D-max Accessories

[Greenside]

So the new (looking) beast is parked outside the house and the neighbours have oohed and aahed over its mileage, price, tyres, wheels and what have you - you wouldn't think the guy next door has a Merc, a Vigo and a new Camry parked in his drive by the way he carried on, but my wife loved the fuss .

Anyway, while the novelty persists I need to put in a CD player and either a Carryboy type lid or a flat cover on the bed. I called into a couple of sound system shops on the way home after a double height unit that would replace the existing radio/tape player or a single CD device to fit in the current empty space. I was offered a variety of unbelievably garish devices all of which had tiny controls and vast arrays of flashing lights reminiscent of the gear used to communicate with the aliens in Close Encounters. What I really need is a replacement for the whole thing that will blend in with the the dashboard and although I've seen one that fits the new model D-Max I'm told that old ones aren't available. Does anyone have either the whole 2 x din unit or just the CD deck that will interface with the tape/radio installed as standard? If so, I'd like to buy it.

For the deck, can anyone advise me? I wanted either a simple flat cover that we could take off for the times it will be used to carry bulky stuff (mainly bicycles) but the ones I have been shown have bulky automatic systems to raise and lower them and I could do without the complexity, weight and expense. Alternatively, a Carryboy type roof would be OK as long as it's secure enough to leave valuables in and not fixed permanently in place.

D-Max owner's thoughts would be appreciated.

[HDRIDER]

Hi

Maybe some of this

http://www.hcauto.com/catalog/index.php

http://www.monde.co.th/index.php

http://www.lensowheel.com/

http://www.worldstyling.com/web/index.php

[Greenside]

Thanks. The World Styling website had what looks like the kind of cover I'm after.

[Dave the Dude]

So the new (looking) beast is parked outside the house and the neighbours have oohed and aahed over its mileage, price, tyres, wheels and what have you - you wouldn't think the guy next door has a Merc, a Vigo and a new Camry parked in his drive by the way he carried on, but my wife loved the fuss .

Anyway, while the novelty persists I need to put in a CD player and either a Carryboy type lid or a flat cover on the bed. I called into a couple of sound system shops on the way home after a double height unit that would replace the existing radio/tape player or a single CD device to fit in the current empty space. I was offered a variety of unbelievably garish devices all of which had tiny controls and vast arrays of flashing lights reminiscent of the gear used to communicate with the aliens in Close Encounters. What I really need is a replacement for the whole thing that will blend in with the the dashboard and although I've seen one that fits the new model D-Max I'm told that old ones aren't available. Does anyone have either the whole 2 x din unit or just the CD deck that will interface with the tape/radio installed as standard? If so, I'd like to buy it.

For the deck, can anyone advise me? I wanted either a simple flat cover that we could take off for the times it will be used to carry bulky stuff (mainly bicycles) but the ones I have been shown have bulky automatic systems to raise and lower them and I could do without the complexity, weight and expense. Alternatively, a Carryboy type roof would be OK as long as it's secure enough to leave valuables in and not fixed permanently in place.

D-Max owner's thoughts would be appreciated.

Hi greenside

My D max came with a Kenwood (touchscreen)DDX7038 2 din CD/radio/DVD/I-pod unit as standard.

I have seen these, together with the same surround fitted by Izusu, in my local (very good) Car audio store. I know this is not a cheap piece of kit but worth every pennyBaht (especially the I-pod connectivity)

Hope this info helps

Dave

[Greenside]

My D max came with a Kenwood (touchscreen)DDX7038 2 din CD/radio/DVD/I-pod unit as standard.

I have seen these, together with the same surround fitted by Izusu, in my local (very good) Car audio store. I know this is not a cheap piece of kit but worth every pennyBaht (especially the I-pod connectivity)

Hope this info helps

Dave

I don't think I will use this system often enough to justify something as expensive as that - I only listen to CDs here because I can't get Radio 4! A USB port would be handy (DVD's are a thing of the past in our house since I got a player with one) but the only thing that might tempt me to think about screens of any description would be a reliable and affordable GPS system.

