HDTV in my Westy

82WestyMan · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:34 am Post subject: HDTV in my Westy

OK, so I got too much time on my hands...

Long story short, I found an excellent buy on a 23" HDTV / Monitor over at www.newegg.com. Kind of an off-brand name, but I took a chance and turned out to be a great deal for $200. Good picture, tons of connections from coaxial all the way to HDMI and a nice size.
Most of the time it’s going to reside in my bedroom on a shorty wall mount arm. Even found a nice little 'compact DVD player' with HDMI output that I'm make a custom mount to hang off the bottom of set.
Got to thinking about it and thought... "Might be nice to be able to watch a movie after dinner at the campground without huddling around my laptop"

Looked around and found a nice 15" articulating arm wall mount from Peerless that's fairly inexpensive if you do a little searching with google
www.peerlessmounts.com/dyn/Products/BrowseProduct.aspx/tn/39/u/t/categoryID/195
Decided to mount on the B-pillar behind the passenger seat. Had nice access thru the 'fuzzy vent' and even thought it looked like it had some stout metal behind it for the seatbelt mount, I decided to back it up with a piece of plate steel

So here's the mounting plate and the backer plate with the nylon locking nuts JB welded in place (didn't want to have to maneuver a wrench inside the B-pillar)

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Here are the markings for the holes I had to drill in the B-pillar and a look inside from the fuzzy vent

Decided to put some JB weld on the backer plate to it would stay put if I ever had to remove the outer mounting plate

Here’s the plate mount and the arm mounted on it

And this is with the TV mounted in place

I also found a nice little mast mounted HD antenna that I’m going to fab a pole mount for.
http://reviews.cnet.com/a-v-antennas/philips-mant940-hdtv-antenna/4505-6509_7-32023898.html
Something simple that will sit on the ground and use one of the jack points and something to grab the rain gutter
_________________
"The floggings will continue until morale improves"
"I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell" - Harry S. Truman
82 Westfalia - w/ a Raby 'Camper Special' engine

carterzest · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:35 am Post subject: Re: HDTV in my Westy

Modified so as not to be redundant per request of OP. Wink

Me first...

BUMP!

P.S. Bump means I like it. Need I explain in more depth. Think about it!
_________________
Happiness=Portland, Oregon in the rearview mirror!

Wellington · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:39 am Post subject:

I came across a flat screen with built in dvd and it had a transformer on the power cord, the unit actually ran off 12volts!!!
I decided against it as I didn't want my kid glued to the T.V. when we are out.

westylife · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 8:22 am Post subject:

I usually don't like TV's installed in cars but I really like this setup I really like how it swings outside like that.

Great Work!!
_________________
1983.5 Westfalia Bostig RG1

RCB · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 8:59 am Post subject:

Great work as well as a great write up.
I really like the way you set up the passengers side table!!!
From what it looks, its just the same sort of bracket thats behind the drivers side seat well.
Is this correct.
I gots to keep an eye out for an extra bracket.
You didnt run into any issues when drilling the screw holes did you ??

Once again ....real nice.

P.S. Thankx again for the information on where to get the rubber boots and connections for the auxillary air valve. The wires are looking kinda tired and the boots were shot.
A few dollars well spent.

Whoops.one more P.S....is that a Hallon fire extinguisher in the bracket??

mightyart · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:24 am Post subject:

I've got one of these:
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=P4110014
Laughing

krimpoo · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 11:30 am Post subject:

Love that ad....buncha' people sitting in lawn chairs watching a t.v...and ignoring the mountains and beautiful day right in front of them...which i assume was the reason they left the city and their apartments in the first place?

"Hey Bob...why dont we pack up the westys and the kids and go watch t.v. in the woods this weekend?"

People are so strange....im not saying...im just saying.

tds3pete · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 12:11 pm Post subject:

Seems like you kinda cheaped out with the 23"

Why not go for a 52" with added rollers top and bottom and you could have replaced the sliding door with it................
_________________
'58 Westy camper-come and gone
'73 Westy-bought new in Holland,now gone
'86 Syncro weekender-come and gone
'79 Westy...Oscar
'95 Eurovan Camper/5 spd...Marsha Mellow

mightyart · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject:

Outside in the fresh air is the best place to watch TV.
I guess the only way to watch a movie is in a theather, with your way thinking drive-ins are stupid.
You need to stop being so closed minded.

People are so strange....im not saying...im just saying.

There I'm done krimpoo, your trolling isn't going to screw 82Westymans post up by starting an argument about watching TV while camping.
A good imflamitory subject, that is a personal choice, and will have no winner.
I'll edit this if I have to.

