LCD Flat screen install

[macnkat]

Out with the old, in with the new.

We just bought a 2001 Bounder that had the old tube TV's in it...OK for DVD's, but not much else. I bought a 24" Dynex LCD from Best Buy for $249 and a wall mount bracket for $19. Then to Home Depot for some MDF, 3/4".

Here's what I started with:


The problem is trying to stick a 25.5" wide TV in a 19" slot, it doesn't work. My first thought was to mount it over the existing hole with a pull away swivel/tilt TV mount, but I didn't like the idea of the TV moving while on the road. So some demo is in order. Remove the trim:


Then demo the existing brackets so you have a clean slate:


Mount the bracket to the TV. There are two options here, flush and a slight tilt down, I chose the tilt and it is perfect:


The TV is 25.5" wide, I cut the MDF to that width and tall enough to cover the hole entirely:


Attach a scrap piece of 2X4 to the back where you want to mount the bracket so the lag bolts will have something to bite into:


Mount the bracket and cut a hole for your cables:


Test fitting, looks great:


Finished product looks good. I will cover the MDF with a fabric when my wife decides what she wants there, but it looks pretty good as is with the light colored cabinets in the RV. The final step was to attach a appliance strap to the bottom of the set (not shown) and the MDF right behind the TV to keep it in place while driving...a test drive proved very successful. No rattling or squeaks like the old set and now we have HD/digital while we are on the road!

[NLOVNIT]

Excellent job. You'll really enjoy the new TV's. We replaced both our CRT TV's with LED HDTV's. Dropped about 100 lbs of weight doing that.

Lori-

[JacknKay]

Excellent job and nice pictures. Maybe someday I'll do that.

[Max Hubrich]

macnkat,

Great job and super install pictures-

I did a similiar install about 3 years ago.

An added advantage to your install, and a big one at that, is the cooling of these "heat generator" LCD devices. Some enclosed cabinet installs need a fan mounted behind them for cooling. Yours is out in the open-.

I went from a 27" RCA to a 32" Sony Bravia (I changed the method of holding the Sony in place from this old thread). I shaved my two cabinets door ends down and moved them outboard to accommodate the 31" width required for the Sony. My HD picture is awesome. A Winegard 5 LNB Travel'er finished the install to provide my 2 Directv Satellite receivers a great signal.

Best of luck, I know you'll enjoy watching great TV-,

[macnkat]

Thanks for the comments Max.

[John H...]

Great job. Curious, What's MDF??

[mythplaced]

Medium
Desity
Fiberboard

[John H...]

Thanks, Mike

[littlec]

Originally Posted by macnkat

Out with the old, in with the new.

We just bought a 2001 Bounder that had the old tube TV's in it...OK for DVD's, but not much else. I bought a 24" Dynex LCD from Best Buy for $249 and a wall mount bracket for $19. Then to Home Depot for some MDF, 3/4".

Here's what I started with:
<img src="http://www.irv2.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10834"/>

The problem is trying to stick a 25.5" wide TV in a 19" slot, it doesn't work. My first thought was to mount it over the existing hole with a pull away swivel/tilt TV mount, but I didn't like the idea of the TV moving while on the road. So some demo is in order. Remove the trim:
<img src="http://www.irv2.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10835"/>

Then demo the existing brackets so you have a clean slate:
<img src="http://www.irv2.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10836"/>

Mount the bracket to the TV. There are two options here, flush and a slight tilt down, I chose the tilt and it is perfect:
<img src="http://www.irv2.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10837"/>

The TV is 25.5" wide, I cut the MDF to that width and tall enough to cover the hole entirely:
<img src="http://www.irv2.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10838"/>

Attach a scrap piece of 2X4 to the back where you want to mount the bracket so the lag bolts will have something to bite into:
<img src="http://www.irv2.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10839"/>

Mount the bracket and cut a hole for your cables:
<img src="http://www.irv2.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10840"/>

Test fitting, looks great:
<img src="http://www.irv2.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10841"/>

Finished product looks good. I will cover the MDF with a fabric when my wife decides what she wants there, but it looks pretty good as is with the light colored cabinets in the RV. The final step was to attach a appliance strap to the bottom of the set (not shown) and the MDF right behind the TV to keep it in place while driving...a test drive proved very successful. No rattling or squeaks like the old set and now we have HD/digital while we are on the road!
<img src="http://www.irv2.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10842"/>
<img src="http://www.irv2.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10843"/>

I was thinking of removing CRT, and mounting LCD on swing door, converting extra space into storage. Thinking that door would have to attach on both sides to properly distribute weight. Has anyone tried that (succesfully!)?

[LadyFitz...]

Originally Posted by littlec

I was thinking of removing CRT, and mounting LCD on swing door, converting extra space into storage. Thinking that door would have to attach on both sides to properly distribute weight. Has anyone tried that (succesfully!)?

Some Jaycos mount a 32" TV in a cabinet door frame. The back of the door frame is reinforced with a single piece of steel plate to handle the frame. Heavy duty hinges are attached directly to the plate. The bracket for mounting the TV is also part of the plate.

@macnkat. Nice clean installation. Good work! However, I would be nervous about using MDF for that. A good furniture grade, 5 ply plywood would be a lot stronger. If the face veneer is the same species as your cabinetry, then the plywood could be finished to match, especially that exposed strip at the bottom.

[Gary - K7GLD]

Originally Posted by LadyFitz...

Some Jaycos mount a 32" TV in a cabinet door frame. The back of the door frame is reinforced with a single piece of steel plate to handle the frame. Heavy duty hinges are attached directly to the plate. The bracket for mounting the TV is also part of the plate.

@macnkat. Nice clean installation. Good work! However, I would be nervous about using MDF for that. A good furniture grade, 5 ply plywood would be a lot stronger. If the face veneer is the same species as your cabinetry, then the plywood could be finished to match, especially that exposed strip at the bottom.

YUP - nice clean install - but a shame to abandon all that unused space behind the TV - seems a sturdy set of hinges and latch could allow access to the cavity behind the TV.

We need to do something similar in our older '88 Winnie...

[macnkat]

Perhaps in the future I will use the space there...as of now we have more than half the storage compartments empty in the RV. Also, MDF is not a cheap material, it's used in high end applications for speakers and custom interior work when covered in fabric. Very durable and stable.

[kparam]

Great job. We are going to upgrade our tune style Sony trinatron to an led/LCD internet tv. Out problem is that our 1998 America Eagle has the tv box that actually raises up from the floor to view. Has anyone attempted this type of retrofit?

[LVJ58]

Your TV replacement sure looks very professional, like it came with the coach.

I finally got around to doing ours and sure glad it wasn't involved as your installation as I probably couldn't have done it.

I used the Samsung brand for replacing both the 27" Sony in LR with 32" & the 19" GE in BR with a 23". Here's the pics of final results, and Hope I did the pics OK as this is my first time with pic posting.