I could not swallow paying $1000 for the oem rail mount dvd system so I decided to try to build my own...

Here is revision 1:









Its ugly but it works fine!

Now I just need to build a swing arm so the screen can fold flat against the brackets when not in use and clean up the wiring and I am all set!

What do you guys think?

 

Pretty intuitive! (I think I spelled that right?) It will look pretty sweet once you tweak it a bit and clean up the wiring. Good Job!

 

Hey thats good, what componets did you use to make that. I would be very interested in doing this myself.

 

Thanks for the compliments!

I bought them both at computer geeks,

the dvd player is here

the LCD tv is here

the brackets are simply aluminum flat stock that I bought at home depot and used a bench vice to pound into shape, they snap into the rail and are very solid...

 

maybe you could buy a spare overhead storage container like the one in front of your player and it might be able to fit around your dvd system. Maybe you'll have to take the door off it so it fits your screen and cut a hole in the back of it for the dvd player. That could make it look much cleaner?

 

I had thought about this and looked at the bin with the original hopes of integrating the dvd player and screen into it (screen in the sunglasses pocket would have been cool), but it just would not have fit... Maybe if I removed the guts of the bin it would work with the existing mounting system???

I am also thinking of using some sheet aluminum to hide the bottom and wires...

 

^yeah that's what I was trying to say, maybe you could make it work somehow if you removed the guts of the bin.

 

are the 2 bars that run from front to rear stock? i dont have those in my 06 f150 screw xlt. thanks !

 

yes, that's the stock overhead rail system, came standard in 04 and 05. Starting in 06, it was optional.

 

How did you get the screen to flip so the picture isn't upside down?

 

That's a pretty cool idea man! Have you considered buying a basic bin, cutting a few holes in it and placing it around the DVD system and wires? The screen would still stick out the bottom, but it might actually cover up the rest of the system and wires.

 

Excellent! I have to look into this.

 

The screen has the ability in the menu system to flip the screen both up/down and left/right...

After 1000 miles of driving over the holiday, I have confirmed that the design is sound and will hold up just fine! I am very happy with this setup!

 

Now for the $1 million dollar question: have you figured out how to get the sound to run through the truck's stereo?

Imagine having the option of running sound through the LCD screen, AND/OR the stereo.

 

Good job Mikeinboise

PIE makes an aux input blackbox for the F150 now. $80-$90
line level in (RCA) into the radio for clear sound. press your aux buttton

Ramb