05 Journey Rear TV LCD Install

[SVTotem]

The first order of business was the removal of the old TV and donating it to the guys in the office of the storage yard. The next and perhaps the most time consuming phase was measuring the available space and coming up with a workable means of mounting. As you can see, once the old TV is removed there remains an irregular flat surface and the front wooden frame. Not much vertical surface for mounting a flat panel unit.

My solution was to build an elevated shelf that would serve two purposes:

One, it raises the TV towards the upper portion of the frame more efficiently filling that space, while leaving suitable space below the shelf for placing a DVD player or satellite receiver.

Second, it allows a solid base to support a vertical frame element holding the TV itself. The open area to the left rear is for access to the rear of the receiver or DVD player without removing it. Well that, and I did not have the right tools for cutting the complex angles required to miter in the piece that would be required to complete that fourth side. I have installed a piece of the same carpet covering the base as a light shield over that opening to eliminate distracting light if watching TV during the day. But, who does that?

We originally planned to use a 26” TV, but since we seldom watch TV in the bedroom we elected to economize and go with a 24” unit. The mounting will accommodate a 26” TV should we, or a subsequent owner, want one. Rather than try to shave away the raised square of fiberboard in the center of the shelf I elected to retain it to hold the future DVD player in place with Velcro.