Some people think 70-inch TVs are too big. Crutchfield recommends sitting 5.8 to 8.75 feet from the screen to appreciate the picture quality. If you have that kind of space in your home, you’re not out of the woods yet. How do you intend to transport a 70-inch TV from the store?
| CAR MODEL | CAN 70-INCH TV FIT? |
| HONDA CRV | YES |
| DODGE CHARGER | POSSIBLE |
| FORD EDGE | UNLIKELY |
| FORD ESCAPE | YES |
| FORD EXPLORER | YES |
| GMC TERRAIN | YES |
| HYUNDAI TUSCON | POSSIBLE |
| HONDA PILOT | UNLIKELY |
| KIA SORENTO | YES |
Consider the following:
1). Consumer Anecdotes
People transport 70-inch TVs in their cars all the time. Consider this TikTok video from Doula Risa. It shows the woman forcing a 70-inch TV into a Sedan. This video from A-Glimpse-of-Royalty shows a similar feat.
You see Target workers sliding a 70-inch TV into a Toyota Corolla, which is astounding. Common sense suggests that a Toyota Corolla is too small to accommodate a 70-inch TV, but the evidence in the video proves otherwise. So clearly, a 70-inch TV can fit in a car.
2). Car Interior Size
To clarify the point above, a 70-inch TV can fit in some cars. Others are too small. The dimensions of the vehicle’s interior will make this decision for you. A van can make short work of a 70-inch TV. You can’t say the same for a mini-cooper. Measure your vehicle’s interior to determine whether its dimensions exceed the TV’s.
3). TV Dimensions
Have you stopped to consider the TV’s dimensions? Many laypeople think a 70-inch TV is 70 inches, but that is untrue. Those 70 inches refer to the screen size. A 70-inch TV has a specific width (61.4 inches) and a height (35.6 inches).
Don’t expect every 70-inch TV model to reflect the dimensions above. You may notice mild variations in the size. Those variations matter. They can make the difference between standing the TV upright or leaning the product at an angle. Naturally, the vehicle’s interior dimensions should exceed the TV’s dimensions.
4). TV Box Dimensions
A 70-inch TV does not sit in a 70-inch box. Watch the video from A-Glimpse-of-Royalty again. Look at the TV. Compare it to the box. Had they kept the 70-inch TV in its box, it wouldn’t fit in the Toyota Corolla.
Doula Risa’s TikTok video proves as much. They covered the TV in cardboard, and the trunk door couldn’t close. Keep this in mind before measuring the vehicle’s interior. Consider the box’s dimensions.
Modern TVs have slim, compact bodies, but that makes them delicate. They are more likely to succumb to physical impacts. The box will keep the TV safe. Unfortunately, it also consumes a lot of space.
5). Arrangement
How will you arrange and store the TV in a car? Rainking from the Prius Chat forum packed a 70-inch TV in his Prius and drove home, which sounds impressive because you don’t associate the Prius with ample storage space, at least not enough to accommodate a 70-inch TV.
However, consider the picture he published on that forum. The 70-inch TV was too long. The trunk door failed to close. He used twine to prevent the TV from falling out of the trunk. If you won’t risk your TV by driving home in a vehicle whose trunk refuses to close, you can conclude that 70-inch TVs are too big for your car.
Can I Transport A 70-inch TV In An SUV Or Hatchback?
If you fold the rear seats, you can slide a 70-inch TV through the back. But there’s no guarantee it will fit. Many experts discourage consumers from driving a 70-inch TV home if the TV barely fits.
A car with limited space forces drivers to lay the TV flat, which is dangerous. Additionally, the constrained space may exert more pressure than the screen can tolerate whenever you hit a hump or pothole.
Look for vehicles capable of comfortably accommodating a 70-inch TV. Any car that allows the TV to stand upright is a strong contender.
How To Measure My Car’s Interior For Transporting A 70-inch TV?
Anyone with measuring tape can measure their car’s interior. The box or manual will mention the TV’s height and width. Identify these variables for the car’s interior. You get the height by finding the distance between the highest point and the floor.
Do the same for the width. Stretch tape between the doors or trunk walls at the widest point. You can also measure the opening of the backseat or trunk to determine whether the door opens wide enough.
Look for a vehicle whose interior dimensions exceed the TV’s dimensions. You don’t want them to match. Otherwise, the doors won’t close.
