TV Upgrade on 1999 Magna Build 5591

August 10, 2013, 11:06:51 am

I am looking for a cost effective (less than $700) solution for upgrading the TV in the main cabin. I was thinking a ceiling mount flip down system that would handle a 42-46" TV would be a great solution.
I would be interested to hear what others have done when removing the old 27" tube models from their units?

Thanks,
Andy

99 CC Magna #5591

Re: TV Upgrade on 1999 Magna Build 5591

Reply #1 – August 10, 2013, 02:38:56 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 90423

We found that a 32" Samsung Smart TV fits nice where our tube TV was. They build a false front plywood panel, covered in black fabric, and mounted the TV directly to this plywood panel. The TV does extend about even with the Left/Right outside sides of the existing cabinet, and from memory, about 2-3" narrower top/bottom - thus the need for the black fabric to help the overall looks.
This was a temporary install, as we plan to alter cabinets in the future. This TV will then be moved to the bedroom. If we were doing this permanently, I would have had the false panel plywood framed and hinged to open, for extra storage where the tube TV used to be.
This 32" may be too small for what you are looking for, but most shops can do this with about 2-3 hours of labor costs - and what a dramatic improvement over the old Panasonic tube.
I would also suggest you check out the pictures in the Photos section, on what others have done - some clean, creative mounts.

Best of luck,
Smitty

04 Allure 31017

Re: TV Upgrade on 1999 Magna Build 5591

Reply #2 – August 10, 2013, 02:55:20 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 90424

My setup cost less than $300, including the TV. Fairly simple job. I mounted two 1x2 oak pieces to the back of the existing frame, added a couple of aluminum stiffeners, and mounted the bracket from Sam's Club to the oak pieces, then the TV to the bracket. I also ran an HDMI cord direct from the bluray player to the TV. Pictures in the photo section.

Per

95 Affinity 5259

Re: TV Upgrade on 1999 Magna Build 5591

Reply #3 – August 11, 2013, 01:49:17 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 90440

I struggled with this for some time and finally decided to mount a 32" flat screen to the front of the compartment where the old tv was installed. I did not eliminate the "head banger" compartment above the drivers seat as the cabinet work would have been too expensive. System works fine an HD tv is well positioned to view from couch and recliner. I also upgraded the dish and installed an HD Directv DVR.

Bob

1998 CC Magna #5489

Re: TV Upgrade on 1999 Magna Build 5591

Reply #4 – August 11, 2013, 10:08:23 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 90454

We had a wood worker in Springfield Or. take out our head banger and mount a 40 inch in it's place. We lost one cabinet and moved our electronics over to last cabinet. He also modified bedroom tv and put in a 24 inch. Quality of his work was professional and reasonable. We bought the TV and his labour and materials came to just under $1000. Our coach is a 2002 intrigue # 11422. Anyone who want more info just let me know. Mike H.

Re: TV Upgrade on 1999 Magna Build 5591

Reply #5 – August 12, 2013, 03:28:56 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 90474

Andy,

This applies to my 98 Allure. I am not sure if your cabinets are the same as mine. But, this may give you some ideas to consider for your Magna. I feel that a 46" size may be a bit ambitious. Also, I do not trust swing down arrangements but that is my own personal opinion.

Like Bob, I retained the old TV cabinet as-is. It now houses some electronic gadgets. I purchased a 32" Visio. I wanted to have easy access to space in the cabinet and the connections on the back of the TV. The total cost was about $75. I used hand power tools. Labor time was about six hours once I had all of the design ideas sorted out and the shopping done. Most of the work was done alone but, I used a helper for about one hour of the job.

