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Topic: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk! (Read 1350 times) previous topic - next topic

AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

When we picked up this coach,  there was AV equipment in the upper cabinet in front of the passenger seat, as well as in the cabinet above the drivers seat.  The PO basically said good luck figuring out all of the original owners electronics.

drivers.jpg passenger.jpg Here is what the cabinets looked like when we got the coach.  I don't know if the cabinet in front of the passenger seat ever contained any OEM electronics but certainly some of this was added.  The drivers cabinet had a few new elements added as well.

tearout.jpg We began by removing everything so we could see what really was up there.  Most know the cabinets (usually) have removable sides/back/bottom so you can get in behind them where all the goodies are hidden.  Removing those cabinet parts is a bit of a wood puzzle as some parts lock other parts in place so just take your time.

Once we had access, we found abandoned cables, cables that only had one end connected, cables that were 15' long to connect two items just feet apart, power bricks that powered nothing, coax splitters for no reason, mislabeled cables (looks like reused ones), hookups for things that were long gone, like the  passport radar detector power cradle or that Earthmate GPS, cables that ran down the side pillar into the dash area and then nowhere and so much more.

cables.jpg Here is the haul of cables that got pulled from the front cabinets!

elec.jpg Here are the electronics/power bricks/etc that are not going back, although some will be updated, like the Bose and the Blu-Ray player.

I maybe able to lower my front tire pressure  :))

Now onto the rebuild/repair/redo  ^.^d
2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #1 –
That was my experience exactly.  I think I removed 10 pounds of wiring and 30 pounds of useless AV equipment.  Reinsulated the front cap, added additional 110v outlets, installed a 43" Samsung and the only piece of video equipment I have is a BluRay disc player for those times when I'm completely off the grid, I watch old movies from my limited BluRay collection.
George Mann
2002 U320 #5934
2017 Rubicon
2013 BMW GS
Waterford MI

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #2 –
A couple more pictures of my AV cabinet redo because I know the forum loves pictures.  I know everybody removes the disintegrated original insulation but I wanted to leave it in place because it has a mass loaded vinyl layer and mine wasn't completely falling apart so I covered it with foil faced foam to hold it in place, add a radiant barrier and provide some additional R value.  I wish I could say this project is done but I still have to make the TV cabinet out of cherry and make a new shorter cabinet door for the cabinet to the right of the TV.  Unfortunately life gets in the way of progress sometimes.  Shortly after this was done I started building the 24 x 48 garage that I now park this thing in and since I built that by myself some other projects have suffered... I digress.
George Mann
2002 U320 #5934
2017 Rubicon
2013 BMW GS
Waterford MI

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #3 –
All of our AV equipment had been removed prior to our purchase. Inspecting the leftover cabling reveled burnt coax, lightening
is the only thing that comes to mind. Reading though the manuals allowed us to see what was there.... outdated by today's
standards. Did keep the Bose system as it still worked but needed some help/updating.

The "entertainment" setup we have meets our requirements.... which aren't much.
OTA, DVD or hotspot for TV.
Bose LS30 with bluetooth for listening pleasure.

To each his own  :D

BTW Steve if your getting rid of the Bose let me know
Frank & Connie Williams
1999 U320 '36
Build: 5466
MC: 18335

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #4 –
We are not big TV watchers when we travel.  The front TV went to friends.  The rest of the gear went along the road, and eventually was claimed by strangers.  I tried to sell the big DirecTV dish, but no one wanted it.  I could not get any interest at $50!  At the same time, I removed the other various antennas, cable clamps, and other stuff from the roof, and filled (seriously) 111 holes!

Now I have a cork bulletin board, a big clock, a compass, a MPH display, my ScanGauge, my Brake Buddy receiver, and a note pad for grocery shopping.  Remove a few screws, and there is a secret storage compartment!

For entertainment, we carry some books, and have a gazillion CDs ripped to WAV files to play on the dash radio.  We still have the TV in the bedroom if we want to watch a movie.  That happens maybe once per month on the road, probably a lot less.
Matt B
1998 u-320

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Geodmann –
I think I removed 10 pounds of wiring and 30 pounds of useless AV equipment
I was amazed how much stuff had been crammed up in that space, a true rats nest as well, had to free each cable as I went along.

