Good idea is not so good.

stomachmonkey · 07:47 PM

Had someone build a box for an outdoor TV.

It's big, built to hold up to a 70 in.

Because of where it's going we did not want split doors that open left and right and thought one door the swings up would be ideal.

Spent the day staining and mounting it and the swing up door is less than ideal.

The door is 63x40. The bottom of the box is 60" off the ground.

Turns out you kinda need to be NBA player height to open it and I am not even close to that.

Door is currently on basically a piano hinge.

Any thoughts on gas struts or spring loaded solution that might assist the vertically challenged?

I actually contemplated hitting a bone yard and scavenging a lift gate motor system from an SUV but that's probably a stupider idea than the original swing up door.

I can just use lift gate struts to get it to open but then I cant reach the damn thing to close it so something with a motor to handle open / close via a button or switch would be nice/

Thoughts?

dad911 · 06-26-2022, 07:11 PM

https://smile.amazon.com/ECO-WORTHY-330lbs-Tracker-Actuator-Multi-function/dp/B00NM8H67C/ref=sr_1_21?crid=4RHD1E81KC4O&keywords=motorized%2Blinear%2Bactuator&qid=1656299362&sprefix=motorized%2Blinear%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-21&th=1

stomachmonkey · 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad911

https://smile.amazon.com/ECO-WORTHY-330lbs-Tracker-Actuator-Multi-function/dp/B00NM8H67C/ref=sr_1_21?crid=4RHD1E81KC4O&keywords=motorized%2Blinear%2Bactuator&qid=1656299362&sprefix=motorized%2Blinear%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-21&th=1

I saw those but I'm having trouble visualizing how it would work to swing the door 90 degrees in an arc.

It first needs to push the door forward and then at 45 degrees push up.

herr_oberst · 06-26-2022, 07:32 PM

Your picture doesn't load for me, Amazon wants me to log into your account or something(?) but just spitballing, can you hinge it from the bottom? How much does the door weigh?

stomachmonkey · 06-26-2022, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Your picture doesn't load for me, Amazon wants me to log into your account or something(?) but just spitballing, can you hinge it from the bottom? How much does the door weigh?

I'm having a hard time loading from my PC for some reason. Been doing weird stuff for 2 days now.

Door weighs maybe up to 10 lbs.

The problem is not so much the weight, it's how to get the bottom edge which is 60"ish off the ground 90 degrees to 100" when I'm not nearly that tall. My wife is only like 5ft on a good day and I need to be able to have her open it without my assistance.

stomachmonkey · 06-26-2022, 07:44 PM

Weird, works fine from the phone.

herr_oberst · 06-26-2022, 08:08 PM

I love outdoor living spaces.

Why does it have to hinge from the top? Can't it hinge from the bottom?

Why does it have to hinge? Maybe you can lower the lid using some simple tracks built into the edges of the box? A rope and a couple of pulleys kind of like lowering a flag.

stomachmonkey · 06-26-2022, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I love outdoor living spaces.

Why does it have to hinge from the top? Can't it hinge from the bottom?

Why does it have to hinge? Maybe you can lower the lid using some simple tracks built into the edges of the box? A rope and a couple of pulleys kind of like lowering a flag.

The bartop goes underneath it.

look 171 · 06-26-2022, 08:33 PM

A bit or an eye sore but a very simple solution. Hook a rope through a pulley mounted to the rafter of that pergola and pull the door up when you need it open. Tie a metal ring at the end of the rope and hook it somewhere to keep door from falling down.

Same if you want to get complicated but it can be done with a small winch or motor. Leave a cheap Harborfreight winch on top of the pergola near the gutter, cover up the bottom with a couple sticks of the same lumber to match the wood of the pergola. Install pulley near the front edge of the pergola. Use a 3/16" cable. A power source is needed. no need for a hook to keep door up.

LWJ · 06-26-2022, 09:17 PM

Funny. My first thought was put hinge on bottom. Second was the pulley system- which we use at the family farm for similar.

But the best idea? Is a simple prop stick. Like on a cars hood. Have some way to open and then lift up with the stick. Gravity will hold secure. Hopefully it doesn’t weigh 300#.

id10t · 06-27-2022, 04:20 AM

Rope, pulley, and a tie off point or two?

sc_rufctr · 06-27-2022, 04:36 AM

I really like that setup but I would have put the piano hinge on the right side.

Have you thought about using an articulated mount for the TV so you can pull it out and angle it as needed? I recently installed on for a friend and it worked out great.

Hads930 · 06-27-2022, 04:46 AM

Make vertical cut and cut the door in half, hinge on the backside, then hinge door to enclosure on right side, let it fold back onto itself.

Put some type of cleat across the top and remove the whole thing and set aside when watching tube?

KFC911 · 06-27-2022, 04:48 AM

I think either a single rope attached to the bottom & pulley, or a "hood prop" system (also attached to the bottom of the door) is how I would approach. The latter might take some effort depending upon the weight & balance....

Rope & pulley then.

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

I may not understand the setup but, I was thinking of a pulley attached to the brackets on each side and attached to the bottom of the door to pull it up. Another pulley farther out on the bracket to help with the angle and eliminate a wire hanging right in front of your screen. The question is, how heavy is the lid and how sturdy are those brackets?

KFC911 · 06-27-2022, 05:56 AM

I was thinkin' a single eyelet "thingy" screwed in the middle of the bottom of the door. Rope attaches and runs to a pulley attached to the outermost "roof" cross member (or 2nd one), and the rope cane either dangle straight down (when door is closed) or be tied off to one side. Whe the door is open, the dangling rope will be much longer, and can either hang by the side of the door and be secured/tied off....

A picture will cost ya

.

911 Rod · 911 Rod's Garage

Big stick

LEAKYSEALS951 · 06-27-2022, 06:08 AM

masraum · 06:48 AM

Prop rod(s) like an old fashioned hood support, seem like the easiest solution.
I feel like one on both sides would be good, but maybe you could add a hood strut to the other side. My main concern with the hood support would be if the portion that screws into the wood would be sturdy enough. Maybe some larger inserts that it screwed into would be required.
The support could be hinged to fold up along the bottom of the box when not in use. (it's going to need to be longer than the box is tall to put it comfortably low).

closed frontal view with the support hanging down top lefg. open angled view in the bottom right

masraum · 06-27-2022, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

A bit or an eye sore but a very simple solution. Hook a rope through a pulley mounted to the rafter of that pergola and pull the door up when you need it open. Tie a metal ring at the end of the rope and hook it somewhere to keep door from falling down.

Same if you want to get complicated but it can be done with a small winch or motor. Leave a cheap Harborfreight winch on top of the pergola near the gutter, cover up the bottom with a couple sticks of the same lumber to match the wood of the pergola. Install pulley near the front edge of the pergola. Use a 3/16" cable. A power source is needed. no need for a hook to keep door up.

rope and pulley was the first thing that I thought of.