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Topic: YATU - Yet another TV Upgrade (Read 1322 times) previous topic - next topic

YATU - Yet another TV Upgrade

I finally upgraded our dinosaur (original) TV to a small LED flat panel. 
We don't watch much TV, so a main goal was to keep the size small (we found a 26" Vizio), shorten the box to reduce head contact :)) , use the volume behind the TV for storage, and make the installation as clean as possible. 
We were having all the front cockpit pieces recovered, so it was a good time to do the TV. 

I pulled the TV box out, shortened it, discovered that it needed to be ~1/2" narrower to fit up between the existing cabinets, took the cabinet apart and cut it down, and then reassembled with new braces and top strut, installed, put in internal panels, then mounted the TV on Soss invisible hinges Joseph Soss - SOSS Invisible Hinges from the top.  The Soss hinges need careful mortising, but the result is great.

Part of the excitement in this cabinetry was that the cabinet has no 90 deg angles!  The ceiling is curved, the face points down and tilts to the left, etc.  The other part of the excitement was doing all this in the RV park in Benson, outside the coach (good weather, thankfully) using hand power tools.  Lots of fitting, sanding to size, etc. but we are quite pleased with the final result.  Still need to put in a gas strut.  Door retention is both with standard FT cabinet latches, and also with a pin and knob with a washer epoxied on, which is inserted for travel and retained by a little neodymium magnet in the bottom of the cabinet (see picture).
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: YATU - Yet another TV Upgrade

Reply #1 –
Great job!  b^.^d

Re: YATU - Yet another TV Upgrade

Reply #2 –
Dave, appears you are an original thinker.  Great idea and got storage also.  Tks DAN
Dan & Shirley Stansel
2002 U295 4020 AGDS Build#6054
Towing Buick Enclave & M &  G Braking
Emerald Bay, Lake Palestine, Texas
MC# 16650

Re: YATU - Yet another TV Upgrade

Reply #3 –
Very nice work, Dave! Can't imagine doing all that "in-the-parking-lot"; I had my full-up shop and still spent the better part of a week on my 32" Sony intallation. Clever design, as well; great space reclamation. You're to be commended.
Chad & Judy
'98 U320 - Build #5315
Motorcade 16317
Wickenburg, AZ

Re: YATU - Yet another TV Upgrade

Reply #4 –
I agree with all the comments.  Hard to believe that you did it in a parking lot with hand tools.  I will give you an attaboy. 
Jerry Whiteaker former owner 96 U270  36' #4831 Austin,TX-Owner Mods LCD TV w/front cabinet rebuild - LCD TV bedroom - Dual Central AC, either can cool coach w 30 amp - Skylights at roof AC openings - Drop ceiling for ducting of AC - Shower skylight white gelcoat/wood/epoxy frame - Air Springs/Shocks replaced - 2014 CRV - 8K Home Solar - Chevy Volt

Re: YATU - Yet another TV Upgrade

Reply #5 –
Most of the doing "in the parking lot" was driven by the strange shape of the TV box.  The park we were staying in has a very nice shop with an excellent table saw (with great Biesmeyer commercial fence) and a great multi-angle chop saw, but I found that matching the angles when cutting down the original box required lots of tweaking and sanding to fit, and so didn't really use the shop for this project.  My "outside shop" also included the remnant of the desk pedestal I had rebuilt (also outside), which I could use as a table.  Making accurate cuts with a circular saw required carefully clamping ad-hoc fences to the work piece or table, or cutting close to the line with an accurate jig saw, and then sanding to the line.  Lots of measuring with a  try-square, modelling pieces out of foam core, and then transferring to the plywood.  I do carry lots of tools, and they all get used.  Took about 4 days of good weather.  Timing is everything :)) .

We're currently up in Prescott, AZ staying in a friend's driveway, and I just got done working on our Subaru in the driveway - complete brake job and replacing timing belt and water pump (WRX interference engine, 4 cams...), and now the nice weather has gone and it's snowing!  Timing is everything :)) .
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: YATU - Yet another TV Upgrade

Reply #6 –
As Kojak would say... this looks like a "professional job". Thanks for sharing.
Bill & Jan Velting
1998 U320 36'    2014 Xtreme facelift
build #5339  MC#17207
current toad: 2014 Cadillac SRX

Re: YATU - Yet another TV Upgrade

Reply #7 –
Dave, excellant job and now you have me rethinking my tv upgrade I did to one that hinges up. I like the fact of the storage (or just access) behind. I am going to look at mine and see if I can change it easily, although I am happy with the present set-up ( but love to change things)
John
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: YATU - Yet another TV Upgrade

Reply #8 –
I am considered to be a pretty handy buy but I have to admit that I feel inadequate on this forum. If I ever post something that makes any of you guys say that you are going to take another look at the mod you did then I'll die happy; but not soon. :P

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: YATU - Yet another TV Upgrade

Reply #9 –
Thanks for all your kind comments!  Definitely lots of very talented people on this forum that help to make it so outstanding, and I'm really happy when I can contribute something!
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: YATU - Yet another TV Upgrade

Reply #10 –
Very nice!!!
1996 U270 36'