outside TV's - RV-Dreams Community Forum

two travelers · RV-Dreams Family Member

outside TV's

Workinrvers · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have never had one on any of the rigs we have had and don't think I would have used one if we did have it. When I am outside relaxing under the awning I would much rather be reading a book or simply enjoying the sights of the campground vs watching TV. This is just one man's opinion though.

GENECOP · RV-Dreams Family Member

I never had one but watching The Godfather in the woods doesnt sound to shabby, G

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

We don't have one and I have to say as I'm out walking the dog 3 or 4 times a day, I hardly ever notice one being used. Sometimes there will be a group on Sunday when it was football season.

Spirit of 76 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Would be great for those fall football games by the campfire...ahhhh, I am there right now.

faerie · RV-Dreams Family Member

we had one. it was a benny from the dealer. after 3 years we realized we had only used it 3 times. we took it out and use the spot for storage

Dakota Grey · RV-Dreams Community Member

We are campers now and progressing to extended trippers this year, but the only time I have watched tv outside was to watch the occasional Sat. night NASCAR race. Normally I just enjoy the natural scenery, or enjoy the quiet while I read.

two travelers · RV-Dreams Family Member

I am in full agreement.. no TV in the storage area...thanks for the input...patti

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our Montana has the TV that lowers behind the fireplace. Actually since hubby is a TV fan, it never goes down except while traveling.

We also have one in the basement. We had just bought a new flat screen for our Cedar Creek bedroom right before trading for the Montana. We kept it and replaced with an older TV we had in the house. Len build a cabinet with room for remotes, etc and installed in basement. On the side he even attached a paper towel holder for when he's out there grilling. That is when he mostly uses the TV, while cooking outside.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

A friend told me if I ever needed an outside TV to get a USB TV tuner for a notebook computer and use it. We do have a TV connection in the basement.

Tylersamma · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have a basement TV but never use it. It usually gets a bad glare from the sunlight and is a distraction from watching the wildlife in the area.

TxYellowRose · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our Montana has the outlets for TV hook-up in the basement and we could take the flat screen in the living room and hook it up outside; however, I can't really imagine ever wanting to do that. I guess if we had a gathering of people and there was some event we wanted to see it might come in handy.

The first rig I saw with one was back in 2004 while camping over Thanksgiving. There was a bunch of folks gathered around and they were watching football.

Personally, I'd rather watch the stars. smile

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

In our Montana it is the TV in the bedroom that slips out and connects in the basement. As I said earlier, we have one. It is not the same one as the bedroom. That seems like a hassle.

I was surprised when we had a power shortage a few months ago to realize the bedroom TV works on 12 volt.

dream reachers · RV-Dreams Family Member

We do not have one, however I know some people that do and get a big group of people to come watch sports on it. I do not want to be parked next to someone that is making loud noise outside my trailer. If you do get one please be considerate of others and keep the noise down. We watch tv inside and do not even use our theatre surround sound when we have a movie if we have close neighbors to respect their rights to peace and quiet.

two travelers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thank you everyone for taking the time to post your replys.. they have been very helpful. patti

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

phyllen wrote:

I was surprised when we had a power shortage a few months ago to realize the bedroom TV works on 12 volt.

The TV is probably on a small inverter and you might find other uses for that inverter once you find how to get to it.

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

When considering an outside TV, one might be thoughtful of the wishes of nearby campers. Most people in a campground are there to be away from the hustle and bustle of town. Town includes the noise of an intrusive TV someone has blaring outside. Same with a radio (read blaster).
We have connections in our underbelly bay, but have never considered using it.

Speedhitch · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey our house on wheels has one and I thought I would never use it but when you are retired there are some evenings that I enjoy setting outside and watching the races and drinking some beer. It is a nice place to hook up the golf game and play a few rounds while your BBQing. Would trade mine!!!

SoonToTravel · RV-Dreams Family Member

We do not like our theatre surround sound either. How do you disconnect it?

Thanks, Lois White

Ken & Sarah · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have a friend who has a TV in the basement of their Big Sky, they use it to watch sporting events. I like Speedy's idea of a nice evening, cold beer and something interesting to watch. I don't believe I would use it very often, but I did have the connection put into the basement of our camper.

thebearII · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have one but it's not mounted so I can move it wherever I would like it to be and to kill the glare if need be. We just added TV tuners to our laptops as well as Slingbox Player for our Dish Sat receiver at home.

The Slingbox Player (it's a software application) will allow us, when the WiFi is good, to log into the SlingBox connected to the Dish Sat box at home and watch whatever has been recorded or live programs just as if we were sitting at home.

So here is the picture in my mind....

My DW is sitting in an outdoor recliner watching her recorded cooking shows on the laptop using the Slingbox Player.

I'm in my outdoor recliner watching Nascar on my laptop while watching golf on the outdoor TV and checking scores on my iphone.

And gee it was only about 10 years ago that the only thing to do outdoors was to watch nature go by while using my pen knife to whittle a wooden flute from a branch I picked up during my morning hike.

