Is it OK to transport a 42" plasma on it's end rather than the base (rotated 90degrees)??? The carton is 45" across with a height of 32". I'd like to move with the 32" side on the bed of my small PU that way I can secure it tightly against the back the the cab. If it has to go on it's base I won't be able to do that. Only going about 3 miles.

I would be very careful. There is always risk. I know I have laid Plasma down before when transporting but you take a chance.

I wouldn't hesitate to lay it on it's side for that distance. I recently moved and laid my displays face down for an 80+ mile trip. Good Luck!

Guys no I'm not saying lay it down. Instead of moving with it sitting on it's base left to right the long way I want to rotate the box 90 degrees and set it on one of the ends.

Guys no I'm not saying lay it down. Instead of moving with it sitting on it's base left to right the long way I want to rotate the box 90 degrees and set it on one of the ends.
That shouldn't be a problem as long as it is still upright....the danger comes when the force of gravity suddenly transfers weight to the middle of the unsupported expanse of glass. (such as hitting a bump/pothole with the panel facedown/faceup)

Tweeter said it would be okay to lay down flat... so the way you decribe should be fine.

yes... hit a big bump and if the panel is laid flat.. a crack can occur.

That shouldn't be a problem as long as it is still upright....the danger comes when the force of gravity suddenly transfers weight to the middle of the unsupported expanse of glass. (such as hitting a bump/pothole with the panel facedown/faceup)

Tweeter said it would be okay to lay down flat... so the way you decribe should be fine.

yes... hit a big bump and if the panel is laid flat.. a crack can occur.

I've been told that Panasonic plasma glass is now the same as LCD glass.

A friend of mine has installed hundreds upon hundreds of plasmas and LCDs while working for an a/v company that installs in schools, businesses, airports, etc.

He said it was not unusual for them to RECIEVE plasma TVs laying face down/up on pallets when they purchased in quantity. I don't know if they were coming from the manufacturer that way, or from a third party. I suspect they were shipped from a third party.

He also said they often transported them long distances face down/up in the back of a truck or van.

Additionally, when they DID set them upright, he said it wasn't unusual at all for them to tip over, as they were too lazy to secure them.

For what it's worth, he said he has never seen a DOA plasma OR LCD. If the abuse effected the panels further down the road... he couldn't say... who knows? But they worked 100 percent when installed.

They did install 24 plasmas in one location (I believe it was a casino) and within 12 months 21 of the 24 were dead, and the manufacturer couldn't provide replacement parts. Said TVs were a brand I've never heard of and can't remember off the top of my head.

This particular friend probably did the most to convince me to try plasma again instead of going LCD after getting a bad Panasonic panel my first go around. I'm about 10 hours into burn in now, and loving the picture.

The big box store I bought it from brought it out to my truck face up, no idea why, it hasn't been face up or down since then, only straight upright. I'm super paranoid though. I rejected the first one they brought as the box had some crushing around the edge.

As an alternative you can place the box lengthwise in the bed of your truck up against the cab. Run a ratchet strap diagonally across the box from a front stake pocket to the middle stake pocket on the other side. Make sure the ends of the strap are lower than the height of the box so that when you tighten the strap it pulls down on the box. If you think about it, cinching the box down to the bed of the truck is no different than cinching it up against the cab.

Just don't over-tighten.

Larry