School me on roof mount displays and DVD players.

[HOOV3R]

i got to thinking, how DARK is your cab at night cuz you got NO lights w/ that mount + moonroof position? I'd really like to see about gettin a set tucked into the back of the headrest, i mean, I think $500-750 would be fair for a great install no?

My lights are in the front with the moon roof controls, and then there are the other set in the back. It's dark with no lights on due to the 5% tint the whole way around, the tint on the windshield, and the all black interior. My interior lights are all leds, and light it up really good.

 

[VanoFord]

A lot of the roof mount monitors/players have interior lights built into them.

The seat back monitors have a number of drawbacks. My family has used both and prefer a single larger roof mounted monitor.

ah, i didnt notice the lights on. how do you guys mind driving when that tv is flipped down and you have no rear view then?

My lights are in the front with the moon roof controls, and then there are the other set in the back. It's dark with no lights on due to the 5% tint the whole way around, the tint on the windshield, and the all black interior. My interior lights are all leds, and light it up really good.

I dont have any lights on my moon roof controls, which i thought was weird. in fact its just "up/down & 2 memory + Close" switch. sounds like the dealer added this AFTER the factory?

 

[me2]

ah, i didnt notice the lights on. how do you guys mind driving when that tv is flipped down and you have no rear view then?

I rarely use the rear view mirror in my truck. My back window is tinted pretty dark and thus unless its broad daylight, you can't see a whole lot. And when I am pulling a 5er, I can't use it either. So I've come to not rely on it. I don't have any issues with not having the rear view mirror when they are watching a DVD.

I rely on my side mirrors for just about everything. They are excellent.

The cab has a bit of back lighting when people are watching a DVD in the back seat at night. Its noticeable but not objectionable.

I have a young family, with 2 kids aged 2 and 6. They love riding in my truck with their mother in the back seat "watching a movie". Whenever we go somewhere the first thing my 2 year old says when we are getting in is "watch a movie ?", "watch a movie ?". The DVD player makes trips that would otherwise be a nightmare, feasible. They don't watch it all the time, but killing 2 hours with 2 movies in a 4 hour trip makes a huge difference in how the trip goes. It probably helps that our kids don't watch much TV otherwise, so its a treat for them.

 

[HOOV3R]

I dont have any lights on my moon roof controls, which i thought was weird. in fact its just "up/down & 2 memory + Close" switch. sounds like the dealer added this AFTER the factory?

My lights are original, they might have changed with the 08 interior.

 

[VanoFord]

i guess the more i think about it, the less i use my rear view in this truck compared to my .5T. both had towing mirrors (these PowerScope) but yea, w/ this 8' bed, i dont use it too often, and I could totally see why you stop using it especially w/ a 5er (i dont). guess we'll have to look into an OH unit... now... onto brands lol.

 

[me2]

These are the only units I've found with VGA ports.
http://www.qualitymobilevideo.com/c...itors-no-dvd-player/shopby/vga_input-yes.html
I know nothing about that vendor, just found them via a search. They are the only seller of these things that even has a VGA search option !

I haven't found any with HDMI inputs except the TV and computer monitors.

I cant figure out how these companies can be putting a 15-21" monitor into a vehicle, feed it with a composite signal and claim good picture quality. There is a reason that HDMI exists.

I'm still mulling options. I might go visit Best Buy today.

 

[me2]

Most TVs are 400 NITs.
http://www.displaysearchblog.com/2012/10/falling-brightness-of-new-tv-models/

And most TVs have a matte, anti glare finish on the screen.

Would a 22 inch TV be too large ? That seems to be as small as one can go these days.

 

[Vader's Fury]

There are 19's out there. Just gotta look.

That is what I was contemplating using was a 19" TV.

 

[me2]

There are 19's out there. Just gotta look.

That is what I was contemplating using was a 19" TV.

This one. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-48kgsT3WPiZ/p_30519D4003/Samsung-UN19D4003.html But its not a whole lot smaller than its 22" brother. The 22 does full 1080 natively. It would make for quite a show for the back seat.

Aside. One of the things my wife dislikes about watching the 8 inch display my truck presently has is that its hard on the eyes and stomach watching it and the oncoming traffic, because you can't help but see both.

I wonder if a 19 or 22" model would help with that ? It would certainly block the view of oncoming traffic. It would also block parents from seeing or reaching into the back seat.

 

[VanoFord]

i dont see a 19" or a 22" (i have that for 2 monitors) a stretch, but my question is, would they hold up to the abuse of being in a truck? we go 4wheeling, even more w/ the new truck. do you think the weight of that tv would be able to not make the roof cave in over time? how would you get it to "flip up" when not in use? i like the idea... just these are my questions concerning that route...

 

[Vader's Fury]

My plan was to disassemble the TV from its casing and basically make or modify whatever I needed to to turn it into a screen that would flip up and store in the mount on the ceiling.

I most likely would be making the mount as well if going this route.

 

[me2]

Without the stand, the 22" is 20.3" x 12.4" x 1.6" (W x H x D)

Without the stand, the 19" is 17.6" x 10.9" x 1.6" (W x H x D)

 

[VanoFord]

My plan was to disassemble the TV from its casing and basically make or modify whatever I needed to to turn it into a screen that would flip up and store in the mount on the ceiling.

I most likely would be making the mount as well if going this route.

i think you could achieve this by adding a loaded spring onto a hinge, similar to gate hinges that have the tensioner built it so it will only open to a certain point? i have these on my house and can take a pic if you guys dont know what I mean (sorry my explanation might be :shrug: )


those dimensions arent too bad. do you have weights of them as well since that will be a big factor IMO

 

[me2]

those dimensions arent too bad. do you have weights of them as well since that will be a big factor IMO

7.5 lbs for the big one, 6.2 for the small one.

I'd love to see the picture of the hinge.

 

[Vader's Fury]

Me as well.

 

[me2]

My truck is forcing the issue. Yesterday the DVD player gave a "Communications Error" and refused to operate. It did this once before. I dropped it down and removed and replaced the connector and it worked. Not sure why.

I'm beginning to think the 19 inch monitor would work well.

 

[VanoFord]

sorry guys but it was my step daughters 4th bday yesterday so it was all about her. I'll get pics of the hinge later today when I get home from work.

 

[me2]

I looked at the 22D5003 at Bestbuy. It didn't look overly bright and when I increased the brightness, the picture totally washed out.

There was a Toshiba and a Phillips next to it and they both looked to have a better picture.

Maybe someone else can check these models and see if they have the same opnion.

They didn't have the 19" Samsung in stock.

 

[me2]

Anyone had progress on this topic ? I need to do something.

 

[VanoFord]

ah damn you guys still need the hinge pic... its been raining this weekend. i'm making a reminder now and i'll get that pic later today. sorry