Steering wheel mounted audio remote for coach?

[Empty_Nest__Soo]

Our Safari coach has the original Delco radio/CD/casette-player. I’m interested in upgrading because 1) it is down by my knees and it is totally impossible to safely adjust it while driving, and 2) I would like MP3 capability so I can play recorded music from a thumb drive and get hours of music without repeating.

Two questions:

What are the choices for steering wheel-mounted remote? Have you used a make and model that is still being manufactured and that you could recommend?

How difficult should it be to install a new audio head unit myself? I saw one being installed in my last truck, and I don’t remember it appearing complicated. But I can’t remember if any special tools were used, etc. I expect I will have to wire in the proper connector to connect to the wiring harness in the motorhome.

Your thoughts appreciated!

Wayne

[bigbaddad]

I put the remote on steering wheel with velcro. I had to get a IR remote adapter it could aim at to get it working....simple, works fine. If you have an RF remote it will probably work just sticking it on steering wheel. I opted for my radio on price and ease of install...if you shop you can probably find a RF remote radio. (RF is not line of sight, IR is line of sight)

[Empty_Nest__Soo]

OP again.

In my last truck, I stuck a piece of Velcro hooks on the back of the credit-card remote that came with the aftermarket audio, just so I could stick it to the cloth seat and find it when I wanted it. With my old arthritic fingers, manipulating the single dial control was impossible without doing any number of things I did not intend. I desperately needed the remote in order to use the audio system.

I'm not sure how I would go about attaching a credit card remote to the steering wheel. The audio player is/will be 90 degrees down from the right edge of the steering wheel, in front of my right knee.

Maybe I need to give Crutchfield a call with some questions. I understand that their support is pretty good. I will need to know about dash kits and wiring adapters, so buying from them and getting their support is probably worth the extra cost. The nearest car audio place is a 2-hour drive from here.

Wayne

[bsinmich]

I just put a Kenwood I my Roadtrek and the remote isn't part of the steering wheel but with a small bit of Velcro it works there. I plan on putting the same thing in my GMC to replace the 8 track,

[Pogoil]

My remote is Velcro-ed to the steering wheel. New head unit install is very easy. Most come with a remote.

Pogoil.

[Ivylog]

There is a common color coding for most radio wires so yes it's something you can do yourself. My kids gave me Sirius Radio for Christmas and it's one of the safest things you can have... turn it on in the morning, turn it off at the end of the day. How many years of it could you have for what's it's going to cost to put in a new radio? When not in the MH it goes back in the DW's car. All kind of kits for less than $30 and just laid the antenna on the dash for many years. Finally moved it to the roof for better reception.

[DrewE]

Replacing a car radio is about as complicated as it sounds—that is, not particularly complex or fraught with major difficulties, but often involving some contortion, sussing out of poorly labeled and organized wiring, grumbling when things are about four inches shorter than they need to be, etc.

The few special tools that are needed (mostly gizmos to insert or remove the radio from its bracket, of which there are a few different sorts) are readily available and not expensive. Nice places like Crutchfield will often sell or give you any necessary odd tools and trim bits you need.

An IR remote generally needs to be pointed roughly towards the receiver on the radio to register. That might be a problem with mounting it on the steering wheel. If it happens to use RF signals to communicate, that would not be a problem. I suspect (in a good bit of ignorance) that most are IR.

[YC_1]

Check out some of the Kenwood products. I replaced ours a couple of years back and was fortunate enough to be able to actually rebuild the "stack". The in dash video monitor was too low for safety so it went up on a gimble mount so it sits just above the dash now. The radio was placed in the top position of the stack and using a fresh panel cutout things look like factory. A small remote is available. I too use a thumb drive for music.

[Empty_Nest__Soo]

OP here.

I had in mind a wireless (IR?) remote mounted to the steering wheel. I found some universal ones on Ebay, but I don't know what is good and what is not. Never thought of a holder for the credit-card size remote that comes with most new aftermarket audio units.

Yes, I plan to replace the radio to obtain remote control capability and I want the ability to play MP3 files.

Wayne

[Dr_Quick]

Here are a few thoughts on this. When working on some vehicles with a factory installed steering wheel controls, there is what is some times called a "Clock Spring" behind the steering wheel inside the column, that winds and unwinds the wires for all the controls in a factory steering wheel. So if this is what you want, you would have to replace the steering column along with the radio. Unless the factory controls for the newer radios are now wireless. But you would sill have to adapt them to your vehicle.
On the other hand if you installed a new Radio with a hand held remote control, you can get an attachment to the steering wheel to add a remote to take the place of the hand held control. I looked this up on the internet, and found a steering wheel adapter in a few seconds.
I am assuming that what you want to do would require a new radio.