Access the space between the ceiling and roof above TV Island (2013-Eagle 284BHS)?

[Mustang65]

Does anyone know how to access the area between the ceiling and roof above the TV Island in the 2013 Eagle 284BHS? I need to run a new TV coax cable back to the rear bunk area for a second TV. I looked at the island and can not see where or how the existing TV cables are run inside the island walls to the ceiling. I do not see any panels in the TV Island that can be removed to access the ceiling area. I could purchase a HDMI transmitter/receiver $$$$ but that will also add to the battery load, so I would like to just pull in a new cable.
Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Don

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Mustang65

snip.....I looked at the island and can not see where or how the existing TV cables are run inside the island walls to the ceiling. I do not see any panels in the TV Island that can be removed to access the ceiling area.....snip

Don,

Another thought would be to give Jayco customer support a call and they will send you the wiring/assembly schemics... just have your VIN in hand.

Bob

[Mustang65]

Hi Bob,
I was just signing off when your post came in.. great timing. I already have the wiring diagrams (12Volt and 120Volt copies) for the 2013 284BHS and they do not show how the wires go (either up into the truss roof or down into the closed in area under the floor. Today I did look behind the TV Amp connection plate and I could not make a 100% decision as to whether the coax goes up or down. My best guess is that it goes up. I need to get a mirror to see, since my head can not fit in the little space below the TV. The good news is that they do have a splitter on the TV amp connection for a 2nd TV.. now I just need to get a new coax back to the bunk house. Since it has the Glacier package it is difficult to see anything under the floor... Need to get one of those displays with the camera on the end of a 3' flex cord. The TV island looks like they wired it in prior to installing the island in the TT, and just pushed the wires into the ceiling/floor. I will figure this one out.
Thanks again,
Don

[Rustic Eagle]

Don,

Sounds like you are covering all the bases. All I know is that trying to run a wire/cable any distance through the ceiling is a tough act because of the insulation and truss interferences (been there, didn't do it). I had to run twisted pair (battery monitor) from the rear of my TT to the front battery bank..., I ended up going straight through the floor, then outside with the wiring running though pvc conduit attached to the TT frame I-beam.

Bob

[jbhsv04]

Not sure if this helps or not, when i had to fish a wire for my 2nd ac to our bunkhouse (in the front of our 5er) I removed the vent housing from the roof and was able to see in the cieling. This might help you track the wiring down if you have a roof vent somewhere close. Then the best deal is to use the fiberglass fish rods (you can find them in the electrical section at your local home depot or lowes). That is my 2 cents.

[BlueHaul]

Originally Posted by jbhsv04

...Then the best deal is to use the fiberglass fish rods...

I got a fiberglass fish rod from Home Depot that glows in the dark. May seem silly but it helps when you're working in small dark places. My advise is to wear gloves though. I got a splinter from that same fish rod and had to have my doctor pull the lil' sucker out!

[RoyBraddy]

What I did was run my RG cables through the ceiling air conditioner foam ducts. I dropped each ceiling duct which is my ceiling was about every six feet or so and then routed my RG/VIDEO cables from duct to duct until I was able to get from end of the trailer to the other.


Then I cut a small access area in the top of usually mounted ceiling mounted cables on each end and fish the RG cables into the inside of these ceiling mounted cabinets.

Then I route the RG and VIDEO cables from those locations to where I need them to go. All of my RG/VIDEO cables are out-of-site and if I penetrated any of the ceiling foam duct work I closed the holes I made with spray-in foam sealant.

Going from one ceiling mounted air duct to the next was not a hard thing to accomplish.

Most of my cables went from the corner cabinet in the living room that ran up from a desk top to the ceiling where all of my outside RG coaxial cables were terminated and to a home entertainment center which is at the wall between the hallway and the bedroom/bath room area.

Everything added ended up completely out of sight...

Be extra careful on drilling any holes into the ceiling. Some areas may have 2-3 inches of clearance and others may be less than 2-inches. You do not want to drill a hole through the roof of course.

Roy Ken