Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 10, 2025 ...

Just installed a PYLE PLHR79 7-Inch Widescreen TFT Headrest Monitor ($62.49, free shipping at Amazon Amazon.com: PYLE PLHR79 7-Inch Widescreen TFT Headrest Monitor: Car Electronics ).  It comes with two video inputs (used one for the camera, other for the Javelina tank monitor) and even has a small remote control which is over kill for my needs. 

The Emerson unit bit the dust with both a mechanical and electrical problem - I found someone on Craig's list offering one for $80 but he didn't respond to my emails and I posted a wanted notice in ForeForums classified that got a lot of looks but no offers.

Note: this unit is independent of the Javelina control - it is only the display of the camera and Javelina signals.

I found several other pop up screens / DVD players / radios that would work but they were all more expensive because of added function that I didn't need.  I hadn't heard of the PYLE brand before but they appear to make quality products.  They have a variety of monitors but this unit seemed the best tradeoff of function and price.  There are cheaper units from other brands (<$40) that seem OK but don't have the same screen size or pixel count.

Easiest part of the install was the mounting of the monitor itself.  This unit has a rubber like removable frame with mounting holes and is a close fit to the area left from the old unit.  I did have to add a piece of aluminum flashing painted black between the frame and the dash to cover small side areas that just quite weren't covered by the frame. (For those who haven't see it, the Emerson is a pop up single DIN which is mounted in an area that can hold a double DIN radio.)

Hardest part of the install was moving two switches - one for power, one for selecting camera (I have side cameras installed at FOT).  The dash in the 2004 has plenty of room but the section around the camera opening has a 1/4 inch thick aluminum backing that needed to be carefully cut with my dremel to fit the switches.

Second hardest part was getting through the mess of wires behind the dash and cleaning it up with a whole lot of zip ties.

The project turned out fine although it took 3 times as long as it would if I knew what I was doing (but that's the fun!).  I like the monitor better than the old pop up because its always ready (no need to wait for the pop up) and the video adjustment controls are a lot easier use while driving.  I will say something for the Emerson unit - the pop up mechanism is overdesigned and the unit has a lot of metal.  It is just 10 year old technology that cost over $500 when new.