-- Edited by thebearII on Friday 19th of March 2010 02:37:33 PM

KarenInTheWoods · RV-Dreams Family Member

I guess I wouldn't mind if someone was watching a particular event like a foot ball game or a special race. But we camped near someone who had the volume so loud, and it was on morning noon and night! After 2 days of that, we were sure glad we were moving on.

Happytrails · RV-Dreams Family Member

This post has been really interesting. We have the connections in our basement but we have never placed a TV in the basement. Since we full-time we use most of our basement for storage. We have a Sea Eagle plus a small freezer down there. Those items take up some space. When we are outside we enjoy the quiet of nature or just conversation with each other. BUT with that said.....we do have the connections.

LUVBYTES · RV-Dreams Family Member

i my-self really do not like watching tv unless it has to do with documentries or game shows i sometimes watch the maury show yet really love wheel and jeopardy i would love a outside tv though so one of the kids can be out of my hair for a bit and my hubby would sit outside and watch it and fall asleep outside as well i would only do it for them if it was up to me i wouldnt waste the $$$

tumwatergal · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our DP did not come with an outside TV, but if it had we would have removed it. The storage space for other, important, items would have been of greater need. We have 2 TV's inside and I guess that is enough for us.

Good question and the answers are always interesting.

nwlambear · RV-Dreams Family Member

Outside TV is not something my husband or I would like. We prefer to enjoy the environment without electronics. I even have a hard time seeing the screen of my laptop outside. We have a 5ver and tend to prefer state parks or national parks...boondocking when possible..the more open air space the better. We are pretty quiet campers. I guess "to each his own"....and that's ok!

nwlambear · RV-Dreams Family Member

KarenInTheWoods wrote:
Totally understand....I wouldn't like that either. Years ago we tent camped in the valley at Yosmite...and vowed never to do that again. From then on we camped in more remote areas. Much better!! One Fall we camped along the Kern River....
I guess I wouldn't mind if someone was watching a particular event like a foot ball game or a special race. But we camped near someone who had the volume so loud, and it was on morning noon and night! After 2 days of that, we were sure glad we were moving on.

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

I fall in the same camp as Speedy... Nothing quite like sitting under the awning watching a good race! Johnny would be the one watching LSU vs anyone football...

That being said, we don't have one currently. It is a requirement to at least have the hookups in whatever DP we end up with in the near future.

jb · RV-Dreams Family Member

We love sports and love to sit outside so we watch a lot and enjoy having a group over for games. Our Rig has a shelf to put a TV on so we just carry an extra 22 inch TV to put outside under the awning. We do try to be considerate of our neighbors and not turn the volume up but we love being able to enjoy our campsite and our fire and watch our TV.

nwlambear · RV-Dreams Family Member

This has really been a great response to the question of having an outside tv, etc. It just goes to show even though we are different....in whether its enjoy watching tv outside vs enjoying the environment sans tv...we prefer one or the other at different times. That being said..its clear that we can all agree on respecting the needs of other fellow rv peeps and that's one of the many things that makes us all special!

Old Snipe · RV-Dreams Family Member

We don't have an outside TV, but we do have an outside radio in a small compartment on the side of the motorhome. We don't even use that, either we're happy to enjoy peace and quiet or we'd disturb camping neighbors next to us.

Best Regards!

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

I kind of like the idea of peace and quite outside. We have vacationed many years in an rv and never desired to have an outside tv.

Elaine NB · RV-Dreams Family Member

Putting in my 2 cents worth here...we do not have an outside TV in our storage bays of our Motorhome...we probably have a connections...seems we need every inch of storage we have :)....I like the quite crackling of the fire, and nature sounds when sitting outside..love reading under the awning etc...so if our rig had one we'd probably remove it...we do have 2 inside so I guess thats enough for us...I think its everyones personal preference..:)

RonaldNC · RV-Dreams Family Member

You all are missing it... we don't watch TV outside... but we love to play our Wii to relax!!! It's a great ice breaker with the neighbors and is compatible with our "play as you go" lifestyle. All we do is carry a flat panel and place it on our slide-out tray when we use it.

It serves as a nice break between our bicycling and sightseeing.

Ron

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Great idea about the wii Ron!

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

I might change my mind about an outside TV based on Ron's comment about the wii. I like it!

Gypsy Turtle 2 · RV-Dreams Family Member

That's an excellent idea! Thanks RonaldNC smile

We have had our coach less than 2 months but the outside TV area was one of the first things we did away with. The previous owner had an entertainment center installed in the first cargo bay. It was a monstrous box with the components built in and it took up the entire bay. We needed storage more than an outside TV so hubby dismantled it and got rid of everything but the flat panel. We were saving it for one of those "just in case" times. This may be it...especially when the grandchildren are around biggrin

Gary · RV-Dreams Family Member

Outside TV for Wii? Hmmmm.

While I never thought about watching TV outside while camping, this changes everything! Great for keeping kids (big kids also) occupied if it's not quite nice enough to go do things.

nwlambear · RV-Dreams Family Member

The Wii is a great idea actually!

j&j · RV-Dreams Community Member

We have the basement TV and love it. We also have a 42" in the LR that goes down in the cabinet.