Newbie wants larger TV

[xfire]

Hi everyone. I'm new to the forum. I have a 2006 Raptor 3612 DS. The TV is currently a standard 19" model that came with the unit located by the dinette. I want to enlarge it to a 26" or larger flat screen even if I have to relocate it. Has anybody done this? If so do you have any pictures? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[hoffbrew]

This is what I have been wanting to do too.

Sonora CA...... I am from Twain Harte!

[hoffbrew]

I have thought about getting a 32" + to cover the hole and keeping the 19" turned around for garage only??

[hosemandc]

I dont know what the difference is between the 2006 and 2008 but my Raptor came with a 32" LCD just above the main enterance door. Mine is a 3612DS. I would take a picture for you but I dont pick it up in Anchorage until tomorrow.

[hankpage]

Xfire, I don't have a TH but I put a piece of plywood across the hole for the tube tv and mounted a 32" flat screen. I put the tv to one side so I can reach the outlets and connections on tv. You may be able to reach from garage. JM2¢, Hank


[IMG][/IMG]

[ktmjim215]

I put a 26 inch Vizio in the TV compartment on my 3612. The 26 inch is about 1 inch narrower than the ID of the compartment. I measured all the TV's in about 3 stores before figuring out how to do it.
The outer trim panel of the compartment comes off with 4 screws. Once removed I took a jigsaw and made cuts on the side uprights to add approx 4 inches to the ID. The trim panel is laminated so tape off the face. As you stand looking at the trim panel I took wood off of the right and left vertical sides to make the hole bigger. I used the horizontals to simply make a straight cut out. The width of the hole went from 20 to 24 inches. Measure the TV you are installing and you can figure out how much you need to cut.
Lowes has some pre finished (laminated) molding that is made in a 90 degree, it's about $3.49 a stick and I only used slightly over 1 stick. This molding is about as close to everything in the camper as you can get and the 90 degree covers the raw wood exposed with the cutting. Lowes also has some small trim screws that take a square bit so it looks like it came that way from the factory. The trick is to make your cuts first and then take a piece of scrap to Lowes to match the molding.
I took the factory swivel out and used a 25 inch piece of 2X8 to set the TV on, anchoring it with a few wood screws after painting it flat black. The 1 - 1/2 "spacer" sets the TV at the right height. If you try to trim the bottom of the outer panel so the TV sits on the compartment floor, the trim will fall apart. When you remove it you'll see how it is constructed you'll see what I mean. If your brand TV has a tall base you may not need the "spacer".
On my TV, I drilled some holes in the factory base, then installed screws through the base into the 2X8 "spacer" and fabbed up some braces from flat alumnum to the upper screw holes on the back of the tv. The tv is now rock steady and doesn't move at all.
This set up leaves enough room to fab up a little shelf above the TV to store a cable box Wii etc. A 26 inch TV will use all of the cabinet space side to side. While sitting on the couch, it's hard to see the last 3/4 inch of the right side of the screen but I wouldn't change anything.
I have friends that like the change and some new friends that think it came that way.

[hoffbrew]

I like this idea, just getting back in the rv groove so it will be a good tackle!