valleverde007

per my question, anyone tried this already? this is the only vehicle we have, and was wondering if it would fit with the packaging of the TV? if not, then ill guess ill have to borrow the truck of my uncle or rent a van...
many thanks

Les Anderson

Most places have no issue with accepting returns without packaging on a TV for this reason. I always keep packaging but found on TVs it is actually much more convenient to ditch it at the store.

Regardless, it will probably fit anyway.

brizey

I brought home a 54" panasonic plasma in mine. I had to lay it down, and it fit between the wheel wells. Despite all the doom and gloom warnings on the boxes of flat panels about shipping it upright only, it made it home just fine. I wouldn't lay it down on a bouncy box truck for a cross country trip, but a ten minute careful drive home in a car is not very likely to damage it.

I would not be surprised if a 46" fit on the floor in front of the back seats (assuming an average height driver).

valleverde007

thanks les and brizey. will try out the 46" first (we need 2 new ones, one a 46 and another a 50) for the new house (i only have a 20 CRT tv having lived in a condo all this while LOL). turning on the hazards and driving it slow then (it's a 7 mile/10 min drive home fm costco). prolly 20 mins if im taking the backroads i/o the hwy.

brizey, i presume you brought home the 54" with the packaging as well?

dawks

Bought a 46" about 3 years ago, it wouldn't fit in the MDX (short by about an inch or two) so it wouldn't fit the RDX for sure. Maybe if they have a smaller box these days it might work.

Do NOT lay it on its side. I've seen a few cracked screens from doing that. Unless the box has styrofoam to support the middle of the screen (which most dont) the screen can flex (especially over bumps), and crack the glass. The glass is already under a ton of stress just being laying like that, so even a small bump can crack the fine glass.

Normally the store will examine the screen before you take it out, so if you do end up cracking it while transporting it, its all on you.

Much safer to just pay the delivery fee.
Good luck!

lilfeat

I fit a Sony 46" XBR set ( the one with 120hz refresh, last generation ) in the back, laid flat. It fit exactly between the wheel humps and the rear area was just long enough. I recently bought a 55" Visio and I had to rent a pick up truck from the local home center, $14.95 ( US ) for 4 hours. Can't beat that!
That box was MUCH larger than the Sony. So I think the packaging may be more of a factor that the screen size.
They were both LCD sets, and it used to to be that Plasma sets could not be laid flat, not sure if that's true anymore.

valleverde007

i was just about to ask the plasma vs lcd comparison. seems like it's less of an issue (to lay flat) but still something to be wary of. maybe an alternative will be to keep upright but remove the box packaging (eg. fold the pkg) and protect the tv upright. i dunno, worst comes to worst, rental truck or delivery it is... thanks guys

Boostin'

Bought a Samsung 46" LED and it fit fine laid flat, made it home ok too!

brizey

Yes. In the packaging.

I used to run a company that, among other thing, installed flat panels. We installed something on the order of 1000 flat panels while I was there. Other than something like a forklift blade through the screen, I never saw a single cracked screen due to shipment, both receiving from the manufacturer or from our guys transporting it to the installation point.

It is not impossible that the screen cracks during shipment from laying down, but I was not all that worried about it. It is better to lay it face down--just like you will when you attach the mount.