[mca]

I don't know where you are in LOS mate but these folks in Khon Kaen have just about everything you need. Quick professional service too. Loads of locals use them.

http://www.marvincaraudio.com/Marvinnew/

[Dave the Dude]

I don't know where you are in LOS mate but these folks in Khon Kaen have just about everything you need. Quick professional service too. Loads of locals use them.

http://www.marvincaraudio.com/Marvinnew/

Hi MCA = www.marvincaraudio.com

It would have been quicker to say 'I' instead of 'but these folks'

[mca]

Too me a bit of time to figure that one out mate! Well spotted.

Actually my user name is a combination of my, my wife's and my daughter's initials.

[Greenside]

How about reversing sensors - all the same or do some work better than others on a truck?

[Dave the Dude]

How about reversing sensors - all the same or do some work better than others on a truck?

Yup got them too, 4 of them. A very good & practicle suggestion. Only cost less than 4k.

MCA, Sorry mate, just you looked like yet another spamanator!

Dave

[Greenside]

It turns out I naively thought that Carryboy and other lids for the cargo deck could be mounted and dismounted at will. With weights of 75Kg plus and secured by bolts and silicone sealant it seems once they are on, that's it. Why don't people just save up for a Fortuner or Mu7 and be done with it? My hunt for something secure and easily removable continues.

On the stereo front, I'm beginning to wonder why no-one has produced a simple radio with a USB port. Who needs to clutter up the car with all those quaint silver discs when teeny multi-gigabyte drives cost almost nothing and can be repeatedly filled with new stuff by a quick drag and drop? While I'm at it, I'd really like to hear from anyone who has a CVD/DVD double din screen type unit installed: do you really use it? What do you watch and when? No, really - I can't imagine any regular circumstances where I would ever do that, let alone the hassle of remembering to bring new programming or movies with you to the car. Since these things seem to start at 10,000 baht, do you feel you've got your money's worth and would you buy another one?

I'm inclined towards a JVC unit that looks OK and has a USB port for about 4000 baht. It will leave a rather useless compartment on the dashboard but it seems the most flexible solution unless someone can come up with a reason for going for the big screen option.

[Dave the Dude]

On the stereo front, I'm beginning to wonder why no-one has produced a simple radio with a USB port. Who needs to clutter up the car with all those quaint silver discs when teeny multi-gigabyte drives cost almost nothing and can be repeatedly filled with new stuff by a quick drag and drop? While I'm at it, I'd really like to hear from anyone who has a CVD/DVD double din screen type unit installed: do you really use it? What do you watch and when? No, really - I can't imagine any regular circumstances where I would ever do that, let alone the hassle of remembering to bring new programming or movies with you to the car. Since these things seem to start at 10,000 baht, do you feel you've got your money's worth and would you buy another one?

I'm inclined towards a JVC unit that looks OK and has a USB port for about 4000 baht. It will leave a rather useless compartment on the dashboard but it seems the most flexible solution unless someone can come up with a reason for going for the big screen option.

Hi Greenside

Me again! My thoughts entirely before I got to use my unit regularly.

Sure, I do not watch movies on it while hurtling down the highway, but regularly play Music concert DVD's. They are so cheap here and Im building quite a collection. The other thought (& I accept its only a personal one), is I seem to spend tons of time waiting in my truck for the wife, so the DVD is very handy then. If I had kids here, who knows it might keep them quiet too? Although I had a GPS long before buying the truck, an additional unit can be integrated into the screen, I am told.

You are 100% right about the unneccesary fumblings for CD's while driving. I have my iPod plugged into the 'glove compartment' lead and I get no distractions, other than the occasional prod at the touch-screen to change tracks. A good safety feature, me thinks.

Dave