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Davis HDTV upgrade done?

Yahoo Message Number: 12185
Has anyone had Davis Cabs. change the "front overhead cabinets and TV redo" to an HDTV and new cabs? We have an appt. in Feb. to get it done, but I'd like to hear from someone who had the "headbanger" taken out by them and replaced with the HDTV setup to know if there are any pitfalls or changes they would make.
Jan McNeill, Fulltimer
2001 Intrigue 11320
Currently in TX

TV upgrade

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12188
Jan: I'm doing upgrade #2 as we speak. (write). If you look in the photo section under "Larry's photos" you can see where I took my headbanger out an replaced it with a flat screen LCD that has similar outside dimensions except for it's depth. It was a great improvement except for one thing:
I found that the new wide screen format is great for viewing movies and any signals broadcast in the mode, however, most signals are still the conventional view and you lose about 25% of the picture unless you accept a "justify" or "zoom" mode. Hence, even though I replaced the 25" factory with a 25" LCD, I had a smaller screen.
Being a self-taught carpenter and apple-tree mechanic, I have removed the overhead cabinets and presently I'm fitting a 37" LCD Sharp model in the general area. It has a 21" height and about 43" width including speakers.
You won't lose any windshield area, but the cabinets require extensive modification for the extra width.

Sorry to ramble on, but here are some hints that may help: The LCD weighs much less than Plasma in similar size sets, so even though it is more expensive, I chose LCD. Plasma weighs about 100 lbs. LCD weighs about 48 lbs.

Plasma can now be purchased for around $2,000.00 This new model LCD was $3,450.00

I have made a metal wall bracket that attaches the back of the set and bolts into the two overhead steel cross bars used by the factory to tie the upper front end of the coach together. This will support the entire weight of the TV on the brackets, not the cabinets.
Obviously, replacing the VCR with a VCR/DVD combo is the way to go. Same space, both receivers.

Also, I'm sure Davis is familiar with the fact that those two blank panels over the driver's left side can be widened and used for additional storage or housing components or a nice place to store all of those remotes! I wonder why CC didn't use them. ? Cost I suppose.
I also took off the acrylic visors and replaced them with Carefree power visors that are housed in an oak valance that covers the same area.
Since the project is still a work in progress, I can't send any photos yet, except that the power visors and valance are installed. If you want to see them, let me know.

Larry
Intrigue
10762

TV upgrade

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18771
Jim: I used the Sharp LC37G4U. I just posted three more photos on the Yahoo site showing the component cabinet and also a shot of the "bling-bling" mirrors on the ceiling. (No, not in the bedroom area.)
Last year, after 6 years of owing this coach, I did a make-over. What the heck, everyone on TV is doing it aren't they?
If you are interested in seeing the ceiling, window valances, halogen lighting, etc, I will post the photos for you.
BTW, if I were to rebuild the TV cabinet, I think I would probably leave some vent openings just in case. I can't feel any heat from the screen and I haven't had any indication of excessive heat thus far but it would be a good idea.
We live in the Mountains and travel to the Desert in the Winter so we have pretty mild climates to deal with.

Good Luck, happy camping.

Larry
Intrigue
10762

Re: TV upgrade

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18772
Larry how do I get to the site to see the pictures? Laura/Magna #5874

Re: TV upgrade

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 18773
Laura: Go to Yahoo Groups: Country Coach. Enter your user name and password. Go to the picture section. Select "all". The most recent ones are the last ones.

Larry
Intrigue
10762

Davis HDTV upgrade

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 12227
Regarding the inquiry about Davis Cabinets modifying the front overhead TV cabinet ... We had them take out the head banger TV plus they made many other major mods throughout the coach. We didn't re-do the entire front overhead cabinetry, just the TV center portion ... we left the cabinet on the left and the 2 cabinets on the right in tact. By replacing the original 20-inch TV with an LCD 20-inch TV, it yields the same size picture that was there originally but of course it is recessed so there is nothing to bang your head on. We had Shaun angle the center LCD cabinet slightly to the right and slightly downward. He originally wanted to do it with no angling but we insisted and are very glad that we did. It make the cabinetry flow much better and makes for very comfortable viewing from any angle.
By going with the standard ratio LCD screen (4- to-3 I think) rather than the wide screen format, you get a full picture when watching non-HDTV format programming rather than the reduced picture size as commented on by another reply on this bulletin board. Most broadcast and satellite TV is still non-HDTV. Davis will mount the 3-inch thick LCD TV in a hinged wood door with a latch so that it can be opened to access the wiring and all sorts of extra storage space behind the TV. Yes, even with the face of the TV recessed all the way back so that you can't possibly bang your head on it, there's still lots of space behind the TV.
Wait till you get to Oregon to buy the TV ... no sales tax. We got ours at Good Guys in nearby Eugene. There are also other major outlets such as Circuit City. We had already selected our TV when we met with Shaun and he recommended the same brand that we had already bought ... the Sharp Aquos.
There are several versions of the 20-inch model but most differences involve the stand which is going to be removed and discarded anyhow. Ours is the LC-20S2U but there is a better version that has a higher quality tuner thus giving near HDTV quality. Unless you're really into large screen HDTV, I found this 4-to-3 format to be a great way to go. The units run right around $999 but you can occasionally find them on sale for $799.
Also, regarding LCD versus plasma, the stuff I have read says that plasma tends to fade over time and does not hold up as well in the high vibration mode experienced in a motorhome.

As far as the side panel above the driver seat, we had them cut out that blank panel and install 2 swing out cabinet doors yielding an interior space that is large enough to store over 45 videotapes or whatever else you choose to put there.

Steve Bufty