Hi all, I have a Toyota Townace MasterAce Surf (pretty much the same as this: http://www.myrtleave.freeserve.co.uk/towniepics.htm ) . I want to attach a 15" tft either onto the roof (so that it is flipped up and hidden when out of use and unclips and flips down when needed). Either that or attach it to the center console thing which extends a few inches behind the driver/passenger seats..... but it would have to have to be mounted in a way that it can be taken off when not in use. I have the rest of the gear (Shuttle SN41G2, caravan battery, transformer and sockets).... but having a stable 15" tft is a problem. I`ve looked all over the net for tft mounts but they are all for those mini ones. If you can please offer your idea`s and advice I`d appreciate it. Cheers.
Hi Well.. uhm, I assume it will only take some good modding! But I understand its pretty hard, because it will have to stand alot of movement (shuving around), but at the same time the screen has to stay removable. I assume it won't be viewable for the driver? Or is it meant for GPS aswell? for a GPS I would advice a smaller LCD (one of those 6" or bigger LCD TV's that have a AV-in). U normally get a good attachment for that. Its hard to connect a 15" stable, because of its size and weight. It will be 'shuved' alot by the movement of the car. First thing I would do, is open up the lcd, take everything out. and connect a aluminium fram all around the back. Because the normal plastic cover is not THAT strong, especially not when U will bolt stuff onto it, and put pressure on it. So a square of aluminium all around, wich will leave u plenty of options for attaching/detaching. this will make it more 'sturdy' and easier to work with. If you want it to fold , latches is the way to go. But they have the big advantage they will give the movement of the car, its 'way' wich will cause it to move a little, wich will result in pressure on the screen. (shocks etc). I would suggest not to use latches. but a straight to straight connection between the frame around the lcd and the roof/... For example. Get 2 Steel square pipes; the first should fir perfectly into the second. Cut the smallest one to size of the lcd (a bit longer). and connect that to the frame. then measure where the others should go on the seeling. and find some .. (don't know the name), just some steel 'corners' that will allow u to attach the bigger square pipes to the roof. and then U drill a whole true the big pipe, and true the small pipe, 2 true each side. U then just slide the small pipes (with the lcd) in the bigger pipes, put 4 bolts true , and voila.. I will probably not look very pretty. But it will be tough and easy removable. Measure alot! PS; this is just a cheap/easy/good suggestion. But I'm sure there are more advanced and better things out there, but those will be more expensive. LCD ARMS (stands) there are alot of solutions for 15" LCD's.. but they are all designed to use in a office.. and will not beable to keep stable while u drive around.. (unless ur a slow and carefull driver). L Good luck with the project
I've got a 14inch Viewsonic on the roof of my Durango, I had to make the mount myself. It doesn't go up (original idea it did) but it is nicely out of the way... Hang on, Here's a pic of the mount... BTW/ This has been in my Durango for about 2 years now, and never had a problem with it being "shoved" or moving around. Keeps the kids quiet on long trips too, DVD's and VHS tapes are the main stay of this unit. I also have a 5in in the front, for the wifey... She can watch what the kids do, or her own show...
it think he means ...the kids can watch...the little mermaid on VHS... while the "wifey" can watch....animal house on dvd...??? and for all that ever need anything odd or unordinary....ebay it....and if you cant find it there......google it......or vice-versa
Well what i've seen done for that, is build a wooden square frame of 2x1s or so and attach to the roof. Then attach the monitor to that. However, this was also done at the same time as a headliner restoration so they actually had some plywood backing i believe up there, mounted from the edges of the roof to secure the square to, a cross frame of sorts. In your application, i'd figure out what you are willing to do to your roof first. If you can stand to put 4 bolts through and seal it up real well with some silicone, you'd be off easy. Secure the frame via bolts, then bolt your hinges/shelf/whathaveyou to the frame. If not,... well, that's going to need a little more thinking. Only thing that springs to mind that *might* be able to hold a wooden frame and lcd weight and not require welding to the roof or holes would be some adhesive called Liquid Nails. Available in any hardware store in the States, this stuff holds up to its name. You'll have to get the strongest flavor, clean the roof really well, and hope the temp range is high enough it won't soften up and drop your lcd on a passenger :/
Actually, Mine had a roof support rail running from front to back and about 5 inches wide, it was a c channel, sort of. I just took out the roof console and found it... It was welded to the roof already, and very sturdy, so I used short self-tappers to mount the fabricated arm right through the roof console (where my sunglass holder and Garage door opener door were) and into the support channel... This made it sturdy enough for me to lift myslef out of the seat by it without flexing the roof or anything, so I figured it was strong enough for a 15lb lcd. I used aluminum L channels and straight bar, threaded and bolted. It's actually been there, now that I think of it, for 2 years and 3 months. No bolts through the roof, and no plywood with Liquid Nails... What do you have in your roof to support it, above the headliner?
that is ONE ugly and old car. why bother to mod it? if I were u i would save some money and buy a nice used car (2-4 years old) and THEN mod it
Now I have two problems with this statement... A) ugly is in the eye of the beholder, and B) it has many features that my non-imported US-built ('96 model year) car does not. You think it looks boxy? Buy one, and mod the body panels till you get it how you want it. (Or just restyle it completly on the exterior.) But if he likes it, and I honestly can see the charm in it, then more power to him.
And beauty is in the behind of the holder? I've got a 15 inch touchscreen in my Ram that I Mounted on the floor. I custom built the enclosure on very short notice, but the appearance approved 1000% after covering it in carpet. Sadly, It still looks like ass. Anyway, The point I'm trying to make is that mounting it on the floor might be more do-able then a roof mount.
It is fiberglass covered in carpet. I just had a trip pop up and needed the GPS, so I didn't have the time I wanted to dedicate to the project. And the weather had been real poor, so I just had one day of clear weather. Right now I am rebuilding the computer and will rebuild the screen.
