Help me design my truck. Ideas needed!

HiJackZX1 · 03-27-2009, 12:03 PM

After toying with a bunch of different ideas and all of them going bust and causing me to loose alot of money, I have decided to ask the forum about a new idea for my setup.

The car will have a total of 8 screens. Seven touch screens and one 19 inch VGA flip down. Originally I had a 15inch, and I tried to mod it to hold a touch panel. The weight and design limitation have killed the idea, so now I have a cut up useless screen. Two screens will be in the front for the driver and passenger to watch movies and what not. This is the only part of one of my ideas that hasn't been scraped and moving ahead.

I have been jumping back and forth on other ideas. Originally I only wanted one screen for the rear 3rd row, but trying different setups all failed. I have decided to add 2 screens to the 3rd row, but mounted in the pillars.

They will be out of the way, but still viewable. They are to the sides of the person, but they have a huge 19 inch to watch if they decided to look ahead. The side screens are more for control.

Here is were I need your guys help. If I make a mistake it will be costly, so I need input to avoid this:

How should I mount the screens for the 2nd row? Alot of people have them mounted on the back of the front seats, but because I have high back seats, I think it looks really bad, pic below:

One issue is that when the seat is leaned back, like in the picture, it puts the screen at a awkward angle that I hate. Alot of younger generation people, maybe even some older, will see that young people love to put the seat back as far as possible so this will ruin the view of the screen even more. I was thinking of maybe a unique way, a door mounted screen:

It would allow the front seats to go as far back as they want and not mess up the picture. Only thing is, it will mean major fabing for the doors, and who ever is there has to roll up the windows if it rains, lol. This is the only other way I can think of tackling this issue. What do you guys think of the idea? If this idea isn't good, what do you suggest?

highfive · 03-27-2009, 03:46 PM

What if you still installed this onto the back of the seat and then create a bracket so that it can tilt? It would be easier to watch being in front of you.

HiJackZX1 · 03-27-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by highfive

What if you still installed this onto the back of the seat and then create a bracket so that it can tilt? It would be easier to watch being in front of you.

I thought of a tilt system, but then I started to think of the awkwardness of it. It would need to stick out a bit of the seat. Same with the 3rd row, the 2nd row screens are mainly for control. They also have use of the 19 inch.

Only concern with my door idea is running all that cable through the door. Shouldn't be to hard though. If it were the front, then yes its a b!+ch, but the pillars holding the rear doors is right there, only have to remove a few panels.

Anyone have ideas that avoid the seats? I have seen pictures of other Durangos and all complain about the viewing angle. Also the pictures show just how ugly it looks.

thekl0wn · 03-27-2009, 04:44 PM

Post some pics from further away... I'm having a hard time visualizing the placement. (I may stop by the lot and inspect a 'Rango to better be able to voice an opinion)

HiJackZX1 · 03-27-2009, 05:10 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by thekl0wn

Post some pics from further away... I'm having a hard time visualizing the placement. (I may stop by the lot and inspect a 'Rango to better be able to voice an opinion)

I will go ahead and take more pictures, problem is its just me so someone has to hold the screen, LMFAO. I will also post pictures of people that have mutilated their Durango seats. Also mine is the 2003 Dodge Durango.

HiJackZX1 · 03-27-2009, 05:37 PM

The older durangos actually had a bit of a wider highback seat. Even with the extra width, it looks ugly to me.

highfive · 03-28-2009, 03:16 AM

i can see what you mean by bad viewing angle. My vote would still be to embed a bracket or structure into the seat and have it tilt. It could look stock and still be functional. Otherwise I would have to see the location of the screens on the door and then I could picture it better as well.

Also, are all the screens showing the same video or are they independent at all? (for my own curiosity)

HiJackZX1 · 03-28-2009, 08:21 AM

There ntt good pictures, just something to give you an idea....

Third row:

Second Row:

HiJackZX1 · 03-28-2009, 08:24 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by highfive

i can see what you mean by bad viewing angle. My vote would still be to embed a bracket or structure into the seat and have it tilt. It could look stock and still be functional. Otherwise I would have to see the location of the screens on the door and then I could picture it better as well.

