TV’s in 4runner headrest question

hey guys,

ive been looking around on the internet and havent really come to any solid answers yet.

i have a 2002 Sport Edition Toyota 4runner and have the alpine 901 headunit and i really want to install a tv in each headrest (cloth interior, btw). however, the headrests are sewn such that on the backside of the headrest, the square to install it in is SO small. i dont even think a 5" monitor would fit in this application.

i have come across and seen many of the "prefab headrests" with TVs already in them for super high prices. the thing with that is, i dont have a standard color leather like most of the headrest packages that the TVs are sold in. i have a grey or charcoal checkered cloth interior. i would be HARD PRESSED to find an aftermarket "tv in headrest" package that even comes close to matching the cloth on my seats.

i wanted to know two things -

1) has anybody with the same truck put tv's in the stock headrests, and how?

2) has anybody seen an aftermarket company that makes them to match the 4runner cloth interiors?

there is a custom shop near me, and the guy said he could "custom build-out" my current headrests, somehow widening them and having them professionally sewn and repadded to fit a 7" tv monitor. onlly thing is, he wants $1100 per headrest. F that. lol

help!

dc60531 wrote:

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I've never seen one with tv's but just a option instead of paying $1100 per headrest you could get 4 prefab headrests and just recover them with your choice of fabric. I cant remember but I saw somewhere they had 2 for $300 and I believe they were 6 inch or so.

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not a bad idea. my concern is being able to get the fabric. i know i cant obviously buy the entire seat from the dealer, but does anybody know if the dealer will sell you JUST the fabric by the yard? for some reason i highly doubt it :(

my fabric is this crazy two tone grey checkered stuff. it will look ridiculous if i use an aftermarket fabric. haha

alpine0000 wrote:

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i know i cant obviously buy the entire seat from the dealer

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oops, edit of my post above.... i know i CAN obviously buy the entire seat....

https://cgi.ebay.com/2x-7-TFT-LCD-CAR-HEADREST-BLACK-MONITOR-PS2-DVD-SCREEN_W0QQitemZ5795694525QQcategoryZ94848QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I know this is off of E-bay and as everyone knows you have to be careful, but this sell has a 99.6% positive feedback with 4887 customers. This is a bid but they had a buy it now option for like $290. This is for a pair. Never heard of Tronix but they have 3 colors to choose from and grey is one of them. Granted its not cloth but it should work.

dc60531 wrote:

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https://cgi.ebay.com/2x-7-TFT-LCD-CAR-HEADREST-BLACK-MONITOR-PS2-DVD-SCREEN_W0QQitemZ5795694525QQcategoryZ94848QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I know this is off of E-bay and as everyone knows you have to be careful, but this sell has a 99.6% positive feedback with 4887 customers. This is a bid but they had a buy it now option for like $290. This is for a pair. Never heard of Tronix but they have 3 colors to choose from and grey is one of them. Granted its not cloth but it should work.

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wow, those look really nice. too bad they are leather and i have cloth. that would look ridiculous.

also, are the distance between headrests posts standard in all vehicles? or do they vary?

alpine0000 wrote:

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wow, those look really nice. too bad they are leather and i have cloth. that would look ridiculous.

also, are the distance between headrests posts standard in all vehicles? or do they vary?

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In there add it says that they fit 99% of all vehicles so I would imagine that they are somewhat standard. Just guessing though. One other thing that you can try is going to a shop that does interiors and see what they have that be close to the fabric in your ride or they might be able to get it from the factory for you.

dc60531 wrote:

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In there add it says that they fit 99% of all vehicles so I would imagine that they are somewhat standard. Just guessing though.

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This is not correct, I'm surprised they would even consider putting this in their ad when almost all vehicles have different width legs on the headrests as well, they have different locking mechanisms. I'd be cautious about this product. Those monitor's on his ad looked to be Photoshop enhanced as well.

Velocity Motors wrote:

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dc60531 wrote:

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In there add it says that they fit 99% of all vehicles so I would imagine that they are somewhat standard. Just guessing though.

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This is not correct, I'm surprised they would even consider putting this in their ad when almost all vehicles have different width legs on the headrests as well, they have different locking mechanisms. I'd be cautious about this product. Those monitor's on his ad looked to be Photoshop enhanced as well.

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jeff,

i have read your article on headrests and learned a lot (i only wish my headrest were wide enough). i trust anything you say. i know that you know your stuff. id love to know how you would handle this situation if a customer brought their 4runner into your shop wanting monitors in the headrests. would you rebuild them? or just get new headrests? or maybe a different idea?

william

Now that I think about it your right about the headrest not being standard. I looked at my sister van and then my mom's jeep and measured both and the about 1 1/2 inches off. Just to clarify that I am in no way connected to that ad it was something that I came across as an idea.

othater wrote:

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I personally have a 94 landcruiser. The stock headrest weren't tall enough to hold a 5.6" monitor so I tried a friends Lexus and a 4Runners headrest. They both fit (I would stay with Toyota product). I ended up purchasing two used 4Runner headrest and had them re-uphostered. If the headrest have tilting mechanisms, you will need thin monitors otherwise they will stick out at the corners. I ended up with 7" monitors. Sticking out a little but are OK for the kids.

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i find it amazing that you used a toyota 4runner headrest for 7" monitors, as a 7" monitor is bigger than the back of the headrest itself. can you please post pictures. i had 2 installers already tell me that my headrest is too small, not to mention i measures it myself and its smaller than most TVs

perhaps you used a different year 4runner headrest? please post pics, i am very interested in seeing this

thanks in advance!

azdoi] wrote:

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've installed 7" Audiovox headrests into a 2004 4 runner, and they worked fine.  I'm not saying it was a walk in the park by any means, but they fit.  The seams were not straight but they looked ok. 

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i do not have a 2004 4runner (4th generation), i have a 2002 4runner (3rd generation). i have a totally different body and interior than the 2004. i know it would not be TOTALLY impossible to do this in my car, i just need some direction and ideas from those who have. it is not an easy task putting them in the stock headrests