Quote from: Geodmann –
I know everybody removes the disintegrated original insulation but I wanted to leave it in place because it has a mass loaded vinyl layer and mine wasn't completely falling apart so I covered it with foil faced foam to hold it in place, add a radiant barrier and provide some additional R value.
Mine is in OK condition as well, looks like what is in your pictures, the foam is OK, some of the outer skin will flake off when rubbed.

I like what you did with the foil faced foam ^.^d  I only removed the cabinet backs so I don't feel I could do the same with the access that provides, and I'm not wanting to do the full cabinet removal.  That is a great looking update you have in progress.

Quote from: Phranko –
BTW Steve if your getting rid of the Bose let me know
I was going to recycle it ... the CD player is shot and the display is not working, plus the Acoustimass module has a fire recall.  Fixing the display is an easy 5 capacitor fix and one could replace the CD player with a bluetooth gadget but I wanted to get everything changed over to HDMI which that head did not support.

Quote from: oldmattb –
At the same time, I removed the other various antennas, cable clamps, and other stuff from the roof, and filled (seriously) 111 holes!
We will be having Xtreme remove the dish and patch all of the various holes, I think this unit had two different Sat antennas over the years so there is a bunch of patching to get done.
2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #6 –
Quote from: steve –
I was going to recycle it ... the CD player is shot and the display is not working, plus the Acoustimass module has a fire recall. 

We also can't find the remote (I just looked again).
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #7 –
I went through the AV stuff in my coach when I got it.  Removed all the old outdated stuff, except the Bose system, and replaced with current hardware.  I did this thread about it, but the pictures are missing now...not sure why, so here's the pics again.

Since those pics, I've also added an Android TV streaming box, and an audio HDMI extractor, so the Bose system can get the audio between the TV box and the TV.

Out with the old, in with the new
Keith
2003 U320 38' #6197

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #8 –
Quote from: WS6_Keith –
Removed all the old outdated stuff,
That is a nice haul of Dinosaur Electronics, you should be proud !

Quote from: WS6_Keith –
but the pictures are missing now...not sure why, so here's the pics again.
I think it is because they were http and not httpS links ... browsers don't like mixed content on a secure page (like the forum).  I enabled our proxy system which will allow the server to fetch a version of the http link and then serve it over the forum as https ... long way of saying that should fix the issue.
2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #9 –
A smaller haul of goodies from the rear cabinets by the bedroom TV. 

As with the front, much of this was not hooked up or functioning.  Feels good to get all of this out of the way.  Now I have plenty of room for a media server in that hidden room behind the bedroom TV, left over from the CRT to flat panel change.
2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #10 –
Quote from: steve –
A smaller haul of goodies from the rear cabinets by the bedroom TV. 

As with the front, much of this was not hooked up or functioning.  Feels good to get all of this out of the way.  Now I have plenty of room for a media server in that hidden room behind the bedroom TV, left over from the CRT to flat panel change.

I've got a bunch of those remote temperature sensors around my house. They work pretty well.
1991 U300 Side Aisle 6V92 Silver #3897
2004 U320 40' #6246

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #11 –
With all the electronics removed, it was time to repair the cabinet in front of the passenger chair.  That cabinet used to contain the Bose, Coax selector, Alpine 10 CD changer, and lots of cables.  Nothing is going back. 

template.jpgWe purchased some 2'x2' 1/4" cherry plywood from Home Depot (free shipping!) to make a new cabinet back.  The old back was used as a template to create the curved top to match the ceiling. 

sealer.jpgThe back is in two parts done with a 45 degree lap joint.  You have to do it in parts such that you can actually get the parts inside the cabinet.  Sherwin Williams clear sanding sealer was used as the finish, you can see how that brings out the cherry color.

installed.jpgWe also cut our a new cabinet bottom and covered it in Ozite automotive carpet.  The original bottom had been replace with a shelf that raised the electronics above the cabinets lower rail.  Now the cabinet is back to OEM fresh.
2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #12 –
That looks great Steve. You do good work!
David Shores
2002 U320 Model 3620, Build 5985
TOAD:  2024 GMC Sierra 1500
Motorcade 19200

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #13 –
Wow, nicely done!
1993 U300 40ft GV SE
Build # 4344

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #14 –
Added a shelf to the main A/V cabinet, it holds the Roku / Blu-ray / Coax switcher up and out of the way. 

