Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Dave & Diane on April 07, 2019, 10:48:23 pm

Title: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: Dave & Diane on April 07, 2019, 10:48:23 pm
I want to replace the OEM Ford AM/FM Cassette radio with a double DIN Pioneer in my 2001 U270.  Foretravel radio bracket slightly smaller.  What's the trick?  Starting to think I will be putting the stock radio back in and call it a day?  Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: nitehawk on April 07, 2019, 11:25:46 pm
No adapter faceplate?
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: Old phart phred on April 08, 2019, 02:00:34 am
Hammer? How much is slightly? Those quick grip bar clamps can be reversed to spread. My new single din unit was about 1/4' too long so Dremel time on some on some plywood under the dash.
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: Dave & Diane on April 08, 2019, 02:36:13 am
I was under the impression that I would use the existing (or at least part of) mounting bracket.  It doesn't look that's the case. There's gotta be a cage assembly that I need to support the new radio.  This cage would need to be secured to the 4 posts that protrude from the back of dash using the original spacers and nuts.

Hammer?  If I had one nearby............I would most certainly have used it today!

I need to find a forum member with the same style dash to find out what they have done.
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: Falconguy on April 08, 2019, 08:25:39 am
It is my understanding (per Cliff at FOT) that those units are a 1 1/2 DIN.  I called Crutchfield and there is not much of a selection in that size. Back to square one for me
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on April 08, 2019, 09:09:05 am
I called Crutchfield and there is not much of a selection in that size.
If Crutchfield doesn't have a custom mounting adapter, or a 1.5 DIN head unit that will fit, then it probably doesn't exist.

How about going with a single DIN unit?

What is a 1.5 DIN Car Stereo, and Do You Need One? (https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-a-1-5-din-car-stereo-534608)
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: Don & Tys on April 08, 2019, 11:03:24 am
Our 99' U270 Dash is a single DIN size... I thought the dash didn't change from the "aircraft" style black anodized aluminum with the electroluminescent backlight to the molded plastic style until 2002. How about a picture? I need to correct my mental database of Foretravel minutia. ???
Don
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: John44 on April 08, 2019, 11:49:52 am
I would look on the manufacturers site(sony,etc) and see what they have,Crutchfield is good but they do not carry everything made.
They do make single dins with a foldout screen.
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: Bob_B on April 08, 2019, 01:35:40 pm
eBay has only one 1.5 DIN radio and it is a retro model.
There is a 1-din flip-up listed below it with a 7" screen. I'm thinking that's the only option other than customization
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: Realmccoy on April 08, 2019, 01:57:42 pm
Pioneer makes a single din flip out screen with Apple play.
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: Old phart phred on April 08, 2019, 02:16:16 pm
my single din unit had an outer enclosure over an very slightly smaller inner enclosure.  sounds like the old outer enclosure may still be installed. I removed the old outer enclosure secured by fingers that bent out to engage the dash, installed the new outer enclosure and bent the fingers out, and slipped he new inner enclosure in until it engaged some locks on the sides.  Removal of unit now requires a slim "key" inserted between enclosures for each side.
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: Dave & Diane on April 08, 2019, 03:02:04 pm
Here's a few pics .......
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: jcus on April 08, 2019, 03:22:28 pm
This one fit with a small piece of trim on one side.
Sony XAV-W651BT DVD receiver at Crutchfield.com (https://www.crutchfield.com/S-kKFHC0G5kRr/p_158XAV651B/Sony-XAV-W651BT.html)
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: turbojack on April 08, 2019, 04:02:41 pm
The hole looks like a double Din,  The radio that jcus is a double DIN.  How much to larger is the new mounting bracket then the dash hole?
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: jcus on April 08, 2019, 04:48:22 pm
The hole looks like a double Din,  The radio that jcus is a double DIN.  How much to larger is the new mounting bracket then the dash hole?
Vertically a good fit, but hole in dash in about 1/4" wider than faceplate. If you look closely at right side, you will see a piece of black plastic I used. I reused the back mounting bracket from the old unit.
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: Dave & Diane on April 10, 2019, 05:31:58 pm
Ok.  So after reading what everyone had to say, I decided to make my own mounting brackets out of angle aluminum.  I have installed it in the dash.  Next onto the wiring.  It looks like I will have to go through each wire and figure out what's what.  But thanks again to everyone for inspiring me to get it done!


Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: Subsilked on April 10, 2019, 07:32:57 pm
This one fit with a small piece of trim on one side.
Sony XAV-W651BT DVD receiver at Crutchfield.com (https://www.crutchfield.com/S-kKFHC0G5kRr/p_158XAV651B/Sony-XAV-W651BT.html)
In your photo in the posting.  There appears to be a Sirius unit on the right ....  we have Sirius in our Mercedes Suv's at home and have received limited time offers to purchase these units at a very discounted price and add another account...  what kind of service do you receive. ?  Any issues with traveling cross country or in remote campgrounds.
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on April 10, 2019, 08:06:34 pm
Not Jim C, but we have a XM receiver in our coach.  Works great.  I just have the little round flat antenna "puck" sitting on the dash below the windshield.  Has always gotten good reception everywhere I have tried it.  It is satellite, after all.

Satelite or Not (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=33905.msg310374#msg310374)


Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: jcus on April 10, 2019, 08:21:14 pm
In your photo in the posting.  There appears to be a Sirius unit on the right ....  we have Sirius in our Mercedes Suv's at home and have received limited time offers to purchase these units at a very discounted price and add another account...  what kind of service do you receive. ?  Any issues with traveling cross country or in remote campgrounds.
I have the same cradle in my toad, so can just move receiver from coach to toad. Got that receiver and two car cradles for about $75 on ebay. For me Sirius/xm radio are worse than Directv, always trying to raise the rates. I am at $100 a year now for that one receiver. Never lost reception on it, and antenna is inside coach glued to ceiling in a cabinet. Fiberglass, wood and foam do not  seem to affect the signal.
Title: Re: Stereo Upgrade 2001 U270
Post by: jcus on April 10, 2019, 08:29:36 pm
Not Jim C, but we have a XM receiver in our coach.  Works great.  I just have the little round flat antenna "puck" sitting on the dash below the windshield.  Has always gotten good reception everywhere I have tried it.  It is satellite, after all.

Satelite or Not (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=33905.msg310374#msg310374)



That is the beauty of your GV windshield, the antenna can alway see the sats. On my coach, if i turned in some directions would lose the signal :D  :D  :D