I've been planning and saving and buying parts to set up the bed of the truck as a kid hauler for my boys. Under the topper would be a rear-facing seat with belts. (of course) and "tool boxes" running the length of the bed on each side to hold the essentials: Rear heat/air system from a mini van or suburban, Stereo, ect. I had also planned a drop-down monitor with dvd. Then I thought: I can get a laptop for about the price of a drop monitor. Then it would be a simple matter of building in a spot in the side for it to fit and the boys could watch a dvd on it if they wanted. Plus all the other computer stuff.
The other positive I can think of is that it could be taken inside when not being used to save wear and tear on the laptop and prevent theft.
The pros for the drop-down monitor would be install it and forget it convenience. Probably more rugged than the laptop and other things could be hooked up to it such as game players, ect.
So the question is: Which do you all think would be best to invest the time/money in: Drop-down or laptop? And why would you go that route?
Thanks

 

Neither, I'd do a tablet of some kind. I've seen brackets for them to be installed on a dash on a few websites so mounting it like a flip down shouldn't be too hard. Then you dont have to worry about dvds and you can remove it pretty quick when its not in use and use it for other things.

 

Damn good idea! Thanks!

 

I would actually do both of your ideas. Get a monitor mounted, and run a small laptop, like. 10" acer (around $200 new). Then use it for the monitors source. Then you can have the laptop run a DVD, or a saved video file, or whatever. A tablet would be nice, but there isn't much video playback options without an Internet connection. And while driving that's not such an easy feat.

I've been thinking the same ideas up for years. I want some sort of video option in my 78, and deffinatly in my ramcharger since its meant to be a people hauler.

 

videos/movies/games could be downloaded onto the tablet at home and then taken anywhere.

 

Redbox would be a handy option to keep up with the new kids movies, but I'm big on computer video stuff so I know what you're saying. I meant as more of a DVD option.