Here is a step-by-step description of my procedure. It is pretty long so, read only if you are very interested or at least, very curious:
1. Purchase flat screen TV and a heavy duty, articulating, wall mount, swing arm support at Sam's Club or an electronics supply store.
2. Remove the existing decorative wood trim frame. It is secured with four long bronze colored Philips screws). Set aside. 3. Remove old TV. I did this myself but, some help would have been useful as it is heavy and unwieldy. 4. Reinforce the driver's side bulkhead inner face with several layers of plywood screwed together. This will serve as a mounting surface for the swing arm base. The finished thickness should allow plenty of clearance for the articulating arm to extend all the way out without interference after the decorative frame is re-installed later. 5. Cut a template that is the same size and shape of back surface of the new TV. I used 3/16 thick scrap plywood (check for 50 cent culls at your local home center). Drill holes in the template to match the location of the mounting holes in the back of the TV. This template will simplify the process of locating the swing arm in the ideal position without guesswork. 6. Temporarily bolt the template to the swing arm TV mounting plate. 7. Get a helper for this step. Hold this assembly with the swing arm wall mount support plate in place against the reinforced bulkhead surface. Now,"swing test" to identify the ideal location of the wall mounting support. Once you have identified the best location, mark the mounting hole pattern. 8. Drill pilot holes for 1/4" hex head lag screws in the marked locations. 9. Remove the template and discard. Mount the swing arm wall support with four lag screws. 10. Get a helper for this step. Mount the TV to the swing arm TV mounting plate using wing nuts instead of the nuts provided in your kit.. The wing nuts will facilitate adjustments if required later.
11. Re-install original decorative wood trim frame.
12. Purchase good quality, self adhesive, black, 1"wide x 1/2" thick foam tape. (medium compression expanded vinyl). Attach to perimeter of TV. Locate so that it will cushion the TV housing from the wood frame. This will provide vibration prevention and noise dampening. 13. Now the arm must be secured in place and snugged up to the decorative frame so that it stays in place while driving. There are probably many ways to do this. I accomplished it with rope, pulley and cleat system. The idea is to be able to secure the TV from a remote location. the remote location that I chose is the small front passenger cabinet adjacent to the TV cavity. 14. Purchase about a five foot length of braided Dacron rope. I used 5/16" diameter from a marine supply dealer. Dacron is more costly but it is better than other materials as it is strong and will not stretch. Also, purchase about a foot of vinyl, silicone or rubber surgical tubing. The I.D. of the tubing should be appropriate to slip over the rope. This will serve as a chafe guard. 15. Purchase a good quality pulley,1/4" closed eye bolt, "bull-horn" cleat and "Jam" cleat. The jam cleat can be obtained from any marine supply store. The eye bolt should be long enough to penetrate through the steel reinforcing framework in the TV cavity. 16. Slide the flexible tubing over the rope. Thread it through the elbow of the swing arm so that the tubing will prevent chafing and tie it off with a bowline knot. 17. Determine the best location for the eye bolt/pulley assembly for the best leverage. You will save time and grumbling if you use a cobalt steel bit as these frame parts are made of tough tempered steel tubing. Bolt securely using a nut and lock washer on each side of the steel tubing to prevent any possible loosening. 18. Determine the best location in the header of the small cabinet to mount the jam cleat and the bull horn cleat. Secure with wood screws. Drill a hole for the rope to pass through the bulkhead without chafing. I used a plastic conduit fitting for this. 19. Thread the rope through the pulley, hole, jam cleat and around the bull horn as you would secure a boat to a dock cleat. The jam cleat will cinch the rope tightly while you tie off. A knob at the end of the rope will finish the assembly. I used a modified window curtain pull secured with a figure eight knot. 20. Now, you need to improve on the "head knocker" aspect. Purchase a garage door bottom seal from a home center. Buy the high quality seal. I believe it is made from black high density EPDM foam. The configuration of this cross section was ideal to firmly double-wrap around the outer perimeter edge of my 32" Visio. It looks like as though it was designed for the purpose. I have inadvertently tested it with my head on a few occasions.
Everything turned out as planned and works as intended. It has been satisfactorily in place for about 8,000 miles with no incident.
I hope this helps.
Daron Hairabedian, 98 Allure 30226

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