TV Location?

luv2travel · Joined: 29 Oct 2006 Posts: 3 Location: North Carolina

My wife and I are contemplating full-time (or close to it) RVing when I retire next year. We are now looking for that very elusive "perfect" Class A RV. In looking around, I see most of them have the TV in front center, usually high up. This makes it hard to see from the couch and/or dinette, and the two front seats are so close I wonder if this is practical? We don't watch TV in bed, so that is not what we want.

I would be grateful to hear from you where your TV is and if you find that convenient.

Thanks, and happy travels,

John
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Looking for the perfect RV for retirment.... is there such a thing?

pedro · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 28

Please keep in mind that’ almost' anything can be done to your RV to make it livable for you! TVs can be moved and rewired to accommodate your needs and wishes (within reason). Choose the best fit all around RV then make your own adjustments to fit your likes. I own a 1986 Itasca that is ‘customized’ to my wants and needs. I find that almost all repairs or remodel projects can be accomplished as I would to my ‘land home.’ Of course, you must keep in mind that your RV home will be mobile and anchoring items properly for safety is foremost. But otherwise, go for it.

Pedro

retired and happy · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 303 Location: Stone Mountain GA

My current class A has the traditional center- high up TV installation, but my first one had the TV mounted on the doghouse. It made it awkward to get into the driver's seat, but it was more convenient for viewing than the usual neck breakers.
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Ken
Judy and our Special Angels
1996 37' Itasca Suncruiser
6x12 cargo trailer
2003 EZGO golf Cart

tom3205 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 81 Location: janesville, wi

Depending on length of the rig, you can put a floor model TV in the space behind the passenger seat. Sometimes there is another chair there so that will be removed. I have seen a unit on one of the "used RV" sales ads that was so equipped. With a slideout, it would be just dandy.
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1995 fleetwood flair 1999 grand vitara and two chihuahuas ..

bobnmary · Joined: 11 Nov 2006 Posts: 1

I have a 03 Rexhall 35T It has been good to me and the TV is in the best place ever: right behind the passenger seat in the slideout. Under it is a very nice fireplace. I can sit and watch TV without any strain as can everyone in the coach. It has the 8.1 gas and gets an average of 7.7 mpg flat with a toad. It will get 9.9 at 55. The coach is mid-range at $150k. But the TV/fireplace is the greatest. It heats the coach all by itself in the am and we love it. With 3 slides it has more room that the 2 of us can use. bob

adirondackchef · Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Vermont

I can't understand why every RV does not come with an LCD or plasma TV. They have been around long enough. You have to get HDTV or it will be obsolete in a couple of years. A 32-inch LCD TV costs as little as $550 and the prices are still dropping. They can be mounted anywhere, and with a swivel can swing around to be seen from any part of an RV. (See the RoadTrek home page. They have a 17-inch model).
Most motorhome makers seem profoundly ignorant of technology. You can plug a notebook computer into the LCD for a big screen. You should be able to set an iPod into the stereo. An iPod will hold every album you would ever want and is the size of a wallet. You should be able to switch any part of the RV to music, radio, TV, or DVD easily. Even outdoors.
The cost of these things is so low, it should have zero impact on the cost.
These innovations take up so little room, you would think they would have been on the bandwagon long ago.

lyndony · Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 1

I have a 2000 36' Rexhall Aerbus and I have an entertainment center behind the passenger's seat. My couch and slideout is across from it. I like this over the up front TV because we dont use the very front for living unless we are entertaining. We put a sliding curtain across the coach behind the seats to help keep out the heat and cold. Works for us.
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Lyndon and June - 36' Rexhall Aerbus-2 slides- Banks system on V10-Red Jeep Cherokee Sport toad with Kayak on top. Doing it our way.

Gary Scott · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Posts: 21

My only suggestion which is always an important concern for me is to consider the reflections you will get on the screen. Nothing makes watching TV more difficult than having a lot of reflections from windows and lights interfering with the picture. Good luck!

pkusmc · Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 1

We have a 40' Coachman Sportcoach Elite that has 3 slides. One of the slides has a full wall unit with the TV in the middle of the wall unit and a fireplace below it. The couch is opposite the wall unit. Just like home! Our previous MH had the TV over the dash and it was hell on our necks. We bought this MH because of the wall unit/TV.
Pat

Travconian · Joined: 18 Dec 2005 Posts: 15 Location: Denver

My one 20" TV is at the foot of the bed and not really visible from the sofa. I installed a 1/3 mattress adjustable recliner board under the top (head) 1/3 of the mattress to raise it like a Craftmatic adjustable bed--very handy for TV watching. I would not want a TV in the living area, because that is where I cook, eat, read, visit people, and drive, and all that jazz. In the bed I only can do 3 things, and two of them are sleep and watch TV. In the living area is my hi-fi and record player, in case I want to dance.
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1974 Travco model 270
Don't Dream it, Live it!

joan on the road · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 7:30 pm Post subject: TV Location

We have a 32' Rexhall Aerbus and it did have the little yucky TV up front center. We took that out, built in an oak cabinet and bought a 27" flat panel Sony Bravia and put it on the dash. It was a paradigm shift! When we travel it sleeps on the bed (Jim wishes we'd purchased a 32". There would have been room).

We love this change! Incidentally, we almost bought the 36' Rexhall with the TV/fireplace and often wish we had. Oh well!
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www.JoanOnTheRoad.com Fulltime since 2003 in Rexhall Aerbus 32' w Villager Van toad

merdon3538 · Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Bedford. Virginia

We have a 97 American Tradition with the TV located in the middle front. It travels in the "on the floor" position and is raised to eye level (when sitting) so there is no neck strain from looking up all the time.

We think this is a perfect location.

Merl Bell
'97 Tradition 38TF "RUFCMPN"
'01 Saturn Toad "SLVRBEL"
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'97 Tradition TTF

rickschramm · Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Presently in Oregon

I agree with Pedro. I hook my laptop into our 19" LCD TV so that threw another twist into where we are going to mount it. I will share something with you DIY in case you haven't seen it yet. http://www.flatwiresolutions.com/index.html They are going through the 12 v 110 certification process right now last I heard. I do not have an interest in the company; in fact, their prices are just out of my reach. It would really depend on the project whether I used this stuff or not.
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Rick