We like road trips and usually don't mind driving around in circles for hours while looking for something. But if you're the kind of person that insists on getting somewhere in a timely manner, hates to get lost, runs out of gas frequently, or even if you're just a tech junkie, then you'll love the Jeep-branded Trail Guide portable navigation system built by Garmin. It's designed to install and fit right on top of your 1997-'06 Wrangler dashboard. When it's in the dock, it works much like the navigation units found in luxury cars and SUVs. You can program it to have sexy voice commands with an Elizabeth Hurly-like English accent or even a foreign language. When parked, you can remove the unit and take it with you for hand-held use or fold down the antenna and hide it from view behind the dock's revolving door. The unit features a full color screen and is pre-programmed with map coverage for North America, so startup is super easy. The kit comes with minimal instructions, so here are a few tips to make your install go smoother.
How's It Work
The Trail Guide comes with a simple-to-follow owner's manual and a smaller easily stowed user guide that covers the most-used functions. There are lots of cool features like full mapping, turn-by-turn directions, and voice prompts. It can find nearest restaurants, gas stations, lodging, and more. We liked following the unit's built-in trip computer that displays speed, odometer, total time, maximum speed, altitude, and more. Navigating through the pages can be a little difficult at first because there are only a few buttons. The navigation unit has a foldable antenna that needs to be raised for it to clip into the dock. To hide the unit inside the dock, the antenna has to be folded down.
We were extremely amazed at how well the Trail Guide worked in the middle of nowhere. We were truly lost in a desert wash, so we turned it on, zoomed out the screen, picked a destination, and had it navigate a path. It actually found a dirt road that took us back to the highway and then to civilization, all before we had to resort to cannibalism. With the Trail Guide removed from its dock, we were able to get over a full day of navigating without charging it. The time the charge lasts will vary depending on usage, screen brightness selection, and so on. Overall, the Trail Guide is a useful travel tool with features that cater specifically to the Jeep crowd.
Several pieces of the center...
Several pieces of the center dash need to be removed to get to the factory wiring behind the stereo. Screws and pop-clips hold the assembly together. Wrestling with the stereo mounts and wiring is a chore, but don't force or tug on anything or you could damage it.
Since our Jeep was a pre-'03...
Since our Jeep was a pre-'03 model, we needed to purchase two extra wiring harnesses (PN 8220-7541 and PN 8220-7523) from the Jeep dealer for the Garmin system to plug directly into our factory stereo wiring harness. The parts ran about $75 for both, but after now having done the install, we wouldn't recommend them. It's difficult to fit all the plugs and extra wires behind the dash, and it's much easier to simply wire the navigation system directly to a fused key-on or accessory power source.
Using the additional pre-'03...
Using the additional pre-'03 wiring harnesses makes the install way more confusing, especially because of the lack of clearly detailed wiring instructions. Basically, if it looks like a ground, it should be grounded. And if it doesn't look like it will plug into anything, don't worry about it, you don't need it. The '03-'06 Wranglers are plug-and-play using the wiring included with the Trail Guide.
The rubber mat from the top...
The rubber mat from the top pocket in the dash cover is not reused, but save it. With it removed, drill a 1/2-inch hole in the middle of the tray for the Trail Guide plug and two 5/32-inch mounting holes using the unit base as a template. Later, if you decide to remove the navigation system from your Jeep, you can hide these holes with the factory rubber tray liner.
The stereo and dash parts...
The stereo and dash parts can then be reinstalled. Carefully massage the wiring harnesses in place to keep it from being damaged. Accessing the wires through the glove box simplifies this task. Pull the Trail Guide wiring up through the 1/2-inch hole you drilled, plug it into the base, and install the base on your dash with the two machine screws provided.