Has anyone used this radio replacement? 2015 with basic radio

onedayatatime · Jun 30, 2015

I have a 2015 Express with the rinky dink radio. I really want a touch screen with navigation. I hate holding my phone but everything I have looked into was super expensive… you gotta cut a bracket in your dash.. change the bezel and find connectors / converters. I just don’t want to order something and have to spend a week with my dash apart waiting for a 5 dollar converter to come in. Or worse… have to pay a professional to fix it.

I found this which has descent reviews. It seems to be the most modular swap out there with descent features.

Dodge Ram 1500 / 2500 / 3500 Touchscreen GPS Navigation Car Stereo (2013-2015)

CuylerTech · Jun 30, 2015

Have you looked at the RA2 to RA3/4 Conversion thread under DIY? I would recommend swapping in a RA3/4 vs going with a cheap Chinese alternative.

onedayatatime · Jun 30, 2015

CuylerTech said:
Have you looked at the RA2 to RA3/4 Conversion thread under DIY? I would recommend swapping in a RA3/4 vs going with a cheap Chinese alternative.

Are you referring to this thread? http://www.ramforum.com/f75/diy_-_oem_5_0_radio_8_4_radio_upgrade-66196/

If so the parts and labor are way more than the one that I posted. Looks like a massive project as well.

CuylerTech · Jun 30, 2015

Takes like a total of 1 hour to install of you have a 14+

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1500ram12 · Jun 30, 2015

A few on another forum have used it. Most liked it. If you're computer smart you can change the software on it to mimic a iPhone or change it to a Android os. If you have or plan on using siriusxm. It's not sxm compatible.

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Ricks Ram · Jun 30, 2015

The RA4 is definitely the best way to go . You will lose certain features if you install an aftermarket unit to adjust settings in your truck that are done through the radio. Read all the information about it before you decide. I can honesty tell you the RA4 is worth the extra cost. Just my 2 cents.

Indaram · Jun 30, 2015

The time, money and effort is worth going to the 8.4AN.

onedayatatime · Jun 30, 2015

Ricks Ram said:
The RA4 is definitely the best way to go . You will lose certain features if you install an aftermarket unit to adjust settings in your truck that are done through the radio. Read all the information about it before you decide. I can honesty tell you the RA4 is worth the extra cost. Just my 2 cents.

Like what settings? The radio that is installed right now is plain jane. Can't see it programming anything except itself.

onedayatatime · Jun 30, 2015

Indaram said:
The time, money and effort is worth going to the 8.4AN.

How much did it cost you in total?

uconnect65 · Jun 30, 2015

I can get you a RA3 with the Navigation activated for $500. If your truck doesn't have volume control on the steering wheel then you will need a special bezel with a volume control. Like this one Ram® Truck 8.4 Upgrade Radio Bezel

A GPS antenna is about $50 or $60. Do the math, I won't recommend that Chinese radio. It looks cheap and you don't even get XM radio. Sent me a PM if you want more info on the radio.

Indaram · Jun 30, 2015

onedayatatime said:
How much did it cost you in total?

$450.00 for the 8.4AN (RA4/VP4)
$50.00 for the heater control module
$10.00 to make my own 911/Assist Mirror delete cable
$60.00 for the OEM 8.4 radio bezel
$50.00 for the parts to make the custom harness
$100.00 for the steering wheel audio controls

So about $720.00 total for everything I did. You don't need the steering wheel audio controls if you do the mod for the oem radio bezel. And no offense to Uconnect65 but I would Never pay $500.00 for a RA3 even with NAV activated. You can find the better RA4 unit for that price and even cheaper. The RA4 has HD Radio and the NAV built in.. no activation required.

CuylerTech · Jun 30, 2015

If you dont mind not having nav, then you can pick up a RA3 for $150ish.

SitKneelBend · Jun 30, 2015

Or if you are patient an RA4 for $275ish

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Ricks Ram · Jul 1, 2015

onedayatatime said:
Like what settings? The radio that is installed right now is plain jane. Can't see it programming anything except itself.

The RA4 has settings in it that your basic radio doesn't have. Some of them are in your speedometer now but if you ever decide to upgrade to a premium cluster and some other options some of the settings are controlled by the factory RA3 or RA4. Your aftermarket radio would not be able to control any of these settings plus it is not satellite compatible. Also the RA4 has voice recognition which works very well. I don't think the aftermarket unit has that either. I almost went the way you are thinking but when I really started researching the aftermarket unit it fell way short of the factory unit. It is well worth the extra money.There is a reason no one has chimed in and told you not to go with the RA4.

sausec17 · Jul 1, 2015

I love the s100, got mine for $300 on ebay, open box. Great features too! ALOT of good reviews on the Z forum!

CuylerTech · Jul 1, 2015

SitKneelBend said:
Or if you are patient an RA4 for $275ish

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I paid $350 for mine lol.

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SitKneelBend · Jul 1, 2015

1500ram12 said:
A few on another forum have used it. Most liked it. If you're computer smart you can change the software on it to mimic a iPhone or change it to a Android os. If you have or plan on using siriusxm. It's not sxm compatible.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

Which radio are you speaking of? Do you have a link to the alternate OS threads?

SitKneelBend · Jul 1, 2015

sausec17 said:
I love the s100, got mine for $300 on ebay, open box. Great features too! ALOT of good reviews on the Z forum!

I may have went that route if I found one that cheap.

that va guy · Jul 6, 2015

I'm really only interested in bluetooth. I was reading this to see if upgrading my stereo from the 3.0 to the 5.0 was worth it, but if I can stream spotify via bluetooth adapter for $30 I think I'm going that way

sheff4140 · Oct 24, 2017

I new here and i know that post is an older one but if anyone who still follows this thread can point me in the right direction as to getting an RA4 radio for the prices that are described in this thread it would be greatly appreciated. I am new to the Ram family and my 2015 came with the 5.2 uconnect radio and i would love to upgrade especially for the prices listed here .. Thank you in advance

Has anyone used this radio replacement? 2015 with basic radio

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