Another TV Mount - Warning Many Pics and Long!
My used Wilderness was furnisned sans TV. A few years ago We decided We needed one, in truth, more to get the weather than anything. I needed to surface mount it, and swivel so it could be seen from both bed and living areas.
After much searching, mostly internet, I settled on this one: Sanus SD115, bought off the 'net for about 100 USD.
As you can see, it is a clamp mount, which I needed to replace with a surface mount. Question was, did the clamp mount bolt on or what? Called Customer Service, limited help there, but from looking at the owners manual online, I theorized it did and took the chance.
Clamp Mount:
I was in luck, it did.
Over all I was pleased with the quality of the mount. All important parts are metal, and mostly bolt together, a DIY'rs dream :)
I needed to make the new base. After sketching out a number of shapes, I decided to improve my chances of success by keeping it simple. Made a simple cardboard pattern, and, using a jigsaw, cut a shape from some 1/4" aluminum plate. Everybody has some of that right?
Semi-finished:
To bevel the edges I had to knock together a disc sander from common household stuff:
I matte-finished the base with a jitterbug and scotchbrite and sprayed it with clear coat to keep it looking nice. Here is a view of the attached base, with the web & velcro tie down I use.
I made up a power cord and antenna cable with shrink tubing to keep then together. The silver jobbers are plastic covers that cover the cable routing on the back side of the pillar.
So here is the finished mount, aimed toward the living area. Gives a pretty good overview of the mount and cable routing. The little goomises are called footmans loops. Used to be able to buy them by the each at the Army Surplus. It has mostly gone in for Fashions now, suppose I'll have to get a container load from China in the future :? Any body want a few thousand?
The TV itself is nothing special, a 24" Visio from Sams.
I made a foam block to support the TV when tied down, it has traveled very well so far. Road Ready:
Overall a satisfying project, although the tiedown needs the velcro re-glued by now. Nothing lasts forever right?
[rant] If there is ANYTHING less suitable for camping than crappy digital TV, I have yet to discover it. Turn on the TV to find out about the approaching storm, wait on the channel search to see if you can actually pick up anything, then have the signal go to sh*t because of the WEATHER :M [/rant]
Oh well, always something. Happy trails, and don't forget to stow the antenna before departing!
After much searching, mostly internet, I settled on this one: Sanus SD115, bought off the 'net for about 100 USD.
As you can see, it is a clamp mount, which I needed to replace with a surface mount. Question was, did the clamp mount bolt on or what? Called Customer Service, limited help there, but from looking at the owners manual online, I theorized it did and took the chance.
Clamp Mount:
I was in luck, it did.
Over all I was pleased with the quality of the mount. All important parts are metal, and mostly bolt together, a DIY'rs dream :)
I needed to make the new base. After sketching out a number of shapes, I decided to improve my chances of success by keeping it simple. Made a simple cardboard pattern, and, using a jigsaw, cut a shape from some 1/4" aluminum plate. Everybody has some of that right?
Semi-finished:
To bevel the edges I had to knock together a disc sander from common household stuff:
I matte-finished the base with a jitterbug and scotchbrite and sprayed it with clear coat to keep it looking nice. Here is a view of the attached base, with the web & velcro tie down I use.
I made up a power cord and antenna cable with shrink tubing to keep then together. The silver jobbers are plastic covers that cover the cable routing on the back side of the pillar.
So here is the finished mount, aimed toward the living area. Gives a pretty good overview of the mount and cable routing. The little goomises are called footmans loops. Used to be able to buy them by the each at the Army Surplus. It has mostly gone in for Fashions now, suppose I'll have to get a container load from China in the future :? Any body want a few thousand?
The TV itself is nothing special, a 24" Visio from Sams.
I made a foam block to support the TV when tied down, it has traveled very well so far. Road Ready:
Overall a satisfying project, although the tiedown needs the velcro re-glued by now. Nothing lasts forever right?
[rant] If there is ANYTHING less suitable for camping than crappy digital TV, I have yet to discover it. Turn on the TV to find out about the approaching storm, wait on the channel search to see if you can actually pick up anything, then have the signal go to sh*t because of the WEATHER :M [/rant]
Oh well, always something. Happy trails, and don't forget to stow the antenna before departing!
