TV’s in RV’s
 

Requesting opinions on what folks out there consider a great choice for an RV. Can be by Brand, ROKU or Smart, or whatever. Our new FR 26RR, like many other makes, do not come with TV’s. (Sure, there are those out there that will say no TV is needed for camping! Tell that to two young Grandchildren who enjoy “their shows” in the evening)!
We’re looking for a 32”, but just unsure which would be best.
Any ideas appreciated. (Want to keep with 1080p TV).
Thanks in advance.

First thing to consider when putting in a new larger tv into your TT is will it fit in the place where the smaller one was.

Do you have enough clearances on all axes? (yes that is plural for axis)

Will the new tv mount up perfectly with the current mount (swing arm)?

How about warranty?

Full back lit screen or bottom lit?

Are you going to be full timing with complete cable/sat/internet hookups?

What is your budget?

Asking which one of 100 possible tv's is "the best" is an impossible question to be answered. The "best one" is the one you are happy with the resolution, size fitment, inputs/outputs, and price.

It's akin to asking "which is the best tow vehicle" :P

I've got a new Sony Bravia 65" smart TV at home and refuse to connect it to the internet except for updates every 6 months. (hardwired)

Anything on sale at Walmart will do. TV brands are not RV specific.

As long as the kids get what they want....it doesn’t have to be high tech.

When we got the camper, we needed to add 2 TVs. My plan was for TV/DVD combos so I didn’t need to worry about an extra piece of hardware. It’s worked really well for us. The quality could be better, but for a long time- they were just used while camping.

Now we live in it and I’m looking forward to a little better quality. I’d probably end up with a Smart TV.

Since we do not full time we go to camp and not watch TV, the grand kids do not care so I am in the what ever is on sale camp........... :trink39:


:signhavefun:

A question then about Smart TV’s. Using WIFI at Campgrounds can I connect to NETFLIX, or, with Smart TV is WIFI needed for NETFLIX connection? Confused on that.

A lot of times, yes. You only need 2-3 Mbps to be able to stream Netflix, etc. WiFi is needed for streaming.

Bruce

X2 and everybody had valid points here about tv brand and tv/dvd players and a few dvds if the weather sucks.

When it comes to the Wi-Fi part if you are going to use hotspot on phone or range booster you gotta have a good signal first through your carrier or it ain't gonna happen. If you think you're going to be the only one on the CG Wi-Fi, guess again you need bandwitdh.
Whatever happened to leaving the tech crap at home? Can't you teach your progeny and future generations to camp, love nature, build campfires, make smores, fish and learn to BS and develop social skills? JMHO:cool:

Do you ever camp off the grid??

IF you want to be able to watch TV or a movie while off the grid it REALLY helps if you get one of the TVs that have an external 120v-12v power supply.
That way you can toss the power supply puck and just wire it directly to your 12v DC.
You can then watch TV on or off the grid.

I sure wish the TV in my rig was 12v. It's supposedly made specifically for the RV market but can't run on 12v. :rolleyes:
(yes I know, I can run it with an inverter...)

If you ever want to connect to cable at a campground, be sure you purchase a tv with a QAM tuner. The cable companies, which supply many campgrounds, now require that to receive their signal. If you never want to connect to cable, then don't worry about it. See the link below for some information about it. The article was for a specific cable company, but it does have a list of which tvs will work.

We had to change out our tv, since we visit two campgrounds, which offer cable. The signal was QAM, so our tv wouldn't work. We talked to the manager and he said that was a common problem. The TVs in the RVs generally don't support QAM. We tested it out, with a small SAMSUNG tv. It worked fine. Therefore, we upgraded our main tv. It has worked fine since.

https://students.case.edu/services/c...atibility.html

Same thing I was going to suggest. A few years ago when we were looking to upgrade the TV in our unit during some Boxing Day sales, I just picked one that fit the opening (barely apparently once I got it in). I wasn't specifically looking for a 12v one since we don't dry camp or boondock, but it was a welcome surprise to discover that it ran on 12v in case we ever did.

So while you're looking for a TV, I'd recommend seeing if you can find a 12v one. It probably won't be labeled as such at the store (especially places like Best Buy or Walmart) but if you look at the power adapter it should state what the output is and you can find one that way. I recommend having it as an option, even if you don't dry camp/boondock as I've been in a couple of campgrounds that have lost power in heavy rain storms.

There is nothing special or different about RV TVs compared to the ones in homes. They are the exact same brands and models. It just depends on what the manufacturer or dealer decides to put in there.

Ours came with a 40" Toshiba that could've been bought at any big box store. We also have a 32" Samsung in our bunkhouse that used to be in our living room in our house. We simply upgraded our living room TV. :D

So to the OP:

There really isn't a "best". If there is a particular brand that you like (maybe the one that you use at home) choose that one. We tend to stick with the "name brand" models. Samsung, Toshiba, LG, ect...

We had a couple of Insignia tvs a long time ago and they both crapped out. Won't touch that brand ever again.

Ben31, thank you for that piece of information. I had no idea.

Not all of us are “camping”.

Have to disagree here, ~80 campgrounds in the last 20 months, there were less than a handful that had free campground WiFi that either allowed or had enough bandwidth to stream Netflix. Most of them ask you not to stream in consideration of other users.

If your talking about your cell data to a WiFi router, mostly no problem as long as you have a signal from your cell provider.

Is there anything special for "RV" TVs in terms of vibration resistance? Shock resistance?

Not that I’ve seen.

If you find one marked for "RV USE" they can/will charge additional!:roflblack: Next they will be selling "HD" = Heavy Duty" so they can charge More! :signhavefun: Youroo!! :us-flag-waving:

The TV in my 3 year old rig is a Jensen as is the DVD/mp3 player/AM FM tuner.
They are nothing special but Jensen is a brand that markets to the RV industry.
I'd rather have something else as these are not any better than off the shelf big box store TVs of any other brand
AND
my Jensen doesn't have built in weather channels on the radio
AND
my jensen isn't a smart TV so I can't add any apps
AND
my jensen won't play MP4 files so I can't put a movie on a USB thumb drive and play it.
AND
my jensen -even tho it's marketed for an RV does not have a 12 external power supply so it must be plugged into 120v AC either shore power or a battery powered inverter.
All these things make it NOT my pick but it's what came in the rig.
I wish I had the money it cost so I could shop and pick my own instead!

Get the Largest TV that will Mount or Fit in the location that you plan to put it. My Satelite TV is a Huge Priority for going Camping along with my ZTE Mobley for Internet