ASA Electronic's Jensen LCD TV Installation
As editor of ToyHauler Magazine, I get to see a lot of trailers and motor homes, both new and used. One of the things I have been noticing lately is LCD TV’s in all the new RV’s and it seems to be one of the most popular upgrades to the used RV’s also. I know we don’t go camping to watch TV but from time to time it is the easy way to make the kids happy and every so often the weather goes bad on us and we get stuck inside.
For awhile now I have wanted to make a quick release LCD TV set-up for the outside of my toyhauler. So when there is a bunch of kids, sporting event or the riding videos of the day we would have a place where a big group could watch. After doing some research, I found that Jensen products from ASA Electronics (www.asaelectronics.com) seem to be what the RV manufacturers are using for the higher-end products. ASA Electronics has been making Jensen & Audiovox audio components since the 70’s and has a full line of mobile and marine grade products that are made to operate in the toyhauler kind of environment. They specialize in designing heavy-duty products that withstand the rigors of RV and other mobile applications. Because they conformal coat the circuit boards and design the product for mobile applications, the Jensen will hold up better than any other brand of LCD TV on the market--plus Jensen has available LCD TV’s that run on 12 volt and/or A/C depending on what you need in your toyhauler.
After I decided on the Jensen JE3208 32” LCD TV, I had to find the best spot to mount it on the outside of the toyhauler. I found the easiest--not the best--spot for me was going to be over the front storage compartment door. When I opened the door, I could see a place where I would be able to through-bolt the mounting bracket in place. The other advantage for me was that this was right behind the inside entertainment center, so I wouldn’t have to run RCA jacks very far--plus I had a power outlet outside the trailer. I have a Kwikee (www.kwikee.com) sliding drawer in my storage compartment, and if I had to get in the compartment I could slide the drawer out the other side, so that wouldn’t be a problem either.
The bigger TV did not work on the inexpensive mounting brackets that I was looking at because the mounting holes on the back of the TV were farther apart than most of the smaller LCD’s. So I started looking around the garage to see if I could fabricate my own mounting bracket. I found the piece of Up-Tite track that I had (up-tite.com). I knew this track would hold the weight, so all I needed now was a 1/8” thick flat piece of steel that I could drill to match the mounting holes on the rear of the TV. Then I welded some U-brackets on the back side of the steel that would slide into the Up-Tite adjustable track guides. I through-bolted the track over the storage compartment door. After everything was fitted and I knew the bracket was right, I primed and painted the steel. I then bolted my bracket on the back of the TV and set it in place. It was so simple but it worked just like I pictured it in my head. That is always surprising.
Next I ran RCA jacks from my stereo amp to the TV, plugged it in and I was good to go. I do have a second Direct TV box that I am going to run outside so I will be able to change channels outside if I want. I also left the base on the TV, which did two things for me: it kept the TV at the angle I wanted and it also made it easy to move back in the trailer and set it on the inside entertainment center. Next I am going to hook up a full Jensen outside sound system to complement the TV and allow me to run DVD’s, CD’s, MP3 or my satellite radio when I am camping with my friends.
After I finished, I thought people would enjoy looking at how other people were mounting LCD TV’s inside their toyhaulers, so I went onto a couple of my favorite Internet forums and asked people to send me pictures of their set-ups. I got tons of people who were willing to share their set-ups. Thanks to everyone who helped me with this. To check out all that ASA Electronics has to offer, go to www.asaelectronics.com.
-THM
