[gksmith]

I've seen the mods by the Armada owner who put in a monitor. A local shop says they can install an overhead unit in place of the rear overhead storage area. I believe I'd lose the rear controls if they do.

Has anyone with the RF system added their own Overhead DVD?

I have 3 kiddos so just having headreset systems isn't an ideal situation.

 

[bills1974]

I've seen the mods by the Armada owner who put in a monitor. A local shop says they can install an overhead unit in place of the rear overhead storage area. I believe I'd lose the rear controls if they do.

Has anyone with the RF system added their own Overhead DVD?

I have 3 kiddos so just having headreset systems isn't an ideal situation.

Yes, I've added the Sony Mobile Dream system using the existing overhead console. It's the one with the seperate DVD player that I've put under the seat. I ended up getting this one because it has such a small footprint.

You can easily take down the rear console and if you're handy with a Dremel, attach the monitor and use the existing bin (with the flip down cover removed) as a mounting point.

There is only a single wire that needs to be run from the monitor as it supplies power and video. I then ran the power (spliced into the cigerette lighter power) and audio (split off the factory AUX port behind the console) to hardwire the sound. This way all of the rear controls and lights remain intact.

That and I found the whole system on Amazon for 349.99.

 

[baggeas]

bills 1974,

Does that allow you to use the headphones application on the RF system? I am looking to do the same but want be able to listen to whatever in the front and have a dvd playing with headphones in the back and still be able to do full stereo sound. Basically do what the Nissan Mobile Dvd System will do.

 

[bills1974]

You know, I haven't tried the supplied headphones as it only comes with one pair and I have two kids...I usually just let them use the speakers and fade it all the way to the rear...

My wife has a QX56 with the factory DVD system and we do the same thing in her truck...when you fade the speakers to the rear, you barely hear it up front.

 

[bills1974]

I checked today for you. If you use the headphones, they work completely independant from the rest of the system...There is also two headphone jacks on the main switchbox which you could wire headphones into. Also, with this setup, they can use the rear headphone jacks on the overhead console...

 

[RexRyder]

dude thats pretty slick, any pics of your setup?

Yes, I've added the Sony Mobile Dream system using the existing overhead console. It's the one with the seperate DVD player that I've put under the seat. I ended up getting this one because it has such a small footprint.

You can easily take down the rear console and if you're handy with a Dremel, attach the monitor and use the existing bin (with the flip down cover removed) as a mounting point.

There is only a single wire that needs to be run from the monitor as it supplies power and video. I then ran the power (spliced into the cigerette lighter power) and audio (split off the factory AUX port behind the console) to hardwire the sound. This way all of the rear controls and lights remain intact.

That and I found the whole system on Amazon for 349.99.

 

[bills1974]

I'll try and take some when I get home tonight...like I said, it's pretty easy to do. Took me probably three hours total, but now that I know how everything goes, could probably do it in under 2...

 

[ZeroPt99]

I'll try and take some when I get home tonight...like I said, it's pretty easy to do. Took me probably three hours total, but now that I know how everything goes, could probably do it in under 2...

Photo Tutorial. annnnnd go.

:upsidedow

 

[BayStateSuks]

I agree. Also, can you provide some instruction as to how you tapped in the AUX and the power? Is it easiest to remove the whole HU to do this?

 

[bills1974]

I agree. Also, can you provide some instruction as to how you tapped in the AUX and the power? Is it easiest to remove the whole HU to do this?

Just got home, here are a couple pictures of the finished product...I don't want to rip everything apart again, but I can walk you through anything you would need to know...

It's pretty simple, you can just pop the bezel around the radio/ac off easily with a flathead screwdriver. There is a clip on the back of the aux port that you can just pop off and splice into those wires which are essentially speaker wires and you still have your AUX port up front. There is no reason to physically remove the head unit itself.

As far as power goes, I just tapped into the left and right cigerette lighter adapters, the left one for power all the time and the right for on/off with the ignition.

As far as the wire from the monitor, I just snaked it though the ceiling, down the plastic where the seatbelt is and under the passengers seat. You don't even have to remove the center console, if you remove the rear cupholders (they just pop out) you have access to the back of the inside of the armrest. I just cut a little hole down near the bottom with a dremel and pulled the monitor wire through.

On the monitor, I took off the thick plastic piece because I wanted it to fit as close to flush as possible. In it's place, I picked up a matching rubber gasket to put around to even things out. The rear console is slightly bowed, and I didn't want gaps.

I put it sideways so I could keep the rear lights. It spins into a normal viewing postion...You can put it straight if you want, but you'll have to do a little more cutting and lose your rear lights. You would also have to fill in the indentations left behind. For attachment, I took out the rear bin, cut out the front part of the black plastic piece of the inside of the bin and extended the hole in the console to fit the monitor with a dremel. Attached the monitor mount to the black plastic piece (I know that's not going anywhere) and then simply attached the monitor to its mount.

Hope this helps, again, if you have any questions, I'll be glad to answer them...

 

[ZeroPt99]

With it hanging down like that, you pretty much lose the use of your rear view mirror when the kids are watching DVDs, right?

Also, where do you pick up a gasket like the one you mentioned?

 

[bills1974]

With it hanging down like that, you pretty much lose the use of your rear view mirror when the kids are watching DVDs, right?

Also, where do you pick up a gasket like the one you mentioned?

You can still use the rearview a little, but I use my side mirrors more anyway. The big tow mirrors are great.

I actually got the gasket from Home Depot, I think it was originally for doors. but it ended up working perfectly.

You can use this install for any system though. I was looking at the Myron Davis monitor, but didn't want to spend the money with the other mods I was doing.