Has anyone had success in installing a flip down TV in a low roof wagon. I will be looking to install either a flip down TV or perhaps some headrest monitors (or both?) in my arriving 10 passenger 150. I've seen what the conversation companies have done, but I'm new to this type of upgrade. Any suggestions, such as configuration or brand suggestions would be appreciated.
TV in low roof wagon?
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Initial plans for us was to install a regular TV/DVD combo that used a 12v transformer already, but there does not seem to be a good viewing location for all rows, especially little ones in the rear seats who can't see over the high backs and headrests. So far we've had to hand the boys a tablet or phone to watch videos.
The hanging on the seat solutions are too clunky and cases & wiring draped all over is not ideal.
A nice center pod/strip like we had built into our Town & Country with multiple screens would be nice, but I don't desire to spend a lot of $ for a solution.
The hanging on the seat solutions are too clunky and cases & wiring draped all over is not ideal.
A nice center pod/strip like we had built into our Town & Country with multiple screens would be nice, but I don't desire to spend a lot of $ for a solution.
My thoughts exactly - From what I'm seeing the headrest players / monitors may be the best solution, but I also don't want to spend too much. We have the DVD players that strap to the head rests, and they work OK but I just wanted something more "professionally" installed. I was going to go with a flip down unit, but like you said I don't think everyone would be able to see it well enough. Perhaps I could get two flip down monitors that could run off the same DVD player? I've seen those and the prices aren't too bad.
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That's what I 'm leaning toward, maybe one for each row. There seems to be a variety of them for not too much. Here's one example on Amazon.
Ideally there would be a large enough HD one that swivels well and also accepts HDMI input for less than $200. Many are smallish, low resolution (and I assume mediocre picture quality), don't swivel much, and only accept low quality RCA video.
It's not a top priority for us so far, but definitely on the search list.
Well keep me informed if you end up doing something like that, and I will do the same. We will take a trip soon after we get the van, and we'll see how frustrated we get with the removable headrest DVD players. I think my ideal set up, depending on cost, would be two monitors with a player I can control from the front seat (the DVD player would have to be located in between the front seats I guess). My other concern would be the configuration of the a/c system. I know the vents are in the ceiling, so i wouldn't want to mess that up during installation (again, I don't have the van yet I could be making a big deal of nothing)
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I'm in the same boat as you. Did you come up with a solution yet? I was leaning towards a flip downTV/DVD combo as the primary unit more towards the front and a second flip monitor further back.
I was looking at this one as the primary but Im not sure it has the video output for me to get the signal to the second monitor.
I was looking at this one as the primary but Im not sure it has the video output for me to get the signal to the second monitor.
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Since we are leaving Sunday with 2 of the grandsons for Kansas City, I installed my initial effort at a more permanent solution in our wagon.
BJs Club has an RCA full 1080i 24" TV with DVD player on sale for only $149, and the only one in stock had a heavily damaged box so the manager gave it to me for $129.
Since this was way less $$ than the other solutions I've beeen exploring, I figured I'd give it a try for this trip and go from there. In trying to decide how to rig it up temporarily for the trip, I remembered I had an extra mount lying around so I used it.
I screwed a 1x4 into the pillar behind the plastic trim, then screwed the mount through the wood and into the pillar. To stabilize the assembly, I ran a 15" old school rubber bungee from the arm end to the headrest.
I mounted it lower than I might have so the boys don't have to stare up to view it so much, and high enough to view okay from the rear rows.
I tested it out on a quick trip out to Disney yesterday (only 25 mins from the property) over bumpy back roads with wifey's erratic driving, and I couldn't ask for a more stable picture. Sound level is fine for now with the 3w simulated surround speakers, though I'm looking to get a headphone IR receiver to add, and there is digital coax audio out should I want to add surround sound like we had in our last van...
It has inputs for HDMI and VGA as well as component and (crappy) RCA video, and a USB port. Also, I like that this one can be controlled without the remote which many new TVs don't have now.
I'll let you know in a week how it worked for the road trip!
BJs Club has an RCA full 1080i 24" TV with DVD player on sale for only $149, and the only one in stock had a heavily damaged box so the manager gave it to me for $129.
Since this was way less $$ than the other solutions I've beeen exploring, I figured I'd give it a try for this trip and go from there. In trying to decide how to rig it up temporarily for the trip, I remembered I had an extra mount lying around so I used it.
I screwed a 1x4 into the pillar behind the plastic trim, then screwed the mount through the wood and into the pillar. To stabilize the assembly, I ran a 15" old school rubber bungee from the arm end to the headrest.
I mounted it lower than I might have so the boys don't have to stare up to view it so much, and high enough to view okay from the rear rows.
I tested it out on a quick trip out to Disney yesterday (only 25 mins from the property) over bumpy back roads with wifey's erratic driving, and I couldn't ask for a more stable picture. Sound level is fine for now with the 3w simulated surround speakers, though I'm looking to get a headphone IR receiver to add, and there is digital coax audio out should I want to add surround sound like we had in our last van...
It has inputs for HDMI and VGA as well as component and (crappy) RCA video, and a USB port. Also, I like that this one can be controlled without the remote which many new TVs don't have now.
I'll let you know in a week how it worked for the road trip!
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I have installed 2 flip down monitors in my VAN. I have done just about every combination of monitor/video in my cars.
The Monitors in the headrests are cool, because each kid gets his own TV. I put 4 in my suburban. The problem is that the wiring must go through the seat and then out the bottom. Then it is a constant battle of kids (both mine and thier friends) pushing buttons on the headrest monitors. It seemed like everytime we get 15 minutes down the road I would hear a "my TV doesn't work", because someone pushed a source button or turned it off.
I have found that the overhead are the most durable, easiest to maintain, and control.
Here is my Van with the overhead monitors.
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The Monitors in the headrests are cool, because each kid gets his own TV. I put 4 in my suburban. The problem is that the wiring must go through the seat and then out the bottom. Then it is a constant battle of kids (both mine and thier friends) pushing buttons on the headrest monitors. It seemed like everytime we get 15 minutes down the road I would hear a "my TV doesn't work", because someone pushed a source button or turned it off.
I have found that the overhead are the most durable, easiest to maintain, and control.
Here is my Van with the overhead monitors.
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asdrew, How hard is it to get the pillar cover off? Anyway to break it?
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It is very flexible, I just pulled from the window edge and also popped the cupholder panel from it, and then held it back enough to get a drill in there. Had I been doing something more elaborate I would have pulled off more panels, most of which I've found to be quite forgiving.
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hawkeng, i think your setup looks great! I noticed you mounted the players under the AC ducts. Did you drill through them? How did you work the mounting plate in between the headliner and AC ducts? Did you completely remove the headliner?
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Flip up 10.1" DVD players
Another type of product is this Atom Enterprises genesis X20 flip up DVD players. They have an android OS, have wifi, HDMI input, 2 USB inputs. Etc. 10.1" screens. I put one on the drivers seat and one in the middle seat of 2nd row. This set up works good for my three kids.
Another type of product is this Atom Enterprises genesis X20 flip up DVD players. They have an android OS, have wifi, HDMI input, 2 USB inputs. Etc. 10.1" screens. I put one on the drivers seat and one in the middle seat of 2nd row. This set up works good for my three kids.
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