My '06 does not have the REC Nav unit or the Homelink overhead console. Can I just get these components and plug and play or is there more to this?

 

The REC is a simple install and will work just fine as long as you get the antenna too. The Homelink thing is not so easy. I've wanted to do this with my truck too but many posts I have read say that the Homelink may work but the rest of the features may not work after you install it. Some say you have to get it enabled by the dealer and some say you don't. If I find one cheap enough I may try it but until then I just keep using my Sears garage door opener. That Homelink sure is nice though. You can open the doors from about 30-40 yards away. I have to actually be in the driveway before my Sears opener will work....

 

Amen! That would be the cat's ***. My Mercedes has the opener option but it would be real sweet if I could just swap in a console on the Ram! The Nav is just an afterthought. I can get by very nicely with a Garmin or Tom-Tom. Are we just better off going after market with both?

 

Personally I prefer the factory versions only because I don't like all the wires hanging everywhere and units stuck up on my dashboard. The aftermarket stuff probably works better but they are not as easy to hear if you have a loud truck and also have the radio playing. At least with the factory NAV the radio volume goes down whenever it is giving you direction.
As far as the Homelink goes, my wife's works great and so did the one on the 08 truck I used to have. If I ever find one cheap enough I still plan on trying it out....

 

Is there any source for these NAV units, or do we just hit the junk yards?

 

Make sure you get the disks if you scavenge one. There's an eastern and a western disk. Ive got the Rec Nav on my '05. That unit is really nothing to go out of your way looking for in my opinion. Me. I'd go to aftermarket and get one that is DVD rather than CD based. You might have a chance of future map updates, and you'd get the visual map and road displays rather than just an arrow and turn directions. Your neighborhood might even be on the disks; mine isn't (but I know my way around so...). I do enjoy the elevation display though. It's pretty close.

 

homelink is only a power and ground. it will work. make sure you get an overhead out of the same year, fuel type truck and you will be fine.

 

Now that info makes my day! You run in the Pavehawk or Jolly Green's. Worked with a bunch of great guys out of the 106ARQ.

 

I closed down the 38rqs in Korea in 93-94. maintenance instructor on 60's and huey's also worked 53's. miss it!

 

Did my time on D model UH1s. First ride in a Hawk almost gave me a coronary. I saw we were indicating 140Kts and had a flashback to tip stall. Mr. Beam and I had a looooong talk that night!

 

The REC does NOT use East/West discs. There is one disc required. They are always coming up for sale because some guys just always need something better. I really liked the REC that I used to have in my 07 and 08 trucks. I could care less about all the bells and whistles. I just want to get from point A to point B and it always did that with no problems.
One thing I did read about Homelink units, just as cbrahs said, is that it must come from the same year truck for all the features to work. That is quite possibly the reason for guys buying the first one they find and it doesn't work right when they hook it up.

 

I took the nav out of my 2007 and put in a Kenwood DMX 7140. Much better unit. It will play tones from a flash drive and you do not need so many CD's.

Also it has the back up camera which works great. For the factory nav unit to work with a back up camera you have to ad a pick lock so you can access all of the functions.

I still have the factory nav put up in a box.