Vizio TV cracking

[Steph and Dud B]

The rear of our Vizio TV is developing multiple cracks radiating out from 2 of the mounting screws in the back of the TV. I'm assuming these are stress fractures from flexion while traveling. Trailer still under warranty, ticket submitted, will see what happens. These cracks are hard to see if you're not looking for them.

[Steph and Dud B]

Further info: both fractures are on the passenger side of the TV - the same side the cable bundle rests on while the TV is folded up. The cables aren't very heavy, but wondering if that's enough to accelerate the damage on that side. Now convinced the TV should be in the down position while traveling.

[Ray Kimsey]

Ours did the same last fall, but we were out of warranty at the time.  

[Patriot]

This still needs to be reported to Oliver, We inspected ours and found all ok!
Thank you for posting!

Edit- We did lower our tire pressure right after pick up.
 

 

Patriot🇺🇸

[Ollie-Haus]

Shortly after arriving home I noticed our TV in Hull 1373 was mounted at it's lowest point on the arm. When in the up position for travel this maximizes the dynamic of bumps and just any up and down movement. I decided to adjust the TV up the arm as close to the mounting base as possible to reduce the length of this "lever" and hopefully reduce the stress to the TV and the under cabinet mount. You can slide the TV up 2-3 inches and it will still hang vertically without touching the bottom of the cabinet overhead when in the viewing position. 

I don't know if this will significantly reduce the stress on the mounts but it seemed like a good effort at least. 

[SNY SD UP]

5 hours ago, Ray Kimsey said:

Ours did the same last fall, but we were out of warranty at the time.  

Same here, ours is the Jensen JTV24DC and now out of warranty.  I understand the factory is now installing a TV with 110v power source.

I contacted one of the jobbers that distribute them to see if they had any "DOA" returns I could have as a replacement and salvage the back, they were no help.

I have a fix, but it will have to wait until we returned from our trip. 

• I will find an old TV and salvage some flat pieces off the back cover,  that plastic on modern tv's is tough, but pliable.
• epoxy one salvage piece to the inside of the Jensen back cover and epoxy in the broken pieces back in place,
• epoxy another salvage piece to the outside of the back, basically making a sandwich. 
• all the while making sure I have access to the mounting screw holes.

At least that is what I am thinking at this time.

There are some threads out there where owners have used "pool noodles" as shock absorbers, when the TV is in the up position.  We found that lowering TT tire pressure from the "Delivered 80psi" to 50-55 also helped, but by then the DAMAGE was done.  We will also leave the TV down, when towing.   

 

B~Out,

[Steph and Dud B]

OTT is sending us a replacement TV under warranty. We'll travel with the TV in the down position from now on. Our last fifth wheel had a TV mounted in the viewing position without problem for years. I think the TV mount points are designed for a shear force rather than a hanging force.

[topgun2]

Yet another example of OTT Service stepping up and doing the right thing. 

Simply can't get any better than that.

Bill

[Frank C]

I think the concern with traveling with the TV in the down position is that, while it may be less stress on the TV plastic case, it will put more stress on the fiberglass hull of the Oliver where the swinging arm bracket mounts to the hull, as the TV tries to swing side to side like a big pendulum while traveling/bouncing down the road.  

[Steph and Dud B]

16 minutes ago, Frank C said:

I think the concern with traveling with the TV in the down position is that, while it may be less stress on the TV plastic case, it will put more stress on the fiberglass hull of the Oliver where the swinging arm bracket mounts to the hull, as the TV tries to swing side to side like a big pendulum while traveling/bouncing down the road.  

Hmmmmm. Something to consider as well.

[SeaDawg]

Imo, current TV is really big, and heavy.

Old school corner hung jensen,,very small, guessing 14 inch, has never been an issue. 

But then, I'm not a TV person. We've only used it a handful of times. 

I don't go camping to watch TV. Don't watch it much at him, either.

 

[Steph and Dud B]

Failure cause found. I've installed a few TVs and the mounts often come with some spacers to go between the mounting plate and the TV - to account for obstructions, curvature, etc. Careful examination of our TV and mount reveals that the wings of the mounting plate itself are bent slightly upward. Look carefully at the TV back and the plate mounting screws in this picture and you can see it. 

