I noticed this post on the 'rec.outdoors.rv-travel' usenet about a guy who modified his Sunnybrook 5th-wheel to remove the standard 27" tube tv and installed a 37" LCD tv. The vast majority of posts on that fourm are political cr*p, but every once in awhile something worth while shows up. He also posted a few photos on the net... The following is the text of the post....

Our Sunnybrook fifth wheel came with a cabinet made for a 27" TV.
Sitting in back, with the TV up front beside the bedroom door, the tv
was just too small for tired old eyes. So we measured, shopped, and
plotted, until I finally got the nerve up to start modifying things.

We bought a 37" LCD wide screen HD TV and the best wall mount they
carry. Next we stopped at Lowes and I bought 4 1 X 3 boards, 1/4 sheet
of 1/2" plywood, 3 door hinges, and a bunch of screws. (drywall and
other assorted screws)

Our cabinets are solid oak faced, and the opening in the TV cabinet had
a tall narrow door beside it to access the outlet, various jacks, etc..
I removed this door, as it's hidden behind the TV, and allows access
once the TV is removed. I also cut a hole somewhat bigger than my hand
in the left side floor of the cabinet so I can reach up from below to
hit the button to turn on the booster on our bat wing.
The opening for the TV also has a narrow lip of 3/4" oak overhanging the
opening on both sides and about 2.5" on the top, which makes the plan
easier.

I started the project by cutting the plywood to fit the opening, and
mounted it at the top on the 3 door hinges, so it would swing freely in
the opening, with the hinges on the inside. I then used the 1 X 3 boards
to build a "wall" 1" wider than the opening, and 1" shorter in height
than the opening of the cabinet.
I had a 12" x 12" block of cedar that is 2.5" thick. I built that into
the wall, centered for the TV mount to lag into it, and screwed on each
side by 6 drywall screws through the 1 x 3s. I then slid the "wall"
behind the plywood, pulled it forward tight to the lip of the cabinet
face, and used drywall screws to fasten it to the floor and right side
of the cabinet. I then angled 6 drywall screws through the left side of
the "wall", fastening it to the oak face of the cabinet. Next, I used
drywall screws to fasten the plywood to the wall, which now causes the
door hinges to hold the top of the wall fast in place, so it's firmly
fastened on all 4 sides, yet I can access the entire cabinet by removing
a few screws and the TV, should I switch components at some point.

Next I used the 3 2.5" wood lags that came with the mount, to mount it
through the plywood cover and into the block of cedar.

If I had it to do over again, I would use 3/4" plywood, but the 1/4"
that the plywood cover is recessed really doesn't show unless you look
for it, and the TV is very solidly mounted. No give in the mount at all
that I can detect.

The 37" TV is fully as wide as the outside width of the cabinet, and
leaves almost 2" clearance top and bottom for the cabinet doors which
are above and below it. Watching TV is now better that going to the movies.

It's so easy to remove the TV with the flip of 2 levers that we may take
it down for travel. Or we might not, depending upon how much it's going
to bother me worrying about it. <g> In any event, it's worth the trouble.

Lon

Anyone else tried anything like this?

__________________
Ed J
1999 Sunnybrook 5th-Wheel 27RKFS
2007 HitchHiker Discover America 329RSB
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 diesel
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