Ideas on video set up for new Explorer?

[rockey95]

i just picked up a new-to-me 2010 explorer xlt with 55,000 miles, my previous 2004 Explorer i had a touch screen head unit and a monitor in the roof, worked really well. My new Exploere has a sunroof so i don't think i can put a monitor in the roof and it still has the stock am/fm radio that has XM but its not a touchscreen. It does have Sync also.
looking for any recommendations on what to do for my 6 year old son to watch videos while on trips.

Thank you all.

 

[Flag Gibby]

Aftermarket in the headrest DVD units is what I would do. Search on eBay, lots of options depending on how much $$ you want to spend.

 

[ESGWheel]

You may still be able to install an overhead unit even with the sunroof. My 06 Explorer (now gone) had both and my (new to me) 10 Explorer has both from the Factory. And my 07 Expedition with sunroof was retro fitted with an aftermarket job. Make a phone call to one of your local Car Audio & Video installers or chat with Crutchfield on line. You should get lots of options and info fm them.

Good Luck!

 

[rockey95]

Thanks for the info folks, I will chat with Crutchfield as well but may go the headrest route.
thanks again.

 

[Explorer_PL]

I got 2 headrest units for my 06 when I got it in 07 on eBay. I paid $ 375 back then, now they are I think around $200. The leather color is pretty close on mine (tan), and the installation did not require much work. I hard wire it to the battery with a relay tied to the ignition so it's on only when the car is running.
I can run 2 different DVDs on them or feed 1 DVD to both.

 

[BrianDye]

I would personally stay away from Crutchfield. I use them only as a reference, because most of their products are marked up highly. (You can get the same exact gear on Amazon or other car audio websites for way less almost guaranteed)

You should still be able to fit an aftermarket flipdown screen in the roof, but headrest monitors are easier, and cooler IMO.

Do you plan on installing yourself? The headunit is also an easy swap. I have a Pioneer AVH-X4700BS in mine and love it, but the new NEX series units are even cooler. The screens and user interface on them is just so crisp and modern looking over some of the smaller brands that look cheap and pixelated.

 

[Explorer_PL]

Brian -

where did you get the morrimoto headlights and how do you like them ?

 

[BrianDye]

www.theretrofitsource.com is the best place for the retrofit kits, I haven't done them yet though, I just ordered the black housings. Gonna try and start them today, but if you look at the 4th gen modified section, someone just finished a set and loves them. I have never heard a bad review for them, the output is amazing from the pictures I have saw.

 

[rockey95]

as I have dug a little deeper into the headunits and video players I'm leaning toward the headrest dvds that can be used without a new DVD/Navigation head unit, the main reason is I am liking the Microsoft Sync with my new Explorer and from what I understand the only way I can keep Sync is to buy an OEM headunit that will run me quite a bit of money.
if anyone can recommend any other way to keep Sync and hook up the DVD headrests to the head unit let me know.
Thanks for all the replys.

 

[BrianDye]

Let me ask what you like about Sync and what features you think you would lose going aftermarket.

 

[rockey95]

the main reason is the clarity of the system and ease of use of it and I really like the controls on the steering wheel as well. I've used some other aftermarket head units and while using Bluetooth thru my car speakers I've been told its not very clear, for the first time the other day I was using my Sync and was told they couldn't tell that I was using it at all it was so clear.
Thanks

 

[BrianDye]

Bluetooth on aftermarket radios in the past was sketchy, and low quality, but I have not had a problem with newer units. Although if you are happy with it, theres no need to replace. Were you just wanting to replace it thinking that was the source for the rear monitors? You can get the monitors with built in DVD players and inputs so you can watch whatever, on each one, but you'd have to use headphones, or some kind of FM transmitter since its not hooked into your stereo.

I had Sync in my 2009 Edge, and it was okay, but I upgraded to a Pioneer AVH-X4700BS 7" touchscreen and loved it. I didn't mind losing the steering wheel controls because it came with a remote, BUT you can buy a harness to retain them. Those get pricy though, the wheel harness was about $45 by itself.

 

[rockey95]

yes Briandye I stopped by a local radio shop here yesterday and talked to a guy for some time about my options. yes the main reason for the possibility of a new head unit was to run the dvd screen/screens for my son in the middle seat or back seat. I actually think I may do the dvd headrests that are dvd players themselves and just run power to them and let them operate on their own and keep my original head unit in order to keep Sync. Yes they were telling me it gets a little expensive to buy the adapters for aftermarket head units to keep Sync. I am going to do some looking around for the DVD headrests and see what I come up with, the ones the local shop does are $599.00 installed and 1 is a player the other is just a monitor, they are Audiovox with a 1 year warranty on them. The only issue I have with them is they all come in some color of leather and my seats are cloth.

 

[BrianDye]

Yeah, sounds like you're fine with the stock unit. Are you tech friendly at all? They really arent bad to install, and you'll find them ALOT cheaper vs any car audio shop.

Most car audio shops have a low quality, or decent quality product, with top shelf high quality pricing.

You can probably find those same monitors they have for 1/4 of the price online.

What color interior do you have, ill search around and see what I can find for you. With them having the DVD player built in, all youll need to do is run them to a power source which will simply be a positive and negative wire. You could even tap them into the 12v socket in your center console.

 

[rockey95]

BrianDye, I am somewhat tech savy and I do some home remodeling and things myself, I actually have a guy who has installed some things for me in the past that does this on the side and he will do it for $50.00 to $75.00, I actually just spoke to him.
our local store uses Audiovox but I'm game for mostly anything but needs to be decent quality, I don't want to have to replace them after a year, I only have 1 child, 6 years old so would you suggest 2 monitors with dvd players, 2 monitors with just 1 dvd player or just 1 monitor/dvd player? Also, would you get the ones that uses headphones, audio thru your car speakers or just audio out of the headrest???
my interior is Camel in a cloth( I believe that is what its called anyways, its a 2010 Ford Explorer XLT.
any help would be greatful.

 

[BrianDye]

Audiovox is good quality, one of the only "big" car video companies around really it seems like, but there's tons of brands online. I can't say which ones are good or bad, I haven't dealt with monitors in awhile since I'm usually the only one in my car and my headunit is fine.

As for the DVD question, that's really up to you. You can get one with a DVD player, one without, but then the install gets a bit more complex because he'll have to run a video cable through to the other screen, as well as having to have both on to watch the movie on the non-dvd unit.

If both had DVD, only one would need to be on. Same goes for the headphones, that's personal preference. Most of the units I saw on eBay had built in FM transmitters, as well as headphones. Some even had little built in speakers but those are probably useless.