[binand]

I have volunteered to transport by car an LCD TV (Samsung, 4-5 years old, about 33 inches) from Bangalore to Kochi - it will replace my grandmother-in-law's ancient CRT TV so that she can better enjoy her favourite Mallu soaps :-).

This is what I plan to do:

- I have ordered (and received) bubble wrap from Ebay.
- I plan to wrap the TV in it, and keep it vertical on the rear seat (front panel facing the seat's back rest).
- I will use the seatbelts, string/rope and packing tape liberally to hold it in place.
- My own suitcase I plan to place it between the TV and the front passenger seat, for additional support.

I am hoping this is sufficient to keep the TV in place during the 500 km drive. Any additional advice TBHP can provide?

I am driving (solo trip) on 18/4 which is after polling in KA and KL, but before polling in TN. I hope the election checks will not create problems for me. I doubt if we have the original invoice etc. of the TV.

[arnabchak]

Dear Binand

Suggest you to prop the TV using the thermocol brackets that is normally provided with the TV set.

Additionally, if you happen to possess the cardbox box in which the TV is packed during the original delivery, there should be no worries.

Also suggest that you keep a pillow in front of the screen just in case of some severe braking.

[nishantbhatia84]

If you can't find the original invoice, I suggest you make one yourself on MS Word and keep it with you. I've had an experience where I was harassed by cops for not having an invoice for a 4yr old pc when traveling from Mumbai to Kolkata. They were expecting me to pay a fine of Rs. 2500! The pc itself wasn't worth that much at that time! All this because I didn't have an invoice to prove that it belongs to me and I'm transporting it for personal use. As long as you have ANY invoice they can't and won't do anything. Better to be safe as there is a lot of nakabandi due to elections.

[Arunshek]

Hi,

Please do check if it's legal to use private car for transporting the TV.
Keep the Invoice/warranty card, which states the date of purchase with you in case traffic/check-post officials question you.

The arrangement of TV and suitcase sounds fine.
Have a safe trip.

[commonman]

I had done this same exercise last summer. Was checked by police 3 times ,fortunately no issue.The reason may be that I was traveling with family . Still better to carry the invoice with you. Remove all stands from the TV .Be it desk stand or wall stand. Keep it separate. Only bubble cover is not enough.Above the bubble packing a Cardboard boxing is good. I had also put a thermocol support on the lower side to absorb any shocks.

[rnidumolu]

Hi,

I have taken two TVs in two occasions in cars

1. From Hyderabad to Chennai in 2010 (LG Flat panel 32 inch)

How I did is, I have kept my TV in the back seat with the screen facing the back seat and reclined back the front passenger seat completely. I have cushioned the gap between the TV and the front seat with pillows. Additionally I kept pillows on the right side of the TV and the back door. I could able to transport it in this way without any issue. Mine was not having any carton as it was in use then.

2. Chennai to Bangalore (Phillips LCD 32 inch)

In this case I was having the package carton and I just packed the TV in the carton and kept it in my car boot (removing the parcel tray). I have cushioned the empty space between the carton and the door sill with some pillows.

Both the cases I could able to transfer my TVs without any issues.

Hope this helps you!

Thanks,

[KiloAlpha]

I have transported TV (both CRT and LCD) quite a few times. As mentioned by others in this thread, keeping pillows/thermocol, resting the TV against the seat backrest, and using a suitcase to keep it immobile are all things that need to be done in order to ensure that the TV is immobile during the journey.

In addition, please drive smoothly. No sudden braking/accelerating or slalom style lane changes. This will ensure that the TV stays firmly in place through the 500km drive.

[binand]

Thanks for all the suggestions, folks.

Originally Posted by Arunshek

Please do check if it's legal to use private car for transporting the TV.

Oh, that is definitely not a problem. I'm sure it is 100% legal to transport my personal TV in my private car wherever in India I feel like. I can get harassed, but that is a different story.

Originally Posted by Arunshek

Keep the Invoice/warranty card, which states the date of purchase with you in case traffic/check-post officials question you.

Originally Posted by commonman

Still better to carry the invoice with you.

Originally Posted by nishantbhatia84

If you can't find the original invoice, I suggest you make one yourself on MS Word and keep it with you.Better to be safe as there is a lot of nakabandi due to elections.

This is a 4-year old TV; I doubt if I have the original invoice, cardboard boxes, thermocol moulds etc. available. I like the MS-Word idea. I have bought another Samsung TV whose invoice should be available, I will keep that with me. With any luck they wouldn't want to cross check the make/model and stuff like that.

