7.2" Widescreen Headrest Lcd Monitor

Here's photo of my inexpensive Pyramid 7.2" Widescreen LCD mounted on the rear of the passenger side headrest. There's a small 12V DVD player/TV Tuner mounted underneath the seat out of sight. The screen is still covered by protective plastic to keep the 3yr old's fingers from damaging the surface. Works great for keeping the little one quiet on long (or short) trips, and is easily removed for anti-theft.<BR>

<img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-10/432878/72mon.jpg" width=775 height=711>

About 10 years ago, I worked with a guy in Tulsa that frequently drove to Memphis with wife and 4 kids to visit family. In their van, he installed a VCR and TV -- said they would pop in a tape and the kids were silent for 2 hours at a time.

Thank goodness for technology!! :cheers:

I'm glad you posted this... I am just about to venture into doing something like this myself.

Did you do this work yourself?

What player did you use? Did the player go under the passanger seat?

12V DVD Player

I purchased an inexpensive PYLE DVD/TV Tuner (http://store.yahoo.com/bsless/pltvd700.html) and the Pyramid Monitor (http://store.yahoo.com/bsless/mv7sc.html) at bsless.com. Service was great and the price was right. I had priced those portable "VCR in a Bag" things and they were over $400 for one w/ a decent sized screen. My setup w/ the DVD and monitor cost me about $250 and I installed myself. DVD player fits under the seat and came w/ a remote (and remote extender) to allow operation from the front. I plugged in a wired pair of headphones so we didn't have to listen to the audio. You can easily get a wireless setup, or get an FM modulator and use it w/ the toyota rear audio too -- I did this too, but wanted the option of being able to listen to the radio, so having her own headphones plugged in worked best. Keep in mind that Pyle and Pyramid are pretty low end components -- hence why they're so cheap -- but the $250 bought a lot of rear seat silence, which is a bargain in my opinion.

If you go w/ this setup, the DVD player comes w/ 12V power cig light cord... for the monitor you can either hardwire power, or go to radio shack and pick up a 12V lighter plug and a 3in1 lighter adapter. I did this so the whole setup can be moved easily to another car. I put all the wiring in split tubing and tucked it behind and under the seats to avoid a spaghetti factory.

You can also get the ashtray kit to get a second power outlet in front. About $65 shipped, 5 minutes to install. Well worth having, even though we're non-smokers.

thanks for the info/site!! I fully agree, $250 for a bit of silence... and I am going with the cig upgrade as suggested.

Where did you get the kit at John?

Ashtray/Lighter

I got my lighter/ashtray here: $66.25 plus shipping

http://www.toyotaparts4u.com/e_catalog/part_detail.asp?ID=2681&CID=492&SID=2003&ZID=58

I am somewhat confused about the sound. Do you plug in the headphones directly to the player and what the heck is a FM modulator? Also, can you use the remote if the player is hidden, like under the seat? What about the quality of the picture?

For me, that looks like a great system for my son, we are going on a big trip next year and I think it would help, especially at the price.

==I am somewhat confused about the sound. Do you plug in the headphones directly to the player

The DVD player has a headphone jack in the rear that will override any built in speakers if the monitor is equipped.

There's a built in speaker in the back of the monitor, but it's not very loud, and I don't know too many folks who want to listen to kiddie vids while they're driving.

== and what the heck is a FM modulator?

An FM Modulator takes the signal from any audio source and transmits it on an unused FM radio frequency. Some are preset, while high end models let you select the frequency. They simply plug in to the headphone jack and the car's radio will pick up the signal. Think of it as your very own low powered radio station. I've plugged it into my iPaq and played MP3's over the car stereo system as well as played movie audio and used the toyota wireless headphones via FM while I listened to CD's in the front.

Here's links for some:
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_...cat_id=2/mode=premgoogle1/ut=a17201b51c23656e

==Also, can you use the remote if the player is hidden, like under the seat?

There's a wired remote extender that goes in near the front of the vehicle that plugs into the DVD player. I installed mine on the side of the center console near the center cup holders. It allows you to control the DVD player from the front seat.


==What about the quality of the picture?

Picture quality depends on the monitor... the Pyramid is pretty decent for a cheap LCD TFT ... 960x240 resolution -- but there are some that run 1440 or higher -- but you pay a price for that quaility. This is for a 3yr old, so I went w/ the cheapest 7" widescreen I could find.

The $250 was worth the silence. I lent the whole set up to my neighbor who has two kids, and he stated the kids didn't make a peep during their whole trip. They just kept putting in movies... Now he plans to install the same setup w/ TWO monitors in their Durango permanently...

BTW, I saw a DVD player and antenna on ebay someone may want to check out:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3053521532&category=48605

Greenhorne said:

Where did you get the kit at John?

Click to expand...

Toyota of Richardson. Call Todd Packer at 800-527-2781.

He also got me the handle over the driver's window (three parts, about $16 total).

Order to delivery was less than a week.

Thanks for the info and for answering another question that I had pondered... weather or not I would be able to put in the overhead assist handle for the driver.

I've thought about putting in the grab handle over the drivers door. But then I was getting out of the rig one night and banged my head against the area where the handle would install. It dawned on me that if I am ever involved in a side collision, that handle will be a guillotine into the side of my head. Call me overly cautious, but you don't think of items in your car becoming weapons of death during a mid-major accident.

You bring up a good point re: common items causing injury...

Lots of folks will remember to strap the kiddo in a car seat, yet they'll drive around with all kinds of items laying unsecured in the backseat or cargo area, which can become projectiles in the event of collision. Remember to use your covers if you have them and secure those loose items.

Sac State said:

cautious, but you don't think of items in your car becoming weapons of death during a mid-major accident.

Click to expand...

I do because in my line of work (firefighter/paramedic with Sacramento City Fire) i have the chance to see my share of accidents. In the end of it all, you can be cautious but what will happen will happen.

A Little Humor

I saw this ad years ago for a barrier for loose items. It was so goofy I had to save it.

Sac State said:

I've thought about putting in the grab handle over the drivers door. But then I was getting out of the rig one night and banged my head against the area where the handle would install. It dawned on me that if I am ever involved in a side collision, that handle will be a guillotine into the side of my head. Call me overly cautious, but you don't think of items in your car becoming weapons of death during a mid-major accident.

Click to expand...

I looked carefully, then got into the other seats to see how close I would come to it. Turns out that where the seat is positioned, it's nowhere close to my head....and some folks would say that if my head were to hit the handle the only thing damaged would be the handle. :

I like the look of all 4 corners being alike.