While planning for longer trips in our 1992 Komfort Koach Fifth Wheel, we felt a TV would be a useful addition. The original location to place a TV was on the cabinet between the door and the bed. Televisions in 1992 were, of course, heavy CRT models, so the location was chosen to support this weight. The antenna connector and power for the TV were brought to this point. Due to the way we use the RV, and our television viewing habits, the unused cabinet at the rear of the RV in the living area seemed a good location for the TV.
This is the space available to place a television. It is just large enough to contain a 24" TV. The first challenge was to determine the best means to mount a television. Although new flat screen televisions weigh far less than their CRT predecessors, if mounted on a retractable arm, they still exert a considerable force. The television also needs to be held safely while moving. Our RV, like many has no real structure in the walls, so I decided to make use of the cabinet, and its existing mounting points.
The space where I wanted to place the television was an irregular space, much narrower at the top than the bottom, as can be seen here. To create a stable mounting point for the television, I cut two trapezoidal pieces of 3/4" plywood, which would tightly fit the space between the front of the cabinet and the rear wall of the RV. As long as these fit snugly into the space, they would safely hold the television backing bracket in place.
Here is the plywood fitted into the cabinet. Visible are the notches for wiring, and the foam tape placed around the perimeter to securely hold these pieces securely in place.
The local metalworks shop quickly and inexpensively formed this bracket to my specifications. As can be seen here, it is bent at 90 degrees to attach to the plywood. Not as evident is the 90 degree bend along the top of the steel plate to give it more resistance to bending.
The television mount is bolted to the centre point of this panel, and articulates from behind the closed doors of the cabinet for comfortable viewing.
Here's the installed TV setup. The cabinet contains a powerbar, router, Apple TV, and cable connection to an outside connector. Yet to be completed is the installation of Cat 6 Ethernet to the outside wall, and the installation of a JEFA Tech Wi-Fi repeater instead of the current router. This should allow connection to local Wi-Fi more directly than sharing it through my MacBook. If necessary, the TV will operate on 12 volts, though I see rare occasions where it would be used without generator or other 120 volt sources being available.
Here it is stored and ready to go on the road. The tie-down straps are screwed to the inner face of the cabinet frame, and were placed to run along the frame of the TV, so no parts of the strap touch the screen.
With the cabinet doors closed, the TV is not visible.
Now to collect some video we want to watch!
Total: about $300, including the TV.