I have a '03 crew cab with bench seats. Was told by dealer that the cassette deck is not available with the CD and the bench seat.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif I am now faced with taking a long trip with a boom box or no tapes. My family likes to listen to books on tape. Some are available on CD but not many yet. Am considering making a mount for tape deck in the cubby below the 12V power outlets or mounting it under the seat. Has anyone done this? Suggestions?

Obviously you have a computer right? Chances are it has a CD burner. Why not convert your tapes to cd's?

I considered that but we typically get the books on tape from the public library. Converting a 16 tape book to CD requires more time then I am willing to spend, especially since we will listen to the tapes once and return them.


I have seen in my owners manual a radio with a CD and tape player. Is this available for the '03s? I understand that the radios in the 03s have the VIN number or part of the VIN number stored in them. If a different '03 radio is installed, would the new radio need to have the VIN number of my truck stored in it's memory some way. If yes, how is this accomplished?

You would have to get your dealer to unlock the VIN so it would work in your truck.

I did not even think that anyone listened to tapes anymore, thought those things were obsolete. Wow. It is all about MP3, CDs and XM now. Edited by: GMC2500HD

The cassette was an option ($100) for mine with the bench seat. I debated it with the dealer. My 2002 has the cassette and it has NEVER been used. I really wanted the 6 disc changer but that WASN'T available with the bench. I'm going to miss my bucket seats bet the wife wanted the extra seating for the kids friends if they go anywhere with us.

We needed the room for the children in our truck as well. With three boys it is very nice, no, absolutely necessary to have a place to put one of them when they don't get along. This really helps us arrive at our destination with everyone alive and well. Our Tahoe has the tape/CD and we got through the Harry Potter series along with several other books during long drives. Pulling a 7000 pound travel trailer with the Tahoe made for some long trips. Now with the truck, we are able to climb the passes close to the speed limit without a struggle. So what do we do, we plan a trip from Seattle to So Cal. The trips always go much quicker when we are involved in a book.


Thanks for the help.

If it were me I would the kids a walkman with a headphone adapter for 3 so I didn't have to listen to it myself.

That is my plan for the DVD players. I will get 1 or two portable DVD players, 2 to avoid the inevitable lively discussion about which movie to watch. It is alot cheaper than the DVD systems that I can't use because of the bench seat in front. Besides, I would rather invest in a Joice + Attitude to keep me entertained. Now I just need to find something for my wife to avoid "The Look" when smoke begins to eminated from the back tires and that grin appears on my face.


The best solution for me is probably the walkman until books on tape are more available on CD.

Go to truck stops. You'll be amazed at how many books are actually already on cd. I have more than 50 books I've collected (actually my wife has).





Don M.

m2r2s
I have the very same problem. The wife and I travel to Montana from New Hampshire every summer and I would have to listen to her for most of the trip, so the books on tape are an absolute necessity!!!!!! I've been told I could solve my problem with an FM modulator. The problem is however, I'm not a techno weenie, rather a techno nummy!!!!Any help out there?

How did you get bench. I couldn't get a bench seat in mine and i have the down grade to vinyl too. It 2 bucket with a little bench between them.

We got the kids their own personal DVD players that hang from the seat. Works great especially with the headphones!

I had to hunt around for bench seats. Having the wife sit next to me, as well as the center console I bought from Gall's for the perimeter lighting, scanner, and CB, mandated that we have that.. Plus I can use the seat belt and keep my laptop on top of the center console when I have that seat folded down, use my mapping program and be able to navigate w/ GPS and a screen I can SEE.