82WestyMan · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 12:38 pm Post subject:

Thanx for chiming in, Mightyart

To me, it's just a matter of having options and choices
... and being tolerate of, and appreciating, the differences in everyones tastes and choices in life and how they decide to live it
_________________
"The floggings will continue until morale improves"
"I never did give anybody hell. I just told the truth and they thought it was hell" - Harry S. Truman
82 Westfalia - w/ a Raby 'Camper Special' engine

kevtherev · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 12:48 pm Post subject:

woggs1 · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:08 pm Post subject:

That looks like a sweet setup! I like to watch movies in bed, so when I go out in my Westy, I always bring a portable dvd player. Also, I sometimes camp where campfires are prohibited, so when the sun goes down, what else is there to do?
_________________
4 speed 88 Westy

82WestyMan · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:12 pm Post subject:

Hal87 · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 9:57 pm Post subject:

Tell the truth, you did this just to cheese off your next door neighbor with a 9" flip down in their Suburban.... Twisted Evil

koolmoe · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:42 pm Post subject:

Sweet.
First, I have to figure out the auxiliary battery setup and inverter (I've read many posts but still not clear - gotta actually sketch it out or something).

Once that's done, I've got an arm/pole for up to a 17" flat panel. I have a heavy 15" touchscreen monitor. I plan, someday, to merge the pole with the front table bracket somehow (since I don't have that table anyway) and connect up a laptop and/or Mac Mini I've got lying around.

So not only for movies, maybe TV (with proper tuner add-on), but also for a computer as well.

I'm a little worried it'll be a bit too visible and attractive to thieves but figure I can make some sorta cover/dropcloth for it.

Won't be as big as yours but same idea, plus a touchscreen to make up that missing cool factor? (plus, I'm a geek, so HAS to be a computer)
KM
_________________
--
Current: 1990 Westy GL (Savannah. Good to be back!)
from '95 til 2008: 1995 Pathfinder (frame rusted out, charitable parts donation)
from '91-'95: 1982 Westy Diesel (Smokey. Traded in for far too little!)
from '87-'91: 1980 VW Rabbit (my econoPorsche - passed on)

bheck · Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 3:16 am Post subject:

That set up looks great!!! I was looking for a reason to buy another HDTV. Watching tv is great when it is rainy. The kids would love it. I've got to show my wife.

Williamtaylor33 · Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 5:34 am Post subject:

Very Cool idea. I'm always a fan of your posts 82westyman. Since my westy is my camper i'm thinking that might get in my way everynow and then. I can see some troll slaming the door shut not thinking that i have the tv outside.
Dang...a troll just bit my leg!
_________________
89 Bostig powered syncro westy

Volksbulli · Samba Member Joined: January 30, 2006 Posts: 364

82 WESTY MAN: Hey that brand of TV you got, SCEPTER, is a decently good TV. A friend of mine has had a 32 inch version now for over 2 yrs now with absolutely no problems.

I had considered putting a 12volt TV in my Westy, but decided that my main excuse for camping is to get away from technology, so I opted out of having the bus full of techy doo dads.

But I must say, that is an Awesomely clean install. Nice how the TV Swings outside the door.

Can your Pass Seat be facing forward with the TV mounted there, or do you have to remove it?
_________________
It's a Volkswagen Thing, Even I Don't Understand!(o\|/o)
-------------------------------------------------------
82' A/C Westfalia
67' Typ 1
96' Golf GL

dobryan · Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:20 am Post subject:

Good job on that install. Very Happy

I've got a 27 inch HDTV (my Xmas present that resides in the garage) that I'm going to install so it can hang off of the Westy A/C cabinet and be viewed out the back while we tailgate at football games. I'll be interested to see how much time I can get out of an auxiliary battery.

Please post your results when you have your battery/inverter system hooked up.

Thanks!
_________________
Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794

presslab · Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:50 am Post subject:

That's a great spot for it, really cool you can flip it to point outside. Now all you need is a vanputer. Very Happy

BTW I'm typing this from my van in a campground, wifi antenna on the roof, about 500 yds from the ocean. Just waiting for my buddy to get up.
_________________
1986 Vanagon Westfalia EJ25
1988 Subaru GL-10 EJ20G --- 2000 Honda XR650L
2010 Titus El Guapo --- 2011 On-One 456 Ti


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

	Forum Index -> Vanagon	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: 1, 2 Next
Page 1 of 2

HDTV in my Westy
Page: 1, 2 Next