Ever since designing the TV stand for the RV, I wanted to put a lift mechanism on it. This week I have finally found the right parts and am assembling it. The problem with buying one was they are too deep for the area I have. I mounted it behind the couch and needed something 5″ or less in depth so the couch wouldn’t need to move so far away from the wall and window that it impeded walking past it when the slides were in for travel.
I didn’t want to be able to see the TV when it’s in travel mode, and I also wanted it as low as possible for any driving events, like stopping quickly or large bumps. I made the stand using cherry wood and three sets of Accuride slides. I would manually pull it up from behind the couch and insert a couple of wooden poles to keep it up at viewing level.
I tried a linear actuator but couldn’t find one the right length and finally 
settled on a gas lift strut. Those were a bit too short for the full height it needed to be, but after searching the web for many weeks, I found a place that had some that had over 22″ of travel and came in 20, 40, 60 and 80 lbs. of force. I first tried the 60 lbs. one and I could barely compress it. Realizing that would be way too much force, I traded the two 60 pounders for a 20 and 40 lbs. unit of the same length. The 40 is still too strong, and the 20 is a bit weak. If only they made a 30 lbs. unit…
I had to beef up the unit and make a special holder for the top of the gas strut so I could still lift the TV the few inches higher it needs to be once the struts are fully extended. I bought some 1″ inside diameter steel pipe about 6″ long and modified the top with a couple hacksaw cuts and ball peen hammer to bend over the top end like a cap that will stop the strut from going any further and allowing it to lift the TV!
I also created a mechanism to keep the TV in the down position as the
gas struts are a constant push up. I used parts from a fence gate latch, builders simpson straps and threaded rod with some eye hooks.