Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Topic: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop (Read 1100 times) previous topic - next topic

Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

February 15, 2022, 07:08:31 pm

My son wants me to spend more money. He thinks I should hang a monitor from below the
TV and running the rear and mirror cameras though the monitor. It would clean up the dash.
I think the monitor up there would be easier to see.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #1 – February 15, 2022, 07:21:17 pm

I had thought about hanging my rear view camera display from the bottom of the TV box, more like where a rear view mirror would be in a car, but decided against it as it would block some of my view. I have the rear view camera mounted to the bottom of the cabinet where the A/V gear is, above the drivers window and the convertible PC is magnet mounted to the original Javelina location in the dash. I use it in portrait mode there.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #2 – February 15, 2022, 09:19:50 pm

Folks have mounted screens in many places including using a mount hanging from the bottom of the overhead cabinet. Maybe 2 or 3 have done that.

You could use a non-touchscreen monitor driven by you PC at another one mounted inside the cabinet or under the dash. Most of these use an HDMI cable some will have additional input options, it needs to match what your camera equipment requires. And then you need to be able to switch screens depending on what you want to see. And while doing all of that keep your eyes on the road.

For most having a monitor at the top of the dash or on a stand just in front to the dash and just to the right of your normal driving line of sight seems to work well.

I have 10.1" tablets. The 10.1" ASUS Transformers have been retired. I am stocking an ASUS 11.6" Vivobook Flip with a 360° hinge. These are harder to find now too so I am testing a 14" version of the same laptop. It is quite nice.

VMSpc is a small program that doesn't need a big processor or memory or storage. Using a higher performance PC usually ends up with them running hot. It is on all day, maybe in the sun.

Peter, let us know what you decide to do.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #3 – February 15, 2022, 10:14:03 pm

Thanks Roger this is the kind of information I want. My son said I need different cameras
and he would put something in so it would change screens without any input from me.
We are in the figuring out process right now.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #4 – February 15, 2022, 10:57:00 pm

So Peter I installed a dedicated quad camera in the area were the CRT box was cut up to reduce how much it hung out/down. It is behind the upper panel and you can see the old CRT box mount holes. It it similar to were a conventional rear view would be. I mount my engine monitor on a suction cup on the drivers left forward side window. Down low so it doesn't conflict with vision capability. I tried several areas and seem currently to be comfortable with them in those positions. I have come to rely on the side cameras and use them nearly as much as the mirrors. They do have a wider view angle. No blind spot is nice. The camera has hard wires and was a pain to install but good picture
Quad Camera install

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #5 – February 16, 2022, 10:44:22 am

Peter, I have 4 cameras, two in the rear, a long view and a close view, a right side camera, and a front camera that shows a close front view. My "7 inch"monitor defaults to the long rear view, switched automatically to the right view when the right turn signal is on. The close rear view or the close front view are manual selections. All except the front camera are from Tadi Brothers. Then monitor is where the OEM monitor was.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #6 – February 16, 2022, 07:10:37 pm

Just talking to my son and he couldn't find anything on having the cameras being tied
into the Silverleaf monitor. So I guess we will still need two monitors. I still want the
Silverleaf monitor below the Tv as it will be easier to see and I use it all most exquisitely.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #7 – February 16, 2022, 08:39:30 pm

This is a good under cabinet mount. Amazon.com: iBOLT TabDock FixedPro 360 -Heavy Duty Metal 8" Multi-Angle...

This one looks very secure, more than twice the price. Amazon.com: iBOLT TabDock LockPro 25mm (1 inch) Bizmount- Heavy Duty...

Shop around, you want a very sturdy mount if it is overhead.

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #8 – February 16, 2022, 10:57:27 pm

I will probably make my own mount. Thanks for the ideas

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #9 – February 17, 2022, 05:06:58 pm

If your son truly wants you to spend mo' money, get rid of the round dials completely and have Silverleaf install their VMS645 dash...my PO did and love him for it...3 video inputs. I use backup, left turn and right turn cameras shown on the dash display.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #10 – February 17, 2022, 07:32:15 pm

Woody's PO spent many coach bucks to get that dash installed. I sort of like having the rear facing camera on most of the time while driving, right turn camera when turning right and other views as I want them.

Lots of options.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #11 – February 18, 2022, 12:51:09 am

I would think before I committed to anything that would be very difficult to undo. I would take a piece of sturdy cardboard cut it the size of the video monitor your thinking about. And hang it where you think you're going to hang a video monitor. And see if there's too much interference with your vision or creates a big Blindspot. You can play with the cardboard until you find the sweet spot.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #12 – February 18, 2022, 01:09:56 pm

All true Roger. My comment was for the "money no object" crowd. I have a Sony DVD player in the dash replacing the stock Ford unit, which continually displays the rear camera while underway to monitor the toad, and my Silverleaf dash only displays video from cameras when the turn signal or reverse signal calls for source video. Video can be deselected from the Silverleaf menus as desired. I personally like not having more gizmos cluttering the dash area...other than my iPhone and RVIBrake tablet that is. Just an option available to our older coaches which FT installed in later models. Woody.

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – February 17, 2022, 07:32:15 pm

Woody's PO spent many coach bucks to get that dash installed. I sort of like having the rear facing camera on most of the time while driving, right turn camera when turning right and other views as I want them.

Lots of options.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #13 – February 18, 2022, 02:38:43 pm

Quote from: Pyolet – February 18, 2022, 01:09:56 pm

I personally like not having more gizmos cluttering the dash area...

Agreed, this is why I chose to put my up and to the left, where I wouldn't normally need to see when driving.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #14 – February 18, 2022, 02:54:00 pm

That's what I'm trying to is clean up the dash area. I think I will put the camera monitor
up there two.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #15 – February 22, 2022, 05:14:52 pm

Just an update. We have ordered a 14 inch laptop with a flip screen and it should be
here in a few days and then I will start making the bracket.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #16 – February 23, 2022, 10:22:40 pm

Pulled the Silverleaf signal wire up for the new computer. It's quite a job pulling the
wire though the rats nest of wires. My left hand mirror camera wasn't working and
it turned out it had come unplugged. My monitor is starting to go and I think I will
just get a new monitor when it is time. I have a Voyager and it is obsolete so I will
get the upgraded one.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #17 – February 27, 2022, 04:27:44 pm

We got the new laptop mounted and set up. I will be going to Whistler tonight so I
will try it out and post how it works for me. My son has it tied into the TV so we can
watch movies from this laptop.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #18 – February 28, 2022, 10:12:39 am

There is the picture of me getting ready to leave with rain on the windshield. Now I need
to get use to it at the top of the windshield. It could be lowered and still not be in the
way of my vision.

Re: Up grading the Silverleaf laptop

Reply #19 – March 15, 2022, 01:49:28 pm

Well everything is finished. My son has finished setting up the laptop for movies and the
sub amp had been below the dinette and the plan was to build a new box for the sub amp
and put it under the coach but that was going to be really difficult so I looked around a
put the sub amp behind the passenger's seat. I shortened up the map rack and it worked
out well. We now have great surround sound.

Affiliate Notice