Also, are all the screens showing the same video or are they independent at all? (for my own curiosity)

For the front passenger and rear seats yes..... They all show the same thing. Only screen that doesnt show the same thing is the headunit screen. It shows stuff like NAV, OBD2, and important driving stuff.

captcol · 03-28-2009, 05:43 PM

Why not high mount off the roof for all. My concern having them off the door would be the bracket would have to be super strong as people will grab it to close the door lean on it etc.

Coming off the door would also restrict how far the front seats could slide or lean back. If it is solely for control of the 19" screen could you not have one mounted on the back of the centre console for the second row of seats and a similarly positioned 1 central for the rear seats - or for the third row place it low and angled off the side panels, anything that is mounted off those pilars is going to have to deal with alot of ambient light.

I would take a closer look at a durango but our nearest dealer is at least 3 and a half hours away and I just don't have the time, my apoligies.

Good luck with what ever you decide

rdholtz · 03-28-2009, 07:57 PM

I'd second that idea; I like the roof mount, especially if it's a swing-down system. Then you have a nice, clean overhead for sightseeing trips, and available video when the passengers want it. Ceiling-mounted screens are really tough to hit no matter how badly somebody spills their Coke or Pepsi, and nobody is likely to grab onto them to close the door or pull their seat forward.

I haven't looked in a Durango, so I don't know what that means in installation problems, but you seem pretty resourceful, so I'll stick with the ceiling-mount preference.

HiJackZX1 · 03-28-2009, 08:31 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by captcol

Why not high mount off the roof for all. My concern having them off the door would be the bracket would have to be super strong as people will grab it to close the door lean on it etc.

Coming off the door would also restrict how far the front seats could slide or lean back. If it is solely for control of the 19" screen could you not have one mounted on the back of the centre console for the second row of seats and a similarly positioned 1 central for the rear seats - or for the third row place it low and angled off the side panels, anything that is mounted off those pilars is going to have to deal with alot of ambient light.

I would take a closer look at a durango but our nearest dealer is at least 3 and a half hours away and I just don't have the time, my apoligies.

Good luck with what ever you decide

I don't want to have to find a screen that flip down, and most are expensive. Also I cant do it because I have A/C ducts in my roof. The screens would be to close. I also done want them to have to reach up.

I tried the center console idea but constraints with the folding seats was a mission. The screen had to be able to hold away and it just didn't look good to me.

The screens would not interfere with the front seat, thats why I chose that area. They are far enough were people would not pull them, if they do i kick their a$$. I guess in a way Ive decided what I'm going to do. I don't want to cut up my roof or seats. Its also very unique, but the frame that holds the screen is very important also. It has to be able to withstand touching and the door closing.

I didnt think about how the light may look...... It would be right next to the glass, i didnt think of that. I may have to buy a screen and try it.

Quote: Originally Posted by rdholtz

I'd second that idea; I like the roof mount, especially if it's a swing-down system. Then you have a nice, clean overhead for sightseeing trips, and available video when the passengers want it. Ceiling-mounted screens are really tough to hit no matter how badly somebody spills their Coke or Pepsi, and nobody is likely to grab onto them to close the door or pull their seat forward.

I haven't looked in a Durango, so I don't know what that means in installation problems, but you seem pretty resourceful, so I'll stick with the ceiling-mount preference.

Also my roof would be so cluttered if I had flip downs. The wiring may be an issue, alot of extending of wires and electrical. Also mounting the mounting plates is a mission and requires the roof liner be removed and industrial epoxy that is so toxic (the store stuff doesn't work).

dMand · 03-29-2009, 01:21 AM

another one here voting for the ceiling mount flip down. However, I would go for a single larger unit mounted in the center. I know you can make it happen!

HiJackZX1 · 03-29-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by dMand

another one here voting for the ceiling mount flip down. However, I would go for a single larger unit mounted in the center. I know you can make it happen!

OOPS, maybe I wasn't clear. There is already going to be a large center screen. The 7" inch screens are mainly for controlling that screen, since the 19 inch isn't touch screen. I tried to put a touch panel on the 15 inch I had and that ended in disaster.

Nexson · 03-30-2009, 10:21 AM

Hey,

The screens in the 2nd and 3rd row look good to me, but I need to ask.

The C pillar in the 3rd row, what is that made out of? Plastic or material.

Also for the door mount. Where the screen edge is touching that part of the door in the picture, is it vinyl or plastic? Since it looks like from the picture where the screen touches, that it touches on a seperate part of the door panel which might be able to be sectioned off molded and refinished.

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