'07 Southwind BR TV Removal?

[RB211]

One of my winter projects was to replace the older LCD flat panel TV's in the coach. The front went fine resulting in a new 32" display over the OEM Samsung 26".

The OEM 20" Samsung in the bedroom is fast becoming a problem. It's sitting on it's pedestal however it appears they used double sided tape to secure it to the shelf. I've tried to put a heat gun gently to the pedestal base and then slide a long icing spreader (I asked the wife first...) to get under the pedestal in hope of releasing the adhesive.

Doesn't want to give.....and before I do something I'll likely regret I thought I'd canvass the brain trust here for some input.

I've called the factory and they sent schematics but no mention of how it is secured down. I called the dealer and he said it was likely that it's been installed with the tape.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance...Ron

[wilanddij]

How big is the base? I'd try cutting whatever is holding it down using a metal cutting blade on one of these tools Vibrating Cutter. There are many styles of cutting blades that can be used. Maybe one will work for you.

[DrewE]

Are they staples or just pin nails/brads? If they're the pin nails, a little force will pull the paneling/trim clear off with minimal damage (tiny practically invisible holes) and leave the pins behind, where they can be removed with pliers or vice grips. Staples might leave a little more damage, but should more or less pull out with a little careful force and without making a huge mess. Worse case would be that you need to create a new trim panel to put in place.

Before doing that, I'd investigate the base mount for the TV a little more thoroughly. Is it possible that there's some top piece that snaps in position or slides off or something? If you don't care about saving it, can you maybe destroy the TV mount without hurting the shelf using e.g. a rotary tool or (carefully) a sawzall type tool?

[RB211]

Loren Ross wrote:
In my 07 32vs, there was a 17" flat screen tube TV. It was strapped in from the sides with black fabric straps. Nothing was glued, it was just held in place with the straps. There was a metal buckle in the middle on the top rear of the TV.

I wish mine was the CRT as it would be easy to remove.....whereas this LCD (which was an option) wiggles around on the plastic pedestal like a bobble head doll. I tried using dental floss to get under it and pull back and forth, cutting through the tape however it broke which does lead me to believe there are in fact a couple of hidden screws in between the shelf it sits on and the veneer underside.

That said, the veneer and front trim piece are fastened by an air stapler with long legs and I'm reluctant to start ripping material out of that area as it will create a headache I don't want.

The front TV wasn't bad but this one is a hrmmmm.....problem?

[RB211]

Loren Ross wrote:
In my 07 32vs, there was a 17" flat screen tube TV. It was strapped in from the sides with black fabric straps. Nothing was glued, it was just held in place with the straps. There was a metal buckle in the middle on the top rear of the TV.

I wish mine was the CRT as it would be easy to remove.....whereas this LCD (which was an option) wiggles around on the plastic pedestal like a bobble head doll. I tried using dental floss to get under it and pull back and forth, cutting through the tape however it broke which does lead me to believe there are in fact a couple of hidden screws in between the shelf it sits on and the veneer underside.

That said, the veneer and front trim piece are fastened by an air stapler with long legs and I'm reluctant to start ripping material out of that area as it will create a headache I don't want.

The front TV wasn't bad but this one is a hrmmmm.....problem?

[JimM68]

had a '99 Fleetwood gasser with a big butt TV, it was attached with straps from the back. Had to remove the front trim off the cabinet to see em

[Loren_Ross]

In my 07 32vs, there was a 17" flat screen tube TV. It was strapped in from the sides with black fabric straps. Nothing was glued, it was just held in place with the straps. There was a metal buckle in the middle on the top rear of the TV.

[RB211]

lil-bobber: thanks for the input, anything is possible however that front trim piece is brad nailed on and the lower veneer panel is also secured with brads and the use of an air stapler. I really don't want to end up with a real train wreck of a reno job.

Stan: ah haaaa! Fishing line to use as a saw, you know when I was restoring an old BMW bike I read a thread of how to get the old BMW roundels (tank decals) off and in that application the guy used dental floss in the same manner you're referring to. Thanks for the tip!

I may even be able to 'feel' if there's another form of fastener holding it on as I pull the floss/fishing line back and forth.

I'll check out the Bounders forum for that resource too!

[sehunter]

Haven't done it but I understand some of the chrome add on newer vehicles is with double sided tape and the way to remove them is with a thin fishing sliding it underneath and working it back and forth.

It's pretty difficult to believe double sided tape would be used by a manufacturer to hold down a flat screen TV. Seems to me there would an awful lot of leverage at the top of that TV going around corners and such.

I think I would call Fleetwood and ask for some tech help before I tried to remove it.

On second thought that coach was built in Riverside and no one at the current plant worked at Riverside, so all you will get is a print.

There is a tech from Riverside that checks in on the Bounders forum and helps. He would know how that is attached, he has done several jobs for me and is excellent.

[lil-bobber1]

Just a guess on my part, but I would think there is a screw or 2 from the bottom. Try loosening the panel on the bottom of the cabinet to locate the screw heads.

[RB211]

Hi John,

I suspect it's just tape, there's no evidence of screws into the plastic pedestal of the TV from above. The shelf the TV sits on is likely about .5" and has a closet on one side and cabinet on the other. There is a trim piece on the front of that shelf and a very thin veneer panel on the underside to give the impression that the shelf is more substantial than it actually is.

The plastic TV pedestals are generally like a shell on the under with nothing to screw into which is why I suspect dbl sided tape has been used on the 'feet' of the pedestal.

An example of the Bedroom Samsung TV can be seen in this listing...not my coach

https://ventura.craigslist.org/rvs/4807862926.html

[crasster]

Tape.... That seems like an awkward install for a TV unless it was some kind of velcro tape. You can try running a thin wire (like a thin electric fence wire from home depot) and see if you can feel it out.

[MountainAir05]

If no screws, then dry ice. Just ensure you wear very good welding gloves plus. The plastic will break into pieces. Practice all safety rules. The other thing is the wire use to cut PVC. But you will damage some of the wood. Would have though the heat gun would have soften up the plastic and glue.

[Johno02]

Sounds like a sticky problem.... Look for additional screws through the baseplate in addition to the tape. Can you remove the screws holding the TV to the base?? might make the rest easier if you can. Try a serrated bread knife. keep working with the heat also. Post a picture if possible.