger consoles are kinda rare, no? I want to head to the pull-a-part soon to find something. buggman's gotta be doing glasswork for me haha i'd rather pay to not deal with it, and his stuff looks good.

 

I meant radio bezel. Not sure what the size difference is but if it's not too far off it could look good.

 

oh right. yeah, I need to talk to buggman some more, he MAY have one for me already. but yeah, if I go to the pull a part, I'll try and get a couple.

 

Heck yea man!
If you can gram some bezels super cheap in your neck of the woods, I can always use 'em for experimenting.

I'm sure what you're looking to do can be done, might take some work... but with enough money & time, anything is possible

If your dvd headunit has a video out, you could get some 7" or so lcd monitors for your visors too. It may not help if you wanted to watch video from the tablet, but if you have media cards, videos or dvds for the head unit, you'd be good.

 

The tablet will have a memory card I can put in, so I could watch movies that way. The disc player WILL have audio and video out, which I was just going to run to my mirror, or possibly some other displays in the future.

I'm looking into the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 now. Will check them out at Best Buy this afternoon.

 

Just bought a Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus 16GB. Comes with a 16GB microSD card but I'll be getting a 32GB card.

Negotiating for a console, radio bezel, and OHC now.

IF-4VU to be here.... wednesday?

 

got the first of many packages to come!

 

Ok... you guys don't seem too interested haha but I will make better progress soon.

In the mean time, I got my tablet and BOY this thing is sweet.
Here are a couple screenshots.
First, this is a FREE navigation app I downloaded, I only got the maps for KY and it's about 120MB. Decent enough for free. Th built in google navi app doesn't store offline maps.


Next, this is just the home screen I'll see. Might mix it up for easier access to music.


Finally, this cool little GPS Essentials app shows a map and a bunch of user selectable, totally customizable, about 50 different "gauges" related to GPS, or not. Pretty darn cool.

 

Cool! Is it going to have internet access on the road? Like are you with Verizon or At&T or something?

 

Nope. it's wifi only. That's why I have to have a standalone GPS app, the google app gets the maps over wifi. But the GPS chip doesn't require any wifi or anything else. I didn't want to be paying anything monthly. This isn't the 3G unit (or 4G or whatever).

but say I'm outside my place, it should pick up the wifi signal enough to update the weather or whatever before I leave, and, if I get my app working, it should sync music via wifi too, so it can stay in the truck and still update my music library.

 

If you have a droid or iPhone you can setup a hot spot for pretty cheap each month. Maybe thats an option.

 

moar pics.

This is the gauge panel with the EQ. I think I like the EQ better on the bottom. They will be mounted where the factory stereo goes.






The Clarion EQS746. Looks good.






I got the insert from the center console today, get the rest tomorrow. But this is all I need to do the modding to fit in the junk.


This is the Galaxy Tab kinda sitting where I'd like it. I want it to be pretty clean though.


for comparison, this is how much bigger the iPad is.


And these are the two tablets side by side.

 

Neat build so far. Interested to see how it turns out.

 

not as much a "build" as a collection of parts so far. haha but I will probably go ahead and mount the EQ and gauge thing in place of the stereo so I can sell it. And for now I will run my ipod direct to the EQ.

 

The iPad could be mounted to the console, but it would require a lot of modding to flare the console out to that shape.
The galaxy is gonna take a bit of modding, but it shouldn't be as bad.

Have you powered on the EQ yet?
SPOILER ALERT:
The ***** light up blue.

 

I have NOT started it up, but believe me, I knew it was blue. haha I am pleased to know this.

So I got my full center console. It's tan, but anything from the junkyard is gonna need new paint anyway. I'm pretty sure the first thing they do when they get a new explorer in is rip of the console lid, just to spite us. it's theonly piece left.

I spent $120 today at the JY...


What this you say? you want a radio bezel? ok...

 

Nice! I see you have plenty of retry's lol.

 

the console lids sell for a lot more than the price of a console on ebay, lol. Mexicans come in and get them first thing, no joke

 

Holy jeez!



You won't have room for all those bezels you know... why don't you just swing on by here & drop 'em off, I'll take care of them for you

 

yep... put in the gauge panel and the equalizer, and took out the double din.

and yes, it looks like poo right now with the gaps and all. Once I get the other 1/2 DIN DVD drive it will look better. I'm hoping buggman can help me fill out the gaps too.

As far as the performance.... I love this EQ it's verry cool. The gauges and EQ have a matching blue backlight. Right now I just have my ipod hooked directly into the EQ, out the headphone jack, and sound quality is great.


A few weird electrical issues... So I noticed I was getting some interference somewhere. I don't have the RCAs on the gauges hooked up (for the level meter) and was getting some interference. I plugged them into the aux input on the EQ, just so I didn't have hanging plugs, and the noise stopped. Like perfectly clear. So I don't know if having the RCAs loose did it, or having an empty jack on the EQ did. either way, it's fixed for now.

Another weird issue.... When I plug my ipod USB into the USB port on the 12v plug phone charger, I get interference. Nothing else I plug into the 12v plug, phone, GPS, causes interference. In the end, I won't have an ipod in my car anyway so it won't be an issue. just curious...