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Front TV

Well, I am going to replace the front TV again.  I am looking to go bigger this time.  Who has a 40 or 42 inch up front?
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Front TV

Reply #1 –
Ask Gary Omel about his killer Samsung LED install. Pretty sure it a 46 and it looks RIGHT. The thin Samsung LED models (< 1") are light. Several models have the 1" clear plastic edging instead of black which makes the TV seen smaller.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Front TV

Reply #2 –
I saw Gary's set up.  It was nice...and it got me thinking about it in the first place. IT looks pretty big though.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Front TV

Reply #3 –
John, I've ordered a Samsung 40" LED TV that will arrive tomorrow or Monday. Today, I'll start removing old cabinet, tv, etc. in preparation for installation.
While I'm here in Nacogdoches, I might have FT do the install but haven't made final decision on that yet.  Cabinetry work, mostly on passenger side, will have to be done leaving 40" TV virtually centered.
Cnet specs below, give size and weight etc.  It "should be 37" x 22" and a light 22 lbs.

Code: [Select]
http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-un40es6580/4507-6482_7-35169615.html

Also changing out SAT antenna to either a RF Mogul(relatively new to market) or Motosat very soon.....doing homework now.
Coach Build # 5862/40'/2001/U320/Motorcader 17136

Re: Front TV

Reply #4 –
Quote from: MemoryRoads –
John, I've ordered a Samsung 40" LED TV that will arrive tomorrow or Monday. Today, I'll start removing old cabinet, tv, etc. in preparation for installation.
While I'm here in Nacogdoches, I might have FT do the install but haven't made final decision on that yet.  Cabinetry work, mostly on passenger side, will have to be done leaving 40" TV virtually centered.
Cnet specs below, give size and weight etc.  It "should be 37" x 22" and a light 22 lbs.

Code: [Select]
http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/samsung-un40es6580/4507-6482_7-35169615.html

Also changing out SAT antenna to either a RF Mogul(relatively new to market) or Motosat very soon.....doing homework now.
By all means talk to David Flanagan and his crew about the cabinetry.  Even if they cannot do the job for you, they will give you priceless information on the placement and reworking of the cabinetry.  They may be able to show you some photos or even actual jobs they are presently working on.  If you run into trouble with the spaghetti wires that connect the roof and the interior works, the guys in the shop have helped straighten us out more than once.  Cliff is a wizard with that stuff.
Carol & Jeff Savournin
Usta have a '93 U225 36', Usta have a '95 U320 40', Usta have a '02 U320 40'
Usta have a 2006 Born Free, Usta have a 2011 Phoenix Cruiser
Usta have a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 4dr
"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."  Steve Jobs

Re: Front TV

Reply #5 –
The RF Mogul looks like a larger dish and is 20 lbs lighter than the Winegard - both pluses. But it only hits 3 satellites while the Winegard hits all 5 if you are talking DirectTV. The Universal controller is pretty big too - a minus from my perspective. Appears pricing is consistent with the Winegard - $1700 to $2K

110 and 119 at this time only carries spot beamed locals and some mpeg music channels so it would work all right with HD.

DIRECTV HD in the RV - Winegard TRAV'LER Automatic Mobile DIRECTV HD Satellite

RFM-4100 SWM Direct TV
http://www.dmsrvsatellite.com/pdfs/rfm4100.pdf
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Front TV

Reply #6 –
for those comfortable in doing their own install, the Winegard 3005 is available at Amazon for $1256.00, free shipping.
The selected media item is not currently available. Dave Head & Megan Westbrook
Titusville, FL - The Great Outdoors
'98 270 buying this month
Toad is a 2018 F150 XLT

Re: Front TV

Reply #7 –
Quote from: John S –
Well, I am going to replace the front TV again.  I am looking to go bigger this time.  Who has a 40 or 42 inch up front?
"Fiddler" replaced his with a 42" in his 2001
42" LCD TV Replacement - 2001 U-320
The selected media item is not currently available.Barry BEAM #16014
2003 U320 40' AGDS
Beamalarm, Foretravel technical help and specifications
"Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve"

Re: Front TV

Reply #8 –
Trying to read everything in archives first, I found Front TV and sound upgrade Smillner's well thought out modification(may 12, 2012) that allow him to mount his new TV suspended from ceiling supports and hinges that allow quick/ reasonable access to anything behind it!  Well, until today, I had no idea..just 'what' was behind the TV.
Smillner's design thoughts, whether followed directly or modified, does what is needed....support a tv.  It also offers options that a hard mounted TV to the vertical surface on forward end of the coach does not............access and ease of working on the back side of tv.

Dave, Winegard has many folks happy but I've heard other comments and pricing up front is not always the best deal....so I'm still trying at least to do more homework.  That said:  Why would a group of top folks from Motosat leave?  Why would they go into direct competition with former employer?  Why would they then only ONLY choose 3 satalites for Direct TV rather than the other 2?
I can guess but I'm sure they 'know' something I can only guess at.
Why wouldn't a major company like MotoSAT create a new model?  Probably 'no need to as their sales are just fine'...just my guess.

My fear is that beta models, (new ones) will be quickly followed up with perfected ones...........so early entry buyers get ...............well, upset soon/or a bit later.

Barry, yes, looks nice but I've already bumped my head on the simple, small older cabinet and don't want a Big New TV sticking out that far!  No, I'll tuck my new gentle upgrade of a 40" model deep in/flush.


