Front LCD TV install in 2005 Vectra (Long)

[cbeierl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by trampsrv Chris nice job.how much time and money was put into it.

The only direct costs were the TV ($399.99) and the Wall Mount ($19.99), both from Amazon with free shipping, and a few bolts and some stick-on green felt from the hardware store. The silver metal bracket was from my scrap pile, as was the small piece of plexiglass I used to fill in the gap at the bottom. I used a router with a straight cutting bit and a bushing kit to follow a template made of scrap wood to route out the face frame. I used a Dremel tool with a cutoff wheel to shorten the saw blade for the sabre (jig) saw I used to cut back the metal housing.

Most of the time was in the up-front planning/thinking stage. Once I'd figured out what I was going to do it went quite rapidly--probably no more than 3 or 4 hours total working time, spread a couple of days.

[prsmith]

Hi,

Thanks for the great description of what you did

At the moment I am having trouble getting the TV out

I have removed the facia and the bottom plastic cover (When i removed the 4 screws from the side the assembly pretty well fell off)

I found the small bracket on the bottom and loosened the screw - TV is still solid. I assume the next step is to remove the two vertical bolts that
are inserted into the brackets (one on each side of TV) just above the verticle masking tape shown in the picture below - are these the final attachments that should be loosened before the TV is loose enough to remove?

Thanks,
Preston

[QUOTE=cbeierl;905740]I just finished replacing the original Sony Tube TV up front in my 2005 Winnebago Vectra 36RD with a new VIZIO M320VT LED LCD HDTV and I'm pretty happy with the results.

I needed to cut back the steel framework on both sides to make room for the new TV. I used a hand held jigsaw to cut the steel--due to the clearances involved I needed to cut off the end of the sawblade (using my Dremel cutoff wheel) so that I wouldn't hit the cabinets on either side while sawing. Here's the area on the right side that needed to be cut:

[cbeierl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by prsmith ... I found the small bracket on the bottom and loosened the screw - TV is still solid. I assume the next step is to remove the two vertical bolts that are inserted into the brackets (one on each side of TV) just above the verticle masking tape shown in the picture below - are these the final attachments that should be loosened before the TV is loose enough to remove? Thanks, Preston ...

Yes, you need to remove the large bolt on each side--they secure a metal bracket across the top of the TV and hold it down. Be careful--the original CRT TV is liable to be quite heavy. You probably should have two people to remove it.

[prsmith]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbeierl Yes, you need to remove the large bolt on each side--they secure a metal bracket across the top of the TV and hold it down. Be careful--the original CRT TV is liable to be quite heavy. You probably should have two people to remove it.

Thank you very much Chris - I also appreciate the warning. I will be doing this alone so I will make sure that I am prepared for when it breaks loose. I will jury rig some sort of support so that it does not get away.

I assume the TVs electrical connection is in the same overhead compartment as the inverter - I will disconnect that and the TV cable before spring the TV loose

Thanks again,
Preston

[1ciderdog]

As mentioned above, at least on mine, there is a heavy solid strap across the top of the TV. Removing that strap should allow you to remove the TV and as mentioned it is heavy and awkward to lift and move. I removed the TV myself - I just kept one hand on the set while removing the nuts, bolts and wires in the back. Unless you have a back problem you can do it yourself but it will take effort and you may wonder why you didn't get help.

[Party Barge]

In 06, Winnabago , installed a 32 lcd, but didn't have a digi. tuner. also had the dvd/vcr combo.
Well my wife likes her tv shows and I like to keep her happy, so I changed out the old with the new.

1. direct tv dvr.
2. channel master over air dvr.
3. Sony blueray dvd and sur. system
4. 40" sony tv.

I had to move the front overhead cab. door over about 3/8 inch so they just cover the opening and pass the hardware on the side cabs.

I added a 2 inch square tube to the existing steel frame to mount the new tv.

I pulled a two cable external ant. feed for the direct dvr. The king dome is set up for two lmb's.

I had to change the speaker connectors for the new sony blueray player.

I added the channel master dvr to cover us if all else fails.

Here are some pic's