Replacing the TVs

[pgchd]

Hi Paul,
There have been several posts on various forums about members doing
new TV's, some "built in" and some on "swing arms" that lay flat to
the old overhead console, I have reviewed them all....beautiful work
and wonderful ideas. pts, wbs, etc. The thing the tripped me up was
the design of "our coaches" overhead with tv in the corner....saw a
"friends of birds" conversion 2 years ago of a 97 42, redid the corner
cabinet with smoked Plexiglas and moved the components there , major
overhead surgery installed the flat panel in the right corner "in the
overhead", had a hinged panel on the bottom and you had to remove the
TV to get at the right overhead fuses, etc......... Beautiful and
expensive but his " priority" design point was" "built in".
Got bored on the road the past 5 months and my priority design point
was no major surgery, when tv removed looks "stock" as I take the
coach "offline" and do not leave them in the coach when I am home.
They also generate a fair amount of heat and wanted airflow. Biggest
design point "freakin cheap".Stole and modified an idea from Don
Brander's post(thanks Don for the inspiration)".
Bought a sharp 32 incher and a "swingarm" mount" from the local
Wally world on the road as they were running a sale. Took the left
door off the "right hand" 2 door cabinet where the fuse/ relay access
is and installed the mount on the "upward beam partition". The mount
allows the TV to "slip onto it and 1 thumb screw" When the tv is off,
the mount rests inside the cabinet and you can put the left door back
on the hinge base and OEM with "2 snaps" per the design of the hinge.
MOunt does wire management inside of it.....neat, clean.......
Left the center cabinet electronics there as the swing arm moves the
tv around side to side, up and down, and with it as close to flat as
possible position (parked), you can still get the left door open to
work the "box, cd, DVD, player, etc. Stuff is old anyway and will get
upgraded one day.........
Took off the TV framing on the corner, went to the local box store
and got some molding, 1/8' plywood.Framed the corner cabinet out to
make a component area now vacant from the old TV and painted
everything black to match the TV and dash panel. Framed it out with
new molding and painted it black to match TV and dash also.
Ordered 1/4" smoked plexiglass online and brass hinges and magnetic
locks to match the "wine glass" cabinet hardware.
Mounted the satellite receiver and a couple of other new "IR" toys
in there, actually mounted the digital converter for the back TV in
there..........works great with doors closed through the smoked
plexiglass.
Utilizing the "srew mounts" from the base of the TV where the stand
sips in, got a pice of aluminum from box store, formed it into 2
pieces...... 1 screwed the the cabiniet inside with door off for the
mount, other to 1 screw in the TV where the base it would be if you
put it on a stand. They "mate" with a srew and wingnut" so I can
"park" the TV while traveling and it stays locked against the overhead
cabinet..... no movement
Upside:
- cheap - 60 for the plexiglass and hardware including shipping
- 20 for the box tore stuff including paint
- dont have to move anything and a new cool cabinet for
additional toy expansion
- easier access to the fuse /relay panel
- updated looking overhead
- easy to remove
- can hook up the PC if I wanted to
Downside:
- TV is NOT built in so it sticks out about 3 inches across the
front cabinet....coach access is not hindered but you do need to be
aware and does not look as cool as "built in" like some of the members
setups.
- yeah got to get out of bed and aim the IR remote to the cabinet to
change the channel in the back while the old TV is still in but will
fix this next year OTR.
Next years over the road project will be to replace the rear TV and
build a cabinet in the back......stealing and idea from an SOB
forum...using a piano hinde and building a tv and "face" into the
space but the whole thing flips up on air struts. Framing out behind
for additional storage........yes I get bored on the road with work,
site seeing, etc.....need to keep busy, and have 2 new struts from an
old project I need to find a use for....... later
Pete, Donna, and Lucky Bear Chin
95 42' Daytona Beach, FL





--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
wrote:
>
> The converter box will make the TV continue to work... but the box
> replaces the TV tuner (you set the TV to channel 3 or 4 like for a
> VCR) and you use the remote for the box. In an RV, that suggests some
> mounting issues. In my 'bird, getting to the back of the existing TV
> to hook up the converter) is going to be a hassle (at the very least)
> and then, where do I put the box? Also, how do I integrate the
> (traditional signal) cable and (digital signal) antenna. From a
> practical standpoint, the converter box ought to go up front where
> the selector box sits. But then, the remote, which requires line of
> sight, won't work with the bedroom TV (where I generally watch most
> of my TV).
>
> The advantage of replacing the tube-TV with a digital LCD panel is
> reduced weight, possibly larger screen size in the same area, and
> (naturally) digital signal capability (to say nothing about HD
> performance). So, the issue isn't as straight forward as it may seem
> at first.
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> aeonix1@...
> On the road at Buffalo, TX
>
>
>
> On Nov 3, 2008, at 6:04 PM, Wallace Craig wrote:
>
> > It is my understanding that a converter box will obviate the
> > necessity to change out the TV set. Unless of course we are just
> > looking for a reason to get a digital TV.
> >
> > Wallace Craig
> > 95 WLWB 42
> > Azle, Texas
>