Tightening the screws at installation pulled the center of the TV against the center post, causing two of the mount points to pull out through the plastic TV back on the left of this photo.

Two possible solutions for the new TV: disassemble and try to flatten the mount plate, or install nylon washers or rubber spacers between the plate and the TV to stand it off away from that center post.

https://pointerclicker.com/where-to-put-spacers-on-tv-mount/#:~:text=Report Ad-,Do I Need Spacers for TV Mounts%3F,the back of the TV.

[Boonter Jeff]

Had same cracks.  Went ahead and got another Vizio, not particularly expensive.  I thought the problem was that on a rough road the TV dropped down to vertical.  Was going to ask if there were any easy hacks to keep it up but now maybe we’ll just leave it down while we’re traveling, hopefully not doing damage to anything.  Always something to keep you on your toes!

[rich.dev]

17 minutes ago, Boonter Jeff said:

Had same cracks.  Went ahead and got another Vizio, not particularly expensive.  I thought the problem was that on a rough road the TV dropped down to vertical.  Was going to ask if there were any easy hacks to keep it up but now maybe we’ll just leave it down while we’re traveling, hopefully not doing damage to anything.  Always something to keep you on your toes!

This is what I did, cut a 1"x1'x1/2" piece of rubber or dense foam and squeeze it in here, see pic.

[CRM]

30 minutes ago, Boonter Jeff said:

Had same cracks.  Went ahead and got another Vizio, not particularly expensive.  I thought the problem was that on a rough road the TV dropped down to vertical.  Was going to ask if there were any easy hacks to keep it up but now maybe we’ll just leave it down while we’re traveling, hopefully not doing damage to anything.  Always something to keep you on your toes!

To prevent this from happening, I removed the bolts that hold the TV bracket to frame and drilled 1/4 holes to accept quick release pins. Takes seconds to remove the TV and cables and then I lay it flat on one of the beds before travelling. Also makes it easy to remove and bring indoors while we're not camping. 

[John Dorrer]

On 5/23/2023 at 5:04 PM, Steph and Dud B said:

Further info: both fractures are on the passenger side of the TV - the same side the cable bundle rests on while the TV is folded up. The cables aren't very heavy, but wondering if that's enough to accelerate the damage on that side. Now convinced the TV should be in the down position while traveling.

In the down position you will more than like have worse damage. This is the first time this has come up and definitely doesn't need a knee jerk reaction. Should it happen, probably not. A service ticket is the correct action for now.

 

There is a good reason storing it in the up and locked position. Sorry you experienced this.

 

Missed that this was on a 2023 post. Thought this was recent🙃

Edited June 4 by John Dorrer
Updated Comment

[Boonter Jeff]

Good suggestions fellow campers.  Thanks!

[Steph and Dud B]

21 hours ago, John Dorrer said:

There is a good reason storing it in the up and locked position

It was always up and locked when it happened. The cause was the cheap mounting bracket OTT used. When tightened during installation, the mounting bracket ears warped, pulling away from the back of the TV and stressing the plastic. We were still under warranty so OTT sent us another TV. Then I put the mounting bracket into a vice and bent it forward a bit so, when tightened, it sat flat against the back of the TV. Been fine ever since.

[Galway Girl]

Our original 2019 Jensen tv cracked.  We reported it to Oliver with no feedback given other than to adjust tire pressure down (which is set at 50psi)

We then bought  replacement of same size/brand Jensen that also cracked (yet the tV works fine).

I McGivered together a solution on the road using a stiff thin cutting board and a bunch of JB Weld to beef up the back.  Its ugly but has held for two years.  I also use a chunk of foam between the arms when closed. 

 

 

Once I get back to my shop in July I plan to take the back off the original TV and fabricate a sandwich of stiffener inside and outside the back paying attention around the mount points.

 

Happy travels.

[jd1923]

I didn't like the TV mount OTT installed or the newer versions. I do not trust the latch mechanism and the TV should fold back, so when viewing it is near the back window vs. on the front side of the night stand.