Overhead Video Screen That Is Removable & Transferable

texasblueline · January 8, 2011

I don't know if such a thing exists, but I'm looking for an overhead DVD player/screen that is made to be easily removed from the vehicle and that can be transferred amongst other vehicles.

I'm picturing a very minimalistic "docking station" (basically a mounting plate with electrical terminals to power the unit) that's permanently mounted in the headliner and hardwired, and that the DVD player/screen unit then latches onto. That way the player/screen could be kept in the house most of the time, where it's not a target for the car to be burglarized, but easily brought out and latched into place for those longer trips. Additionally, purchasing a second dock and installing it in another vehicle would allow it to be used in whichever car you're needing it in.

I stubbornly refuse to have permanently mounted video screens in our vehicles because of the increased attraction for car burglars to break in and steal them. A setup like this would also be easier than our current routine of strapping one of those portable screens to the back of the front headrest when we go on trips and having to deal with running the power cord all over the place. And we're just as likely to take my wife's SUV as we are to take my Sierra on long trips, so the ability to have a dock in each vehicle would be helpful.

Like I said, I have no idea if anyone makes such a setup and my attempts at Google-ing one haven't worked, so I figured I'd ask here. I just figured that I can't be the first person to think of this idea (and if I am, and you now go off and invent one of these, just PM me and I'll tell you where to send my royalty checks).

cgalford · January 8, 2011

Audiovox DVD Shuttle

Edit:

After thinking about it, this system or any other dock system (if other exist) would defeat the purpose of not having a typical unit mounted. When folded up it looks like a normal drop down screen which could attract thieves or if you leave it down to show potential thieves there's no unit in it then you might just attract really dumb thieves that see something hanging without really looking at it. It would cost more but my suggestion would be the headrest monitors with either a cover or the one that have a zip off flap to expose the screen.

texasblueline · January 9, 2011

Audiovox DVD Shuttle

Edit:

After thinking about it, this system or any other dock system (if other exist) would defeat the purpose of not having a typical unit mounted. When folded up it looks like a normal drop down screen which could attract thieves or if you leave it down to show potential thieves there's no unit in it then you might just attract really dumb thieves that see something hanging without really looking at it. It would cost more but my suggestion would be the headrest monitors with either a cover or the one that have a zip off flap to expose the screen.

Yeah, that's why I was hoping there was one out there that had a dock that was basically nothing more than a non-descript thin metal mounting plate with some electrical connections that the player/screen would latch onto. I'd prefer the bulk of the system (the whole console with the screen and player) to be able to be removed. That way, even if a burglar noticed it, the mounting plate/dock couldn't be mistaken for anything of value. I guess an option is trying to have a mount like what I'm thinking, along with some quick-release electrical connectors, fabbed up by someone. But I was hoping some company out there had already come up with this.