another overhead console help

I will be installing an overhead console/LCD in the next few weeks. The unit is pretty large, 12.1 in. LCD and universal type overhead console. It's going in an 01' MPV minivan.

From searching these forums, it looks like I could either leave the head liner intact or cut the liner to fit the back plate. If I leave the liner intact, how would I route the wires? I've seen some articles where they used a fishing pole to snake the wires through to the rear of the van, sounds like a pain.

Any help would be appreciated.

What I have done in the past is also use wood, but I have discovered a lot better material that is easier to work with and is way more solid. Go to your local hardware store and get a small chunk of steel from the roofing department. They usually have various sizes and thicknesses for you to choose from. This is an awesome resource and is thin enough to slip between the liner and the roof and also does not require long screws.

Also, if you want something htat you can use as a wire running tool, go down to the local bike shop and buy 4 feet of cable housing ( the black stuff ) and it works like a charm ! Rigid... yet flexible at the same time.

The basis of the installation is to have the back of the roofliner strong enough to hold the weight of the monitor and console. Without having a structural backing on the factory roof liner, the monitor will fall after time. If you install a piece of wood or steel behind the monitor where the screws attach to ( between the metal part of the roof and the inside of the roof liner ) it will grab the wood or steel and sandwich the roofliner. The only way that the monitor will fall now is if all the screws were to fall out or if the entire piece of wood or steel would come with the monitor ( not possible if the back plate is larger than the hole for the domelight ). Hope this helps.