Community Forums

Misterusa47 · 08-12-2017, 08:07 AM

Anyone have some previous forum links or experience upgrading their stock Jensen built in RV stereo? We have a 2013 Forest River Sierra 5th wheel with the AM/FM/DVD radio and I'd like to bring it into the 21st century. Thanks in advance.

FirstTracks · 08-12-2017, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misterusa47

Anyone have some previous forum links or experience upgrading their stock Jensen built in RV stereo? We have a 2013 Forest River Sierra 5th wheel with the AM/FM/DVD radio and I'd like to bring it into the 21st century. Thanks in advance.

I did the same with my stock Linear Series (Magnadyne) to get Bluetooth. In fact, it was the very first upgrade I did when I bought the TT. Just replaced a double DIN with a double DIN, swapping out the wiring harness by matching like inputs and outputs to like inputs and outputs with crimp connectors. Couldn't have been any easier.

What specifically do you want to know?

Jeffcarp · 08-12-2017, 04:36 PM

Earlier this spring I replaced our Jensen radio in our Ford E350 Class C. It was one of the best upgrades I've ever done. I went with a Pioneer 4200 NEX which has built-in Android Auto & Apple CarPlay. I use a dedicated RV GPS and then use Android Auto for traffic and a second opinion so to speak. It comes with an external microphone that I mounted near the rear view mirror for Bluetooth voice communication as well as the microphone for the voice interaction with the Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. Sound quality improvement with the same speakers was remarkable. They sell a separate accessory that plugs into the stereo that runs a series of audio tests and then sets the equalization for your specific vehicle. The results were dramatic.

I debated installing it myself but in the end went with a reputable local stereo shop. All material and installation, including installing a new backup camera was about $700.

FatChance · 08-12-2017, 09:05 PM

Easy to do. Usually just connect the color coded wires from the old to the new.

Jeffcarp · 08-13-2017, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatChance

Easy to do. Usually just connect the color coded wires from the old to the new.

It took a pro that does it for a living 3.5 hours for mine. The mounting was significantly more challenging than the wiring.

FirstTracks · 08-13-2017, 03:48 PM

If you're exchanging a double DIN for a double DIN, or a single DIN for a single DIN, the mounting is trivial.

MSHappyCampers · 08-13-2017, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misterusa47

Anyone have some previous forum links or experience upgrading their stock Jensen built in RV stereo? We have a 2013 Forest River Sierra 5th wheel with the AM/FM/DVD radio and I'd like to bring it into the 21st century. Thanks in advance.

Hi !

Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Hope the upgrades work out well for you! Keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

Jeffcarp · 08-13-2017, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstTracks

If you're exchanging a double DIN for a double DIN, or a single DIN for a single DIN, the mounting is trivial.

With respect, I sat in my RV watching the company replace my Jensen radio and didn't feel it was that simple. While this may be true for some existing Jensen radios it was certainly not true for mine. The Jensen radio that came in my 2011 Ford did not use a standard double DIN mounting kit. Because of that, the dash had to be removed enough to gain access to remove the existing Jensen mount from the dashboard frame and install a new kit that was compatible with a Pioneer deck.

In addition, my Jensen radio used the Voyager backup camera and the Voyager camera was not compatible with the Pioneer radio so it required cutting and splicing of the existing backup camera wiring to put a camera in that was compatible with the Pioneer.

While I agree that this was not rocket science, it certainly wasn't an hour project on a Saturday afternoon. As I said before the shop I used required three and a half hours. Had I tried it myself I'm guessing it would have been a five to six hour endeavor.

FirstTracks · 08-13-2017, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jalan

With respect, I sat in my RV watching the company replace my Jensen radio and didn't feel it was that simple. While this may be true for some existing Jensen radios it was certainly not true for mine. The Jensen radio that came in my 2011 Ford did not use a standard double DIN mounting kit. Because of that, the dash had to be removed enough to gain access to remove the existing Jensen mount from the dashboard frame and install a new kit that was compatible with a Pioneer deck.

I actually think that we're in agreement here. What I said was that swapping out a double DIN for another double DIN is trivial. What you said was that your installation wasn't a standard DIN. I can believe that was trickier, complicated by:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jalan

In addition, my Jensen radio used the Voyager backup camera and the Voyager camera was not compatible with the Pioneer radio so it required cutting and splicing of the existing backup camera wiring to put a camera in that was compatible with the Pioneer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jalan

As I said before the shop I used required three and a half hours. Had I tried it myself I'm guessing it would have been a five to six hour endeavor.

And for me it would've been 8 to 10 hours.

Jeffcarp · 08-13-2017, 05:29 PM

My Jensen was actually a double DIN. It just wasn't mounted in a way that was useful for the replacement double DIN unfortunately. I think it kind of surprised the tech too. I just wanted to make sure that people don't go into this thinking it will be a piece of cake because it might not be.