I am going on 18/4; by then elections will be over in KA and KL. The only worry is the 45 km distance I need to cover in TN (where the election is on 24/4).

Originally Posted by arnabchak

Suggest you to prop the TV using the thermocol brackets that is normally provided with the TV set.

Additionally, if you happen to possess the cardbox box in which the TV is packed during the original delivery, there should be no worries.

Also suggest that you keep a pillow in front of the screen just in case of some severe braking.

Originally Posted by commonman

Only bubble cover is not enough.Above the bubble packing a Cardboard boxing is good. I had also put a thermocol support on the lower side to absorb any shocks.

Originally Posted by rnidumolu

How I did is, I have kept my TV in the back seat with the screen facing the back seat and reclined back the front passenger seat completely. I have cushioned the gap between the TV and the front seat with pillows. Additionally I kept pillows on the right side of the TV and the back door.

Originally Posted by KiloAlpha

keeping pillows/thermocol, resting the TV against the seat backrest, and using a suitcase to keep it immobile are all things that need to be done in order to ensure that the TV is immobile during the journey.

The suggestions of reclining front seat, using pillows etc. are all well taken. I will do all that (also newspapers, bedsheets...). As mentioned I do not have any cardboard boxes; but let me see what can be done about it - I will check with the neighbourhood raddiwala.

Originally Posted by KiloAlpha

In addition, please drive smoothly. No sudden braking/accelerating or slalom style lane changes. This will ensure that the TV stays firmly in place through the 500km drive.

I am not a sudden acceleration/wanton braking type driver.

[binand]

Thanks all, for your suggestions. The TV was transported on 18/4 without incident. I installed it at the destination the same evening and on 19/4, the local cablewallah came to deliver the set-top box. It is working fine without any issues.

Incidentally, I did locate the original invoice, but the cops checking at KA-TN border were more interested in cash than the TV (they were checking only for people smuggling black money into TN to fund elections).

Some pictures of the packaging and transporting are attached. The second package contains the remote control, wall and desk mount units, user manual and stuff like that.

[56landmaster]

Excellent Job on packing that. I usually just keep the tv bare, and always make sure the seat belt latches are away from the screen, and let the cloth and foam seats act as a cushion

[Gannu_1]

The brown tape might leave some sticky residue on the seats. Take care to get them off before it attracts dust and becomes a messy patch. Good job on securing the display using the seat-belts. Nothing more was required IMO.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Originally Posted by Gannu_1

The brown tape might leave some sticky residue on the seats.

Seeing that made me say "eek!"

I got some parcel-tape sticky on the body of my car once. It was hard enough to remove from paintwork, let alone upholstery. WD40 was the answer! However, everything else worked, and I think this was the only bad idea, and if your seats are ok, then you were lucky.

I have used rear seatbelts for transporting a number of things, from computers to cats-in-cages. Usually it is more than enough. When I used to computer installation, many a CRT monitor was held firm between rear seat and front seat by pushing the front seat back. One can always pad with cushions.

The priority is to stop things moving. Also think of yourself: in an accident or an emergency stop, you do not want to be hit from behind.

[binand]

Originally Posted by Gannu_1

The brown tape might leave some sticky residue on the seats.

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Seeing that made me say "eek!"

I got some parcel-tape sticky on the body of my car once. It was hard enough to remove from paintwork, let alone upholstery. WD40 was the answer! However, everything else worked, and I think this was the only bad idea, and if your seats are ok, then you were lucky.

Maybe I am lucky. :-) The tape came off in one piece in one pull, and the seats were just fine (I had passengers too, on the subsequent day for local trips).

I have the leftover roll sitting here on my desk which I just tried on various surfaces in my home; it doesn't leave any sticky residue on any of the surfaces I tried.

[Thad E Ginathom]

You have a good quality tape

Most is not, and leaves behind much of its stickiness. What got onto my car was not even applied directly, but "bled" from taped cardboard.

I'm glad those nice-looking seats were not affected!

[Traveller Nayak]

Originally Posted by binand

Thanks all, for your suggestions. The TV was transported on 18/4 without incident.

Some pictures of the packaging and transporting are attached. The second package contains the remote control, wall and desk mount units, user manual and stuff like that.

I must say, a job well planned and executed. The pictures show the care taken in keeping the TV stable.