Shannon,

Yes, AM/FM/XM will continue to play while you are using the navigation DVD. You can even use the steering wheel controls and tuner to browse through stations while using the nav screen. As soon as I have time to take apart the dash and check out the back of the nav system, I will look into adding an external CD changer.

Thanks for the writeup Mike, it was a good read. The only question I have is - can you lock the tire carrier in the closed position?

So what does everyone think about the tire on the back? It looks out of place on the SUT. Don't take this the wrong way . I LOVE the look of the SUT and I will more than likely trade my 03 in or add another to the family eventually. how do you think the tire would look on a cage design up above the bed. the tire could mount horizontally and could be placed at roof level so you could still utilize the bed. in other words it would be as if it was mounted on the roof of your SUV in the back.
might look cool integrated into a full Gobi rack.

Mike,

Count me jealous.

Have you tried playing a DVD movie in the Nav?

I know this doesn't work on the 2004, but surprisingly I have tried on other brands of autos with Nav systems, and a DVD movie will play in a few...

Also - does the DVD-ROM for the Maps have to be inserted for the Nav to work?

I think the spare looks decent. The only thing that bothers me a little is the big gap between the carrier and the tailgate. It would look better if it was in closer.

Your rack idea sounds kinda ****ty I think the tire would look cool mounted in the bed at an angle, like the desert racing trucks. But you'd lose the use of the bed with that setup.

No spare might be cool:

hummer17 - Unfortunately the Nav system will not play DVD movies. Yes, the Nav DVD must be inserted in order to use the Nav. I do not believe the system can load your route into memory (allowing you to remove the Nav DVD), but I will check the manual later.

Dan - I don't think you can lock the tire mount. Here's a close-up shot:



You basically pull out the pin and lift up on that top black piece - no mention of a locking mechanism in the manual.

See if you can use a trailer hitch-locking pin! In lieu of the factory pin on the tire mount.

What does the small pin on the cable do? Does that larger horizontal pin have to come out to open it?

I will take another picture tonight, but no, that horizontal pin stays there. The small pin on the end of the metal cable slides into a hole on the horizontal pin to secure the mount in case it did not latch completely.

cool

Here's one of mine. I took a few more but I must have touched some setting on the camera and the rest came out super blurry.

Looks great Dan!

You need to park it in your neighbor's front yard to the right and on the boulder's in your neighbor's front yard to the left...

Actually, Dan, park your truck on the neighbor's driveway that is in your yard.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by KenP:
Actually, Dan, park your truck on the neighbor's driveway that is in your yard. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Since their driveway is in your yard, it's basically your driveway, right? And since that's the case, I would just start parking it in your new driveway...

That would be pretty funny. Actually, I might take a friend's suggestion and start parking my trash cans on it.

Dan - got to say - that is one sweet rig.

I never get tired of new H2 pictures...