Adding navigation to manufacture installed Uconnect 5.

[Ang]

I'm looking at a 2024 Gladiator Nighthawk, has the 12.3" screen. Doesn't have navigator. Can I, or has anybody tried, to add navigator to the Uconnect 5 system? Is it possible to do?

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[Mr._Bill]

I would guess, probably not. Dealer upgrade options for the Uconnect system have been very limited in the past.

 

[Janster]

Do you have a cell phone?? If you have a cell phone - you can use Carplay or Android Auto. All your navigation can be done thru the phone.

Granted - if you’re going to areas that don’t have any cell service - the factory nav would be beneficial.

I have the factory Nav and rarely use it.

 

[Ang]

I would guess, probably not. Dealer upgrade options for the Uconnect system have been very limited in the past.

I'm getting that jist. People have said they don't do updats to maps, or that they actually charge for updates. Have you found this to be true?

 

[Ang]

Do you have a cell phone?? If you have a cell phone - you can use Carplay or Android Auto. All your navigation can be done thru the phone.

Granted - if you’re going to areas that don’t have any cell service - the factory nav would be beneficial.

I have the factory Nav and rarely use it.

Yeah I get that. It just seems silly to have to pull out my phone when I can have navigator right there. Run the battery down on the phone?

 

[Janster]

Yeah I get that. It just seems silly to have to pull out my phone when I can have navigator right there. Run the battery down on the phone?

As long as you have the phone with you……in the truck….. You don’t have to get it out of your pocket (or where ever you keep it). You setup your phone to ‘connect’ to Uconnect. Everytime you get in the truck and start it up, the Jeep/Uconnect should automatically connect to your phone (as long as its in the truck somewhere). Use the screen (Carplay/Androil Auto) to use the various apps, navigation, hands free phone calls, texting or whatever, music, etc.

I haven’t noticed any battery usage locally, however….. If you’re going on long trips and using Waze or Google maps (or other navigation app), and/or streaming music….you’d want to plug the phone in to keep it charged.

And of course…. You have to be careful with your phone and data usage. If you have an unlimited data plan, then there’s no concern.

 

[Hootbro]

IMHO, built in navigation is pretty much dead tech and do not see it as a premium service. I just keep a older Garmin that has lifetime map updates in the center console just in case I happen to be in a rare place that cell reception and my Android Auto and Waze will not work.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I'm getting that jist. People have said they don't do updats to maps, or that they actually charge for updates. Have you found this to be true?

You do have to pay for Map Updates. They are not as current as Google Maps. With MY '23 and older, a Map Update also includes a Uconnect System Update (if one is available).

Android Auto works very well with Google Maps. If you connect the phone with a USB cable, it also keeps it charged. You can do a offline Map download with Google if you are going to be traveling in a area with poor cellular service.

 

[Ang]

As long as you have the phone with you……in the truck….. You don’t have to get it out of your pocket (or where ever you keep it). You setup your phone to ‘connect’ to Uconnect. Everytime you get in the truck and start it up, the Jeep/Uconnect should automatically connect to your phone (as long as its in the truck somewhere). Use the screen (Carplay/Androil Auto) to use the various apps, navigation, hands free phone calls, texting or whatever, music, etc.

I haven’t noticed any battery usage locally, however….. If you’re going on long trips and using Waze or Google maps (or other navigation app), and/or streaming music….you’d want to plug the phone in to keep it charged.

And of course…. You have to be careful with your phone and data usage. If you have an unlimited data plan, then there’s no concern.

Thanks, this helps a lot! I do have unlimited so I'm good.

 

[Ang]

IMHO, built in navigation is pretty much dead tech and do not see it as a premium service. I just keep a older Garmin that has lifetime map updates in the center console just in case I happen to be in a rare place that cell reception and my Android Auto and Waze will not work.

I have a Garmin in my Liberty. Sounds like I might do the same as you. Guess I'll have to learn how to use the Android Auto. I can stop looking for ones with navigator.

 

[Ang]

You do have to pay for Map Updates. They are not as current as Google Maps. With MY '23 and older, a Map Update also includes a Uconnect System Update (if one is available).

Android Auto works very well with Google Maps. If you connect the phone with a USB cable, it also keeps it charged. You can do a offline Map download with Google if you are going to be traveling in a area with poor cellular service.

I didn't know Android Auto works with Google maps. Guess I'll just learn how to use the Android auto and stop looking for ones with navigator. Ugh, the time I have wasted!!

 

[Mr._Bill]

I didn't know Android Auto works with Google maps. Guess I'll just learn how to use the Android auto and stop looking for ones with navigator. Ugh, the time I have wasted!!

With MY '23 and older, the large screen Uconnect always included built-in NAV. It's not the best, but it works fairly well. I used it a lot in the beginning (2019), but eventually migrated to Google Maps and Android Auto. It's nice to have the built-in NAV as a backup, but I'm rarely in an area with no cellular service for very long.

 

[Hootbro]

I didn't know Android Auto works with Google maps. Guess I'll just learn how to use the Android auto and stop looking for ones with navigator. Ugh, the time I have wasted!!

90% of the learning curve is just getting Android Auto to sync with your phone. If you are buying new off the lot, sales is suppose to offer syncing your phone up the first time and if they do not, you can ask them to do it for you and show you how to get started. Just tell them that their survey results depend on it and they will be jumping over themselves to get you set up.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

90% of the learning curve is just getting Android Auto to sync with your phone. If you are buying new off the lot, sales is suppose to offer syncing your phone up the first time and if they do not, you can ask them to do it for you and show you how to get started. Just tell them that their survey results depend on it and they will be jumping over themselves to get you set up.

That's sure the truth.

I've mixed feelings about the 2024s and later using WiFi to do AA - it's a battery killer and I keep WiFi off for security, and, because it could connect to our home WiFi which is CELLULAR and very expensive!
It's handy on one hand, but you need to keep the phone plugged in or it drains it badly over longer trips anyway.

I do like the built-in nav for the fact it displays in the cluster when it's time to change lanes or take an exit instead of constantly looking over at the stupid radio clear over in the middle of the truck.
Updates cost - yeah, but for many of us, they won't matter much.
So I use a mix - built-in and Waze on my phone.

 

[NULL POINTER]

That's sure the truth.

I've mixed feelings about the 2024s and later using WiFi to do AA - it's a battery killer and I keep WiFi off for security, and, because it could connect to our home WiFi which is CELLULAR and very expensive!
It's handy on one hand, but you need to keep the phone plugged in or it drains it badly over longer trips anyway.

I do like the built-in nav for the fact it displays in the cluster when it's time to change lanes or take an exit instead of constantly looking over at the stupid radio clear over in the middle of the truck.
Updates cost - yeah, but for many of us, they won't matter much.
So I use a mix - built-in and Waze on my phone.

Uconnect 5 TomTom map updates for 2024+ are a free download and install (until Stellantis takes them away or makes you pay). Stellantis | Home I found out about these on a Dodge Ram TRX forum and have successfully installed 3 of the most recent North America map updates on my 2024 JTR-X. They do one update per calendar quarter for North America.

Your Uconnect 5 system updates are free OTA updates. Because system OTA updates wonk your screen, learn how to do a radio reboot (push and hold the volume knob until the screen goes dark, then let it do its thing). Some apps will take overnight to restore themselves, and some like Trail Logs and Adventure Guides take a few days to restore.

I believe in the System Settings there is a System menu that offers the option to do a radio reboot or a total system reset (you lose all you configuration settings, phone contacts, NAV destinations, etc. with a system reset) So I would advise against doing the system reset.

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