Head shaker - front TV manual release

[distaff]

I recently had some reinforcement of my theory that all RVs are designed by idiots, built by drunks, and sold by...

I was at Satellite Advantage in Quartzite when we needed to pull down and turn on the TV to set everything up. We had not lowered it yet as it makes getting in and out of the coach a little more awkward (and dangerous as you tend to hit your head on it).

Pushed the button, heard some clicks and motor hum but nothing. Called Monaco support and described the situation. Fellow said "Hmmm, that is not good" (not what you want to hear). He asked if we had hit any bumps - why yes, we drove into Quartzsite on I40 (I've been on better roads in Africa). He said that the gears were probably jammed, and there was a manual release on the passenger side on my coach (he was wrong, it is on the driver side).

What he said then floored me. He said it was not accessible when the TV was up. The only way to access is is to remove the vinyl covered plywood panel on the back of the steel frame that holds the TV. Well, how do you do that you may ask? You pry the corners down from the ceiling, then grab them and pull down hard enough to break it so it falls off the ceiling and hangs down in front of the windshield (you better have a way to fix it cause you can leave it hanging and drive the coach).

Then you have a round shaft projecting about 1 inch back and parallel to the ceiling with a round hole in it. It used to have some plastic part on it, but it is gone and to lower the rack is to put a hook into the hole, and rotate the shaft a half turn at a time. It would take about 400 revolutions to lower the TV. Luckily after we had it down about 4 inches the motor unjammed and lowered the TV

I'm not down on Monaco specifically, my theory applies to all RVs.

[powerboatr]

man thats some procedure , take apart your ceiling
sort of like our electric inside step cover, it inst accessible if they are down



anyway did you try holding up on the tv to see it would take the load off the gearset then maybe start working

[distaff]

Yup, we tried that but when you raise it, it is pressed pretty hard into the ceiling, so there was no movement.

Haven't had my step cover fail completely, but sometimes when you activate it, it slides out but doesn't rise into position. You have to bounce it with your foot as it is just about out, and then it pops up. Need a step ladder to get in if it stayed out.