Converting front CRT TV to Plasma or LCD

KC1BUD · 08-01-2009, 11:16 PM

How many have converted their front TV to a plasma or LCD? How did you accomplish this? Did you just wall off the cavity left by the removal of the CRT or did you make it more storage?

I am thinking of replacing our CRT TV, which is digital for either a plasma or LCD TV, but instead of walling off the opening I thought there might be a way to put the TV on some hinges and have it flip up with maybe storage for DVDs or something like that. Any Ideas?

Snowfitter · 08-02-2009, 02:19 AM

I removed my 27" crt and replaced it with a 32" lcd. After I took the old tv out and found out there were only 2 L-brackets houlding the thing up I decided to remove the entire cabnet and cut 4" off the front and then put it back in place and closed off the opening with 3/4" plywood. I then screwed the lcd mounting bracket to it. We only use our motor home to go to the nascar races so I carry the tv behind the seat and when we get set up at the track I hang it up on the bracket and plug it in. It only weighs 40 lbs so this way there are no squeks or rattles going down the road from the overhead. Be careful when you remove your old tv its very heavy.

twalton · 08-02-2009, 02:35 AM

I'm by no means an expert on the subject but maybe this will get some discussion started. When I bought my plasma set for the house I was told that it had to be transported in the upright position. Not a problem as far as having the set installed as it will surely be installed vertically, but does anyone have any experience with plasma on the road, and has there been a problem Bud should be aware of?

John H... · 08-02-2009, 07:45 AM

I changed mine to LCD and haven't had any problems, but I can't say anything about a plasma. John H...

kjk · 08-02-2009, 09:50 AM

I replaced the 20 inch CRT that came in our 2008 Hurricane 30Q with a 26 inch LCD. The original TV was defective and rather than have the dealer replace it and have the RV out of service for a week, I removed it myself. When the replacement TV arrived I had already decided to put in the LCD.

The support mechanism for the CRT is extremely robust and includes a hoist which you operate with a ratchet. I decided to remove the front facing of the housing and cut it down to create an opening just wide enough to fit a 26 inch toshiba HD TV. I chose this particular TV because it has a flat ledge all around the front of the tv about 3/8 inch wide wich could bear against the cut down facing. I used a piece of rubber weather stripping between the TV and facing.

The mount was fabricated from 3/4 plywood and fastened to the TV just as one would fasten a manufactured mount. I modified the top bracket from the original crt mount to go on the plywood so that I could use the hoist mechanism as an aid to installation (third and fourth hands) and to provide a little extra security to the installation.

The plywood was in turn fastened to the internal structure left over from the crt installation using turnbuckles which enabled me to adjust the pressure against the facing and also to position the TV in the opening.

So far it has not budged and I have been down some very bad roads lately.

Unfortunately, changing the TV has not improved the quality of programming you can watch on it :-)

KC1BUD · 08-02-2009, 10:47 PM

I was wondering if any of you or anyone else left the cabinet closed, off or made it functional for additional storage? Seems that using it for more storage is possible, and was wondering if anyone had.

Greg I · 08-09-2009, 01:06 PM

My 2009 Challenger 376 came with LCD TVs. The rear tv is actually mounted to the face frame of the cabinet. The frame is then mounted to the cabinet with a piano hinge at the top and 2 gas struts to allow it to open upward. That allows access to the wires. It also leaves about 14 inches of dead space behind the TV where I mounted a fireproof lockbox. Makes a great place to store extra cash and small valuables when on the road.

prsmith · 08-10-2009, 04:09 AM

I have a 2001 Challenger 335

Please, I would like to see some photos of these flat screen installations - front and back - the installation using gas struts and piano hinge intrigues me because it might work for my rear screen

I would like to retain use of the the space behind the front screen for light items such as paper products

Thnaks

Flossy · 08-10-2009, 05:11 AM

Prsmith, do a search of the Newmar Owners forum using LCD TV as a search term. You will find several posts with pictures. The specifics may not apply but there are some great ideas about mounting.

John H... · 08-10-2009, 08:25 AM

Try a search on "flatscreen TV" on this forum. John H...

two2go · 08-10-2009, 01:00 PM

I installed a good sound system amp and sub-woofer in the CRT space. Lots of space left over, but no way to access it conveniently. Also glad I don't have a 100 pound TV right over my head any more.
Also, I do not believe plasma TVs are suitable in a RV environment--shock and temperature extremes. Our LCD works fine after two years.