I was going to add a cherry edge to the shelf but decided to fully wrap it in Ozite as inserting/removing this shelf would have scratched up the cherry, it fits but you have to finagle it to get it in place.

Below the shelf sits the Bose and the HDMI splitter.  The splitter feeds all the TV's and is AOC (Active Optical Cable) compatible.  I choose a splitter vs a Matrix switch as we have no need to watch Roku in one area and a Blu-ray in another.  We ran AOC cables to the other areas due to the length.

There are (2) 3" holes on the cabinet divider that provide airflow into the space above the windshield.  If that is not enough ventilation (there are no louvered doors in this cabinet) then I'll add in a USB powered fan.  None of these components are high amp, so I don't think anything other than the passive air space will be needed.

Everything seems to be working, just need to clean up the cabinet cabling so it looks tidy!
2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #15 –
Kept banging my head on it and we could not see the need for a TV facing that direction. 
I used the existing frame and angled it back out of my way.  I now have my monitors up there which are not obstructing my view.

I built a TV mount for the living area that has worked out well.


2003 U320 40 AGDS Build 6157 161K miles

Hampstead NC

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #16 –
When I purchased my new to me coach, my wife gave me one condition, that she could watch TV.  I have to admit that in all my boats, and previous RVs, I took out the TVs because I wanted to disconnect when I am out relaxing.  But this time, I was willing to agree to anything to get my dream coach.  I found that the old original Bose system was unable to really work with modern TVs due to the lack of HDMI.  Also, the CD player was dead, and I did not want to see if I could fix it because of the age.  I decided that I did not want to abandon and rewire the Bose speakers, so I figured I would just upgrade the system.  I will spare you the adventures in how I kept thinking that just one more piece would make it work. Instead I will give you the end result. 

Bose Lifestyle V35 for a head unit. Found on Ebay for $175
Bose PS48 III which fits under the couch. Found on Craigslist for $125
HQRP 9 Pin male to male 10 meter cable. Another Ebay for $27

Sounds great and is plenty good for what I am doing.  I am happy with the price because I did not have to rewire the speakers.

The current flat screen is in front of the old cabinet space above the driver's seat and is OK, but I am trying to decide if I should change to a larger screen that would fold down in the center.  I would pull out the old TV cabinet and build some cabinets to match, the rest but have not really figured out what mounting system to use and how large of a TV I can place there.  I would be happy to have some guidance on that topic

Also, my old sub is available for anyone who wants it for free if you want to pick it up in Maple Valley Washington.  I will get rid of it by the first of February if no one wants it.  Head unit too, but the CD player does not work.

No pics becuase I still need to get everything mounted nice and I don't feel I am done yet
Mike and Loretta
Charlie our Cavapoo
1999 U320 3600 WTFE
Build 5499
Wrangler JKUR via Roadmaster and Air force One

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #17 –
Quote from: Mgreen5228 –

Also, my old sub is available for anyone who wants it for free if you want to pick it up in Maple Valley Washington.

Don't forget some of the old subwoofers (Acoustimass modules) are recalled for fire hazard and would need to be sent to Bose for repair (free).  If this is one of them, it's good that you pulled it and you or someone else can submit to have it repaired for free (including free shipping.)

Bose PSA
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320
 

Re: AV Cabinet Redo / Show us yer Junk!

Reply #18 –
Quote from: Mgreen5228 –
No pics becuase I still need to get everything mounted nice and I don't feel I am done yet
Sounds similar to what we found as well and we followed a similar direction with the V35 ... Post those pictures when you are done :D
2000 / 36' / U320 / WTFE
WildEBeest / "Striving to put right what once went wrong"