Measuring tape isn’t always necessary. If you have the car’s manual, it will provide this information. Better yet, visit the car manufacturer’s website and look for your model’s specs. If you don’t know enough about cars to identify your model, send a picture to the manufacturer’s customer support staff. They will identify your vehicle and its dimensions.
They can even point you to the TV sizes that fit your model. Consider this guide from Nissan News USA. It shows consumers how to choose a Nissan based on the TV size it can hold. Determine whether your car manufacturer offers a similar guide for your model.
Is It Better To Lay A 70-inch TV Flat Or Keep It Upright During Car Transport?
Keep the TV upright unless you’re out of options. You may harm the TV by laying it flat in a car for more than a few minutes.
That said, many consumers disagree with that assessment because they’ve laid 70-inch TVs flat and driven them home without damaging the screen.
As such, they have no reason to fear this practice. What does that mean for you? According to Tom’s Guide, a 70-inch TV will cost an average of $700, maybe more. Even if others have laid their TVs flat in a car without harming the screen, are you willing to take the risk?
What if the car keeps jostling violently because of the rough terrain in your area? What if those other customers got lucky? Why risk it? 70-inch TVs are too expensive for you to take the chance.
Are There Any Risks Of Damaging A TV When Transporting It In A Car?
- The screen may not survive the journey if you lay the TV flat. The screen may sag or incur bending damage, although many consumers will argue that their screens were fine despite driving for hours with a TV lying flat.
- If you tie the TV to the roof, harsh elements such as direct sunlight, water, snow, dust, and rocks can scratch the shell and ruin the screen. This is more likely to happen to naked TVs (no box).
- Jostling in the car because of a bumpy road can harm the TV. This happens when the TV knocks against hard objects in the vehicle or those hard objects collide with the TV.
- Some people place heavy objects on the TV, which breaks the screen.
Don’t rule out the possibility of the TV ruining the car’s interior. If you squeeze the TV into a car with a small interior, the box may scratch the walls and seats.
Tips For Safely Transporting A 70-inch TV In A Car
- Use a car whose interior dimensions exceed the TV box’s dimensions.
- Fold the seats to increase the space in the vehicle’s interior.
- Clear the car of other items.
- Don’t bring passengers.
- Pay attention to the partition between the rear passenger area and the trunk. Sometimes, it isn’t enough to fold the seats. Sometimes, the partition between the rear passenger area and the trunk is too narrow for a TV to slide through.
- If you’ve exhausted other options, remove the TV from the box before placing the device in the car.
- Don’t carry the TV on the roof. If you decide to risk this option, secure the TV with straps. You don’t want it to fall off the roof.
What To Do If A 70-inch TV Doesn’t Fit In My Car?
- Pay the retailer’s delivery fee.
- Hire a moving company.
- Borrow a bigger car from a friend.
What Is The Ideal Angle To Fit A 70-Inch TV In The Car?
It is common practice to angle the TV at 45 degrees when slipping the product through a car’s doorway. Once inside the vehicle, there’s no ideal angle. You can stow the TV at any angle that fits the space you have on hand as long as the TV sits on its bottom edge and leans against an object that provides support, such as a seat, wall, or shelf.
Can I Transport A TV Inside The Car With Other Belongings?
Yes, you can. However, you can’t rest those belongings on the TV, especially if they are heavy enough to damage the screen. Secure belongings with sharp angles and hard surfaces. You don’t want them to strike the TV while bouncing around as you traverse rugged roads with potholes and humps.
What Precautions Should I Take When Loading And Unloading A 70-inch TV From A Car?
- Use the original factory-sealed box.
- Wrap a naked TV in a blanket. Use materials like foam to absorb vibrations.
- You can buy TV boxes with protective elements from a store.
- Insert foam, bubble wrap, and clothing articles in the empty spaces of large boxes.
- Ask someone to help you load the TV into the car. Adjust the angle to fit the TV through the door.
- Don’t exert excess pressure. If the TV has resisted your efforts to slide it through the door, find alternative transportation methods. Otherwise, you may break the TV.
- If you have enough room to hold other belongings, use them to keep the TV upright. For instance, you can slide it between mattresses.
- Keep the TV upright.
- If you want the TV to lean at an angle, provide support.
- If the TV is lying flat, the screen should face upward.
- Get help when carrying the TV out of the car.