Front tv replacement 2003 Dolphin xl

[dicktater]

Looking for info on removing the 27 in. Rca Tv.in my 2003 Dolphin. Have removed the plastic decorative front and it appears to have a heavy steel frame around and under the tv. Not sure the best way to get it free,so that it can be removed. Appreciate hearing from any one that has done this task. Also when free it appears this tv will be heavy and in a position
that will not be easy to handle.
It appears since the tv is supported from moving foreward by the top and the bottom steel plate. The bottom plate has 2 bolts on each side. Under the steel plate is the plastic runs across the whole front. Do not see any way or removing connections to back of the tv.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[kennersonf]

This issue was covered very well by "coulter 6" Here's the link Front LCD TV Install in a 2005 Sea Breeze 8321LX I will be tackling the same project in a couple weeks. I'm also going to replace the surround sound system and going to remove the VCR. I have both the new TV and new surround sound system purchase. I chose the same TV depicted in the link. And yes, it will take a couple people to take the old TV our.

Our 2003 models with the plastic fascia will require creativity in building a wood frame around the new TV. Our overhead cabinets are an inch closer together than depicted in the above link. I plan on taking pictures and posting it when done. Good luck.

[JJH3rd]

We have an 05 Dolphin and in it the plastic panel under the TV just pops out (& in). In the 05 the TV was held in place by a couple of metal "stops” welded on the inside bottom of the metal cage.

Here's the thread that tells all: http://www.irv2.com/forums/f105/national-dolphin-entertainment-wiring-102238.html?highlight=JJH3rd

As I related in my posts in that thread, I have a pair of bolts on each side that hold the bottom plate of the metal box. I removed the front bolt from each side and tilted the bottom down in fron so that the top of the TV cleared the ceiling. Then, with help, I eased the TV out until I could get to the wiring. I had already unplugged the power cord so I just cut the TV cable to remove the TV.

Hope this helps.

JJ

[Bill WA6YBD]

Hi,
I recently removed and replaced my old 27" RCA CRT TV with a 32" Vizio LED LCD and am I glad I did. I followed the instructions kennersont posted above for culter6's instructions. It turned out fantastic, it is a solid mount. I could not be happier. It took me the better part of a day and a half but well worth the time. I had to cut the metal frame twice as I didn't go back far enough the first time. It would have looked OK but I'm glad I took the time to re-cut the frame and do it right. I did not post any pictures as mine looks just like coulter6's installation and his instructions and pictures are so good I didn't want to duplicated his hard work. If you follow what coulter6 did you will not be disappointed. Pay close attention the wall mount you get. Get a good one. One that the clamps can be cinched down with set screws once everything is in its proper place. I did not like the first mount I picked up and took it back. I was able to find a cheaper and better mount from Amazon. Be sure to have someone to help you when you remove the old TV. It is very, very heavy! Follow JJH3rd instructions on how to tilt the old TV. I did the same thing. A bit tricky but it works.

Only problem I had was once the new TV was operational it was quite apparent I needed an HD satellite receiver in the motor home. And of course a DVR. I modified an HD dish to sit upon my tripod but I also wanted an auto satellite seeking dish on the roof but I was not about to spend $1600.00 for the Winegard traveler. The Winegard Traveler SK-3005 is currently the only seeking system that works for Direct TV HD. I found a non functioning WInegard traveler at a reasonable price and thought I would take a chance that I could fix it. I lucked out and was able to repair it. I installed it just last weekend and it is too cool.

Best of luck with your install, all the info you need is in coulter6's post.

~Bill

[kennersonf]

Bill - The challenge "dicktater" and I have is the fact that our 2003 models have a plastic fascia around the existing TV and not the wood framing that the later models have. I will have to build some type of wood framing for the new TV. I'm not sure of how I'm going to do it until I get the old one out, which should be in a couple of weeks. I know what I want to do and I hope it'll work. I do plan on mounting the TV the way "coulter6" did. I bought the following mount from CW - Kingston Sales Corp - Universal TV Tilt Mount - TV Accessories - Camping World. It has set screws to lock it into place. I don't have a satellite so that won't be an issue.

[M&EM]

Fred,
The way I handled my conversion was to completely remove the plastic facia. I added a 3/4 inch thick maple finished furniture grade particle board bottom that bridged under the two over head cabinets.

I squared off the windshield facing parts of the exposed cabinets using same type material in vertical orientation. The top edge of that piece was made level with the top of the wind shield.

I needed to have that vertical surface which spanned the width of the wind shield in order to mount an MCD day night shade system.

The interior facing parts of the cabinet remained as original.

I reused some of the original tv support steel to support the wood work I added.

Marty

[kennersonf]

Marty,
Sorry, but I'm having trouble envisioning what you are trying to explain. When you say you removed the entire plastic fascia, are you talking about the fascia just around the TV. I removed the plastic fascia around the stereo equipment years ago. Can you email me some photos. I'll send you a PM.

[M&EM]

Fred, see email I sent.

Marty

[Rick 2005 Dolphin 5376]

The Vizio 32" Razor fits perfectly behind the wood frame where the 27" tube once resided. We replaced our a few months ago. I simply mounted the new tv directly to the wood frame with a little black foam weather strip along the inside lip and a couple of 3/4 square strips of wood screwed to the wooden frame to hold the tv in place .

[kennersonf]

[QUOTE=Rick 2005 Dolphin 5376;1062782]The Vizio 32" Razor fits perfectly behind the wood frame where the 27" tube once resided. We replaced our a few months ago. I simply mounted the new tv directly to the wood frame with a little black foam weather strip along the inside lip and a couple of 3/4 square strips of wood screwed to the wooden frame to hold the tv in place .

Rick, This won't work on our '03 MH's with the plastic fascia. There is one inch less space between the overhead cabinets. I wish it would be this simple.

[M&EM]

The tv widths available when I did mine were also 1/2 " too wide on each side. Looking back, I probably could have just trimmed that much off the cabinet faces on each side of the opening.

Instead I found a 32 " Sharp that I mounted such that the tv flange covers a small amount of the cabinet face. I mounted the tv so that the top was hinged to the frame work in the ceiling. This enabled access to the back of the tv by simply swinging the bottom out. My first version retained the plastic bottom under the cabinets. Second version involved a redo of the cabinet bottom as I described earlier in this thread and in a PM to you.

Marty

[njs42]

The TV is very heavy---I had a neighbor help---he was young and strong and basically grabbed the TV--- supported it for a moment on the front drivers seat while I diconnected the wires in the rear then we laid it down on the sofa---screen down before moving it out.

You are left then with steel frame work on both sides. I used this frame work to secure a cross memeber of 3/4 ply that I screwed into the side making a place for the mount for the new TV. I used a flat mount for a 32" Samsung---it just fits---so the side trim is only about 3/8's thick. I made a top trim piece which follows the contour of the old plastic bezel on the roof line. It slides in the top after the TV is mounted and is held in place by one center screw---thats all---making removal easy.

To get the 3/4 ply rear brace in the right position I cut it just to fit snug, arranged where I was going to drive the screws into the side frame work. Then I installed the mount on the ply wood then the TV---and basically just slid the entire assembly into place---adjusting it to fit properly then lifted the TV up and out---presto the brace was set exactly in place and was snug enough to stay there. I screwed it in---then I could mount the TV and finish the cabinetry.

Once you et the old TV out the way forward is pretty clear. the advantage of the )# model is that the plastic bezel can just go away and you can invent how you want to trim the TV. In my case I cut the plastic down and used it in part to seal the bottom. Basically put the cut down piece back where it cam from---bu the sides are trimmed and the top is as well by pieces I made and finished.