How to Replace an Overhead TV Console in an RV
With the arrival in the mid-2000s of commonly-available flatscreen televisions, they became a common retrofit for recreational vehicles, or RVs. Conventional cathode-ray TVs have a deep case which has to be accommodated in a console. Replacing the old style with the new not only provides an enhance viewing experience but frees up storage space, which is always at a premium in RVs. The replacement process is straightforward and does not require a great deal of expertise.
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Things You'll Need
- Screwdriver
- Socket set (optional)
- Mounting hardware
- Fasteners
- Flatscreen TV
Instructions
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Remove the preexisting cathode ray TV. As with all RV fittings, televisions are bolted or screwed down so that they cannot shift when the vehicle is underway. Check around the console to locate the brackets, then use a screwdriver or a socket set to retract the fasteners. Lift the TV from the console and away from the work area.
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2
Clear away any fixtures or fittings inside the console so that it is empty, then hold up the mounting bracket for the new TV and move it around to decide on its best location. Flatscreen TVs are mounted on swiveling brackets that allow the screen to be watched from an endless variety of angles, and the TVs themselves are extremely light in comparison to cathode ray units, so the new unit can be installed almost anywhere. Placing to the side of the now-empty console will allow access to the space and, therefore, its re-use.
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3
Fit the new bracket in place using size 8 screws or greater, or nut/bolt/washer combinations if the mounting surface has a void behind it. Nut/bolt/washer combinations are preferable for the conditions in an RV. Use a permanent marker to mark thorough the holes in the TV bracket, then use an electric drill and a bit sized to the shank of the bolt to make the holes. Pass the bolt through the bracket, then through the mounting surface, then from the back slip a flat washer and a sprung washer over the bolt's thread and spin on a nut until it is finger tight. Use a socket set and wrench to tighten the nut/bolt/washer combinations.
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Follow the manufacturer's instructions to install the new TV on the bracket; this usually involves fixing a mount onto the back of the TV, then fixing that mount to the bracket.
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Route the power supply and antenna/DVD cable to the back of the new TV, then watch some programming to determine the best angle at which to permanently fix the screen.
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Tips & Warnings
When fixing anything to a mounting surface, always check to ensure no wires or plumbing is routed along the back of the panel that could be damaged by the drill bit or fasteners.
Determine the best use for the now-vacant console; if it is entirely accessible, use it as an open storage bay or locate your DVD player and satellite decoder box inside. Build shelving or doors, sleeve the interior space with panels that match the RV's décor, or line it with carpet.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
