Well after much research and shopping, I'm installing two 13.2 inch roof mount screens in my 05 X. Why you may ask 2? My 4 kids play XBox 360 and watch movies on road trips. Movies are fine with one screen but with the Xbox they need more screen space to see the action. Big screen divided into 4 quadrants give you 4 almost 7 inch screens, one for each players action. I have a buddy who use to install car stereos helping me. Just drop down screens no built in DVD player. lighter and less to break plus the Xbox 360 will play DVDs. I will try to document with lots of pictures and notes as I go to share with everyone. If there is anyone who has done this and can provide any tips let me know. The challenge is mounting around the rear air ducts. The one thing I have been looking for is a picture of the roof with NO headliner so I could see where the ducts are and where the roof cross members are located (I assume at the B and C pillars).

Wish me luck and no holes through the roof !

APEXDUCK

 

I have no idea on installing TVs but like you said keep us posted with lots of pictures..

 

I had a 13.2 Audiovox to install last year for the third row but I found it too big to mount as the roof contour did not give me enough space that was flush to work with. Wound up selling it to a guy for his Toyota Matrix A bit of overkill for a vehicle of that size.
Let us know what you installed as I might still like to add a second screen.
I have a factory unit from a 2003 expedition but the wires are cut and I cannot find the schematics anywhere. If I could I would put that in for my third row as it is an all in one with the dvd.
Good luck to you. I had made a side deal with an installer at a local shop to do mine. I don't have the kahunas to try it myself.

 

Well my buddy failed to show today. But I did get one screen installed and the other size up and ready to install. The one for the third row is in place with the wires snaked to the C pillar on the driver side. Although I would have liked to mount the screen a little further forward. the location of the cross member and the headliner contour limited the choice of locations. The front unit will require drilling through the air duct but I have a good solution to keep from crushing the duct and still allowing me to attach to the cross member and what looks to the a bracket for the factory DVD player / rear air control. I am taking lots of picture and will post them as soon as the job is complete. Just taking my time to do it right. Word of caution, the headliner is muck like foam core board. would crack and crinkle very easy if you try to flex it.

one down , one to go along with running the wiring to the third row power port compartment.

APEXDUCK

 

Project nearly completed last night.

Pictures to follow soon.

I still need place the C pillar cover back on, the assist handle and garment hook above the rear driver side door and clean out some left over tools and wiring scraps. But both are in and working. Ideally I would have liked to mount both screens forward (3rd row about 9 inches , 2nd row about 6 inches) but due to the contour of the headliner, location of the rear air controls, available anchor points and the location of the air ducts, the kids will have to live with them where they are at. But hey having a pair of 13.2 inch screens in the back to watch movies and play Xbox, the kids can not complain much.

Installation was not too bad. I did take some pictures but much of what we did to mount the screens was up through the headliner and just screwing in the mounting bracket. The brackets offered very liberal mounting options and with 4 screws in place holds the screen very tight to the headliner. I used two 1 inch nylon spacer on each screw for the front screen to allow for the air duct to not be crushed. all 4 screw had to go right through the air duct but the screens mounting bracket sealed the holes and allowed me to mount to the cross member above and what looks to be the bracket above the headliner for the factory DVD player system. The cabling was easy in the 3rd row to snake to the C pillar. The cable for the 2nd row was a little tricky but we opted not to go through the air duct and routed the cable to the opening for the rear air controls. Kept me from having to compromise the air duct and not really seen. I will try to take some pictures the mounted screens tonight or tomorrow and of the wiring location. Wiring in 2 screens with 2 video source lines and audio cables all together was a lot of cables down the C pillar , but there was ample room.

I promise I will post pictures as soon as I am able. Overall ease of the project about a 5 out of 10 (10 being "why did I not hire a pro?"). Finding the cross members was toughest job up front.

4 kids , 4 sets of wireless headsets, 2 screens, movies and Xbox for 1000 mile road trip....... Mom and Dad up front rockin on the tunes.
I better not hear a peep from them kids other then "THANKS DAD, YOUR THE BEST DAD EVER!!!"

APEXDUCK

 

I can't wait to see the final product! I have 4 kids and if I purchase an X I will be installing TV's for them. We have factory in our EL and it is way to small. We plan on doing a 2400 mile trip this summer and I need all I can to keep them happy and quiet!!!

Did you hook them into your speakers in the X? I love that mine can be playing with headphones on and we can listen to the radio at the same time.

 

FordTruckGirl77,

No I did not tie the screens into the X's speakers. Head phones only. I hate when the kids watch movies and I'm driving and have to listen to the sound. even worst is when they play video games.

APEXDUCK

 

I agree, then I either really get into the movie and want to watch or I get annoyed by what they are watching. I dont think I could handle listening to the Xbox!!!

The only thing I do like is the sound in my EL is awesome for movies.

 

Project completed and first road trip all worked quite well. I will try to document this better but I was able to locate a cross member in the rear, just behind the C pillar to mount the 3rd row display to. Cables snaked easy to the drivers side C pillar and down to the power port compartment for wiring. The front (2nd row) display was a bit more of a challenge to mount. I had to go through the air ducts , but made some shims for the screws to keep them from going too far in (2 one inch nylon bushings per screw). This made for a self sealing screw set up to keep the air from leaking out of the duct. Made pilot holes for the screws to go into the bracket and cross member above the air duct. Enlarged the holes at the headliner to accept the 1/2" dia nylon bushing. NOTE: just a larger hole about 1/4" and then forced the bushing on the screw through the hole. Kept the bushings in place with a small piece of rubber. I was able to look into the headliner from the rear reading light hole to find the location of the cross member and removed the rear air control to see that there is a metal frame mounted to the cross member as well. Provided a secure mounting point. Wiring I had to snake back via the opening for the rear air control (you can see about 1 1/2 inches of the wire from the display to where it goes into the headliner at the air controls. This kept me from drilling a large hole in the air duct (top and bottom with no good way to seal it). Wires need to be extended to reach the C pillar and tie all the wiring together then down to the power port compartment. Attached all wiring securely to the existing wiring harness to keep if from rattling and out of the seat belt stuff. Every thing is neat and clean both under the headliner and on the visible side. you do have to remove the driver side rear assist handle and garment hook to snake the wires from the forward display over the air duct and back to the driver side C pillar. This is a two person job and be careful of the headliner, it is molded foam core stuff that can me bent and damaged easy (I did not but could see you could to it and leave a crease in the head liner).

APEXDUCK

 

I was hoping you went for the Pyles... I got mine super cheap from J&R. Had it in the Expedition. No complaints!

 

More pics. Yes I know the front display is off center about 3/16th of an inch to the passenger side. I did not take my time measuring before I drilled the mounting holes. Since they are through the air duct I could not relocate them in the headliner, but I plan to take it down and drill new holes in the mounting plate to re-align it dead center. The rear is dead center, just looks off due to the camera angle and wide angle lens - APEXDUCK

BEFORE


AND AFTER


3rd row display from the passenger side rear door. Tiny gap at the headliner but less then 1/8 of an inch.

 

Sanchez_315er,

Yes, Plyes from J&R. Good price and quick to ship.

APEXDUCK