Info needed, upgrading 2011 Sierra SLT w/Bose to FACTORY Nav Radio

[83GMCK2500]

Howdy guys, my dad is finally driving his 2011 GMC Sierra SLT 3500HD DRW. (When he started a month ago, it had about 1,100 mi on it...it's lived a sheltered life. ) It has the XM/Bose radio and the rear view camera, NO rear seat entertainment. He wants the factory nav radio, I know it will need a VIN programmed and that GM still offers this as an accessory as well as several places online offer new radios with VINs programmed. I would like to know how the Maps are stored/accessed. Are they on a DVD that has to remain in the radio, or are they stored on the radio? I have read something about a 2012+ HDD Nav Radio...can we put one of those in? I presume with the latter that the info is stored in the radio itself. How are the maps updated? New DVD? Subscription? Pay GM out the nose?

 

[83GMCK2500]

Nothing? No factory nav experience/knowledge?

 

[btfarm]

I'm clueless about the audio systems Devin. Gotta be some audio guru forums out there somewhere... :dunno:

 

[saratoga]

The 2011 super duty I had with the Denso two knob nav unit was hard drive based. You could play CDs and DVDs in it and the nav still worked.

IIRC GM used a Denso nav radio in 2011 virtually the same as Ford (could be completely wrong though).

I have no clue who makes the new SD card nav units.

 

[83GMCK2500]

All of my reading indicates that GM released the upgraded HDD style radio in 2012 for the GMT-900s, 2007.5-2011 require the Nav DVD. I may have found a solution, will keep this thread updated as I find more out. This is, unfortunately, not a plug-and-play swap as GM changed the connector on the back of the radios.

 

[dmaxx3500]

the plugs are very different on 12' trucks with factory nav,theres a guy in cali on ebay that for $1600-$1800 has the nav and wiring,,but the cheaper way is to use a nav from a 2007.5-2010 truck,it will need a GPS antenna and a ''10.3'' nav disc