Thanks all.  Will try to figure out how to show some photos along the way so I can give back as all of you have done. ron

Coach Build # 5862/40'/2001/U320/Motorcader 17136

Re: Front TV

Reply #9 –
I put a 40" Samsung LED in my coach, it's a perfect fit.  It's centered to the coach, leaving different sized cabinets on either side.  The one on the left is just wide enough for the sat box, controller.  I didn't want to use any metal mounts so fabbed the mount for tv from wood.  Screwed plywood into the upper and lower alum sq. tube, applied a 1/2" baltic birch plywood face angled down a bit to these ply pieces.  There's a large area behind the tv mount, that's turning into a sealed subwoofer enclosure firing down.  Custom speakers will go to right and left of TV  below cabinets once I have the design selected.

I can hang my 200 lbs from the plywood mount assembly with zero movement.  High level of confidence that the tv will stay in place.  Previous owner had the experience of the standard tv falling from headknocker box into her lap while driving. Sorry, no pix, I'm away from the coach.  All in all it was a pretty easy job that gives you a good appreciation for just how well Foretravel fastened their cabinets in.  Also gives you a chance to organize the rats nest of wires. 

Chuck
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Front TV

Reply #10 –
Taking the time to do this job well, has me considering the possible future need to get back into the forward area where all this wiring is. At this time, to disassemble everything has taken a few hours/nothing destroyed but maybe just lucky.  The question of whether to mount a tv to the forward surface blocking access to all wiring up there, or to hang it somehow from above, on hinges as Smillner did(Front TV upgrade-May 12) can give the option of having an easily opened or removed panel behind TV that would give access for any work or upgrades without the necessity of removing the TV.  Any thoughts?
Trying to digest what I'm seeing up there now and know access is always a good thing to have.
Coach Build # 5862/40'/2001/U320/Motorcader 17136

Re: Front TV

Reply #11 –
I saw one that was mounted on a swing out arm that they could unpin and swing away and get access.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: Front TV

Reply #12 –
Mounting it on one of these wall mounts would make it easy to get behind the TV as long as you can reach behind it to pull the release pin.  I have seen some mounts like this in various RV supply stores, including Camping World.

MOR/ryde Products
Monti
2015 Born Free Triumph Royal 4x4
Previous:  2000 U320 3600

Re: Front TV

Reply #13 –
thanks John S and Monti.  I have considered the off the shelf options but they are normally for home installations.  I feel in such a project, that the added 3-6" off the surface is counter productive in our coaches......there are benefits to moving the TV out of head knocking range, not aft and I'm thinking about the future- in that there might be benefits to granting easier access now to those areas.
 I'm just trying to consider options that would allow continued/relatively easy access to all the wiring in the front of the cabinets. Technology has been changing so fast that even screws seem to be too permanent!!  Can we do this with velcro ? :D  I guess a few more nights of sleeplessness might help.

thanks anyone contributing to this thread.  Just wanna do it better and with more options if I can.

ron
Coach Build # 5862/40'/2001/U320/Motorcader 17136

Re: Front TV

Reply #14 –
Why not just mount it like Brett Wolfe did?  I copied his install and it certainly could handle a 40" TV.  When the TV is not in use it is totally out of the way.

Re: Front TV

Reply #15 –
a forty inch samsung led smart tv is a good fit.

Re: Front TV

Reply #16 –
Again thanks to all.  Monti, I keep looking at your suggestion and it's a good one! However I'm leaning ...uh today...to a fixed mount but creating easily opened panels in the 'Inside' of the cabinets....to gain access to wiring/even behind TV.  Worst case scenario is to loosen TV, lift it off and out of the way... then open up the backside of that forward area within cabinetry by having simpler openings (velcro'd panels instead of screwed on ones-for quicker access)

El Dorado...Brett's idea is great for a GV, bringing the TV up, but on my coach there is an overhead indented area for ...subdued lighting etc. (no mirrors on mine) so creating a boxed in TV up there could be more of a task and maybe a head knocker for some.  Also watching TV would have an up and down task involved...and I don't see the need for that on a bus style front.

I'm going back to I guess what has been the norm, simpler is better and simple openings inside of cabinetry will accomplish my intended goals.
Thanks again all!
Coach Build # 5862/40'/2001/U320/Motorcader 17136

Re: Front TV

Reply #17 –
We have a 46" Sharp LCD, installed it ourselves, mount is bolted directly on Foretravel aluminum square box welded frameworks.  For our Directv, we have Winegard HD open dish, installed ourselves and recommend it VERY highly as it works great everywhere and even 500 miles north of the Canadian border in Ft McMurray Alberta.  We also use a Winegard switch box to manage coax to bedroom TV.  Our roof sat antenna feeds two DirecTV DVRs.
 

Re: Front TV

Reply #18 –
I think you can do a better job building your own mount than using the metal ones.  My installation looks pretty much identical to Wayne's with the 40" Samsung, mine has a bit more tilt, we'll see how that works out.  The bottom edge of the TV is flush with the existing fascia.  Mine is setup so four bolts/wingnuts will remove.  As far as access, which I agree is crucial, I'm just making the cabinet ends by tv so they don't project all the way back, just a bit past the tv itself.  That way you can reach behind tv easily and, if necessary, dismount.  While I didn't do it, adding some good quality velcro to the mix would not be a bad belt/suspender call.  The aluminum square tube structure makes it pretty easy to get a very strong mount.

The bigger decision process for me is integrating sound, video, sound file management.  I've built a number of high end speakers (I don't design em myself but stand on the shoulders of fanatics for this) and intend to do the same for the coach.  Having a CNC router makes the construction of even complex enclosures pretty trivial once the files are done.  I want tight bass, lovely vocals and triangles that float in the air and am convinced its achievable even given the limitations of space.  Future thread.

"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS