RV TV Guide: What You Need To Know About Camper TVs
(Camp Addict does NOT accept payment from any company to review or endorse their products.)
Whether you are installing a new RV TV in your rig or replacing an old one, you might not be sure what brand is the best.
You might be familiar with the two most popular brands of camper televisions that comes factory installed in a camper - Jensen and Furion. But are there other brands that will work in your recreational vehicle?
Do you need to worry about purchasing a 12-volt TV that is specifically made for RVs, yet costs a lot more than other 12v televisions? Or can you buy any brand?
What's the difference between a normal television and an RV specific 12-volt TV?
This page will teach you all you need to know about TV's in your RV, whether you want to add a new TV or you want to replace one.
Looking for a new RV TV? Want to know what are the best camper TVs? Click the button below to read our reviews.
Guide To RV TVs
Many people ask, "Can I just get a TV from anywhere to use in my RV?"
The good news is that the quick answer is 'yes'.
The bad news is that you still have to know a few things about the TV and how it can or cannot work in your RV.
There are things to consider such as will you be mostly running it off shore power (120-voly) or off your batteries (12-volt)?
We cover these things and more in this RV TV guide.
Do I Have To Get A TV Specifically Made For An RV?
It's a very good question. Can you use a 'regular' TV in your RV or do you have to get a RV TV brand that is 'made' for RVs?
The answer is an overwhelming 'No, you don't need an RV specific brand TV."
We will dive into this further below.
First, we want to shut down people who feel compelled to comment that 'TVs don't belong in an RV whatsoever'.
After all, aren't you going camping to get into the great outdoors?
Why would you get to a campground and then simply sit inside watching TV?
Don't be so quick to judge, smarty pants! There are many good reasons to have a TV in your RV if you so desire.
We will even indulge you.
Good Reasons To Have A Television In Your RV
We can certainly name a few.
Just know that most RVs already have a TV installed. If you're that adamant about not having one, uninstall it and move on.
What about rainy days? If you're stuck in a campground with your family with nothing to do, well, a TV can come in very handy for entertaining.
Also, people still like to have their evening entertainment. What's better than snuggling up with your partner in bed and watching a good movie after a long hike?
What about those who live in their RV's full-time? They surely want some entertainment here and there as well.
You can argue it if you want but one thing is for sure, televisions are here to stay in the RV industry.
Heck, some RV entertainment systems are even nicer than the systems in most people's homes!
Can I Just Get A Regular TV Or Does It Need To Be An RV Brand TV?
If you DO choose to have a television or two in your RV, or if you are looking to replace a television, you might have come across this valid point:
"Do I need a TV made specifically for RVs?" It's a great question.
We have done a lot of research regarding RV TVs and we are going to share our conclusion on the subject regarding if you need to get an RV TV, or if you can simply get a regular 'home brand' television.
RV TVs Versus Regular TVs - What's The Difference?
The biggest RV TV player we have come across is Jensen.
This brand is made by ASA Electronics. They are by far the leading manufacturer of electronics specifically designed for marine and RV applications.
According to Jensen's website, their RV TVs differ from 'regular' television sets in a couple of ways:
1. They say that they build quality by "expertly designing each product from the ground up and validating all designs through extensive testing that is primarily conducted in our own on-site test lab".
2. They claim that their products are "strenuously tested to endure real life conditions such as high vibration, UV exposure, humidity, water spray, and extreme temperature fluctuations commonly encountered in mobile environments."
Marshall's Jensen TV That Came With His Trailer
Jensen has a rep (listed only as JensenRVdirect) who has, more than once, replied very professionally in online forums about the ways that they differ from regular 'house' televisions.
Some highlights from his comments are as follows:
Huh. Ok... that sounds good and all, but how well do 'home' TVs perform in an RV? Do they really ever break from usage in an RV?
We needed to find the answer to this frequently asked question. And guess what? We found what we were looking for.
Using A 'Regular' TV In An RV
We asked the question, to many of our fellow RVer friends: 'Have you ever used a regular off-the-shelf TV brand in your RV? Something you got from Amazon, Target or Wal-Mart?
Yup. A regular TV in Kelly's RV
Most of them answered:
"Yep."
It's true. Many people have used 'regular' TVs in their RV's for years without issue.
Over and over again people have expressed that they have had a regular TV in their RV for 3, 5, even 10 years with no trouble.
Not once have we heard or read a person saying their regular TV 'broke' off of its mount in their RV.
Or that it 'froze' during the winter and didn't work again after that. Or that the internal components got too wet from condensation, killing the TV.
We're not claiming that such scenarios have NEVER happened before, but we haven't found a single case yet.
What About Cold And Condensation Issues?
Now, Jensen does proclaim to use parts that are resistant to corrosion.
The only time you really are going to deal with the possibility of condensation is during temperature changes.
When a cold TV warms up quickly, condensation forms throughout the device.
If you plug it in or turn it on at that time, it could result in short circuits, shock, or have some other type of terminal failure.
If you simply keep this in mind, you never have to worry about that. Simply give it about 24 hours to acclimate.
Now you don't need a special TV with components that are 'more' resistant to corrosion.
Sure, TVs occasionally die, for a variety of reasons.
Had lots of 'regular' TVs (in RVs) died due to things like too much humidity, heat and freezing temperatures, or excessive shaking, you would hear about it through blogs, forums and word of mouth.
Marsha Gledhill
Full-Time RVer for 20 Years
I have been a full-time RVer for the last 20 years. In that time, I have never had a 12-volt "RV brand TV".
I have had the old CRT style TV and I presently have 2 flat screen TVs - a Sanyo and an Insignia. All 3 have worked perfectly for me.
The famous "RV vibration" that occurs during a road trip has never affected any of my TVs. For most of my RV life I have lived in Florida. I worked 40+ hours a week.
I would put my thermostat at 90 degrees when I left and would return after dark. Neither heat or humidity ever affected the TVs.
I have crossed the United States twice with the TVs. I spent September through January in Montana.
There, my water pump and my water lines froze but the TVs were fine.
I've also had my share of rough roads through the years. Never affected the TVs. I've been very happy with my "regular" brand "house" TVs.
Thousands of RVs with regular TVs have been down endless paved and dirt roads.
They have been left out in the Minnesota winter without issue. They have sustained extreme heat and cold.
It is our finding that you do NOT need a special RV TV for your rig. Even Kelly, Co-founder of Camp Addict purchased a 19" Insignia TV and installed it in her rig in April of 2014.
It has worked fine ever since and has been down a ton of washboard dirt roads.
Camp Addict's Kelly, feeling smug after installing the bracket for her new Insignia TV.
We've given you the facts. It's up to you decide for yourself whether you want to go with an RV TV or a regular TV for your RV.
How Cold Is Too Cold, For ANY Camper Television?
Any device can fail in super extreme temperatures.
Think about this point: Manufacturers of regular TVs have "cold storage ratings", and they vary somewhat.
The ranges are usually between -4 to -40 for cold. VIEWING temperatures are usually higher. Jensen claims that they test theirs for viewing from -4 to 149 degrees.
Really? Let's think about this for a second... WHO in their RIGHT MIND is going to be watching TV in a -4 degree room??
You got it. Nobody.
When we watch TV, it is almost always in a very temperate environment... let's say somewhere between 60 degrees and 85 degrees.
That's a perfectly safe range for any TV to be operating in.
As long as you don't get in your RV on a freezing day, pump up the heat then turn your TV on ten minutes later, you should be fine as far as not killing your TV goes.
If you live where the temperatures dip below the cold storage rating of the TV you choose, you can always bring the TV into your home or garage to store. Even the Jensen RV TV is only rated to -40.
If you're still worried about getting a regular TV, keep in mind that many of the display monitors in today’s cars use LCD technology, without issue.
Kelly's Finished Insignia Installation
Aren't cars notorious for reaching extreme temperatures? Those monitors keep plugging away.
What we're still getting at is that you don't really need an 'RV' TV for your rig.
The good news is that you are free to choose whatever brand of TV you would like to have.
12-Volt Television Or 120-Volt Television?
What's the difference between a 12-volt television and a 120-volt television?
12- volt TVs run off of D/C power, which is from your RV's house batteries.
120-volt TVs requires for you to either be running an inverter or to be hooked up to city power or a generator. (Best generator for RV use.)
It mostly depends on how you RV. If you boondock and rely on your batteries and RV solar, a 12v TV is a good choice. If you are ALWAYS at a campground no matter what, then 120v is fine.
Conclusion
It's perfectly ok to use any brand TV in your RV or camper. You only need to know whether you can wire it for 12 volt use, or if you need to use it while using 120-volt power.
Keep in mind that your mount should be VERY sturdy as not all roads are perfectly smooth.
Temperatures should not matter unless you cool down or heat up your RV quickly and turn the TV on before it has caught up with the new temperature.
If you are in the market for a TV, we have reviewed a few below to help you decide what to buy.
If you have any questions about TVs in your RV that were not answered on this page and haven't been asked below in the comments, feel free to comment below the reviews and ask us.
We will answer all relevant and reasonable questions that haven't already been asked. Please provide us enough information to give an educated answer, and we will answer if we can.
Authors: Kelly Beasley & Marshall Wendler
Kelly Beasley
He-llllo. I'm the co-founder of Camp Addict, which my biz partner and I launched in 2017. I frigging love the RVing lifestyle but in December of 2020, I converted to part-time RV life. Heck, I lived in my travel trailer for over 5.5 years, STRICTLY boondocking for pretty much all of it. Boondocking is a GREAT way to live, but it's not easy. Anyway, I'm passionate about animals, can't stand campgrounds, I hardly ever cook, and I love a good dance party. Currently, I can be found plotting and scheming whether or not to start collecting farm animals (or plotting my next RV trip!) at my beautiful new 'ranch' named 'Hotel Kellyfornia', in Southern Arizona.
Marshall Wendler
Camp Addict co-founder Marshall Wendler brings his technical expertise to help explain RV products in an easy to understand fashion. Full-time RVing from April 2014 - December 2020 (now RVing about 50% of the time), Marshall loves sharing his knowledge of the RV lifestyle. Marshall spends the majority of his RVing life boondocking. He is the part of Camp Addict that knows 'all the things'. He's good at sharing his technical knowledge so you can benefit.
Thank allot for that very honest expert opinion. I regard you as an expert. Happy traveling to you Garry
We appreciate you, Garry! Glad you’re finding help here. : )
Hello. Thanks for this article very informative. But, my question is I already have a 32 inch tv mounted on my camper. If I upgraded to a 39 inch would my camper walls be able to hold the weight? The new tv is a 39 inch Roku smart tv.
Hi Helen,
Was the TV installed from the factory? If so, is there a weight limit placard near where the TV is mounted to the wall that indicates how much weight can be supported?
We cannot determine how much weight a particular attach point can handle.
If you cannot find any reference to the weight that can be supported via a placard or in the documents that came with the RV, try contacting the manufacturer and asking them. They are the best source for information like this (assuming it is a factory-installed 32-inch TV).
Great article! One thing not addressed is efficiency, as in power draw.. one without all the bells and whistles but just a TV used primarily for receiving OTA stations. Such a 12v TV would likely also draw less from your battery bank, thus more hours of watching.
I don’t know if such a thing exist, but it’d be nice to know what the most efficient 12v TVs are.
I’m not sure that a 12-volt TV with no bells and whistles would draw much less power than one with a few niceties. I think that the biggest power draw by far would be the screen itself, so pretty much any TV of similar screen size and display technology should use similar amounts of power regardless of whether there are bells and whistles.
Well, maybe. however.. a smart TV is a computer and with each feature included involves more processing which inturn uses more energy (you’ll notice that your smartphone, laptop or tablets battery drains faster when using certain apps.. A no-frills TV only receives an ota signal and displays it on the screen, without computer processing dealing with wi-fi and the multiple apps like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, etc. So certainly a smart TV uses more energy than a basic one. I would be curious to know just how much more it uses, it may be more of a difference than you think.
It would be interesting to know. Unfortunately, I do not have that information. Fortunately, the TVs that we review aren’t smart, so it’s a non-issue for those.
I simply plugged a Roku into my Jensen TV to get smart functionality, and this can be on or off as I desire. I’ve never observed a large draw from the Roku. I also am not much of a TV watcher, so it wouldn’t matter to me either way.
Understood. Just a note if your interested; there’s a fascinating summary of researched data (which doesn’t address 12v TV but the 2 most efficient in the list just so happens to accept a 12v input! )
https://ecocostsavings.com/tv-wattage/
And
https://ecocostsavings.com/cost-to-run-a-tv/
Thanks for your articles, I don’t mean to sound critical, I’m actually living on a sailboat and it entails many of the same issues as living in an RV.. but I rarely have shore power, so I tend to focus on power draw a little more than, I guess, someone in an RV would.
Anyway, I like your articles. Thanks.
Thanks for sending those articles! Whoa, when you jump to 4k resolution, the power consumption skyrockets. I guess my dreams of putting an 85-inch 4K TV in my rig have been shot down! (Can you even imagine?)
I never have shore power, so power consumption is definitely on my radar as well. Then again, I rarely watch TV, so I don’t give the TV’s power usage much thought. In the past, I have seen how much my 12-volt Jensen TV draws (using my Victron battery monitor), but I can’t recall as it’s been years since I looked. I don’t think it was a lot – or rather, I don’t remember it being an eye-popping number.
Both Kelly and I just purchased campervans and are currently figuring out what we need to get to upgrade our solar and install lithium batteries. So power consumption is definitely on my radar right now. However, neither rigs have TVs in them.
Thanks for the great discussion and happy sailing!
Glad you found it informative. You know, seems to me that maybe one of those rechargeable led portable projectors combined with a usb TV dongle might be a viable option to conserve power and still provide up to a 100″ screen.. it’s just a thought, but presumably such a projector probably would use less than half the power of a TV.
Yep, that is definitely an option. We have several RVing friends that have projectors that they use to shoot against the side of their rigs (using a sheet usually). For sound, they attach it to a Bluetooth speaker. It’s a great way to have a movie night out in the middle of nowhere (not recommended for campground use as I’m sure it would piss off somebody).
I’ve never seen anyone use this setup indoors, though that’s definitely possible. Need a decently-sized RV I’d think.
I just ordered a 24″ Insignia smart tv on Amazon about an hour ago for $99 on sale with free shipping (Walmart and Best Buy have the same deal). But I wonder now if I was too hasty.. Although it accepts a 12volt input, I have no idea how much strain it might put on my battery bank, which is something your article doesn’t address. I just installed a brand new replacement battery for my Goal Zero Yeti 1250 which is soon to be connected to 2 100watt solar panels (I should mention I’m on a sailboat, not an RV). I presume the tv efficiency will be just fine.. I guess I’m just commenting to provide a heads up on a bargain deal for a 12v tv! Just search Amazon for “12v TV” and it comes up first on the list on sale for 99 dollars. What a great deal!
Hi Richard,
Dang, that sounds like a great price! Nice score!
Yeah, we don’t go into how a 12-volt TV affects battery life because there are so many variables. The main one is what kind of battery bank you have. Sounds like you have a lithium setup with your Goal Zero, which is a much better setup than using the traditional lead-acid batteries (unless, of course, one has a massive lead-acid battery bank).
It all comes down to how much many amps your TV draws and how long you watch it. You’ll learn what works for your particular setup over time, but it sounds like you are starting from a good position.
Enjoy your new TV out on the water!
So we are new to adding a TV to our RV.. We just signed up for ATT Direct Stream for our home and can take it in the Road but what TV should we buy, do we need a router to stream the TV to our ATT box, and will probably use a “shore connection” as our RV is an oldie but goodie. Any advise is welcome. And we do have ATt cell phone.
Hey Deirdre,
Thank for checking out Camp Addict and for your comment!
I’m not familiar with the AT&T Direct Stream so I looked it up. So you have a box that it came with? Sounds like it!
Apparently there is an AT&T Direct Stream app that you can install on a streaming device such as a Roku or Apple TV. So you don’t have to bring the AT&T equipment with you when you hit the road. This allows you to keep your current AT&T device at home and have a dedicated device in your rig, if you so desire – you just need to buy a compatible streaming device, which you can get for fairly cheap (Apple TV is going to be the most expensive, so I’d opt for a Roku streaming stick or something similar which is a lot cheaper, if you decided to go this route).
Since you said you will be using shore power, you can just buy any TV you want (doesn’t have to be RV specific). The only thing you need is a port on the TV to plug the streaming device. So depending on the streaming device you use (your current AT&T device or Roku, or…?) you have to make sure the TV you have has a compatible input port. Most likely an HDMI port.
Then yeah, you need a way to get internet to the streaming device. This is the tricky part. You can go with a cell data plan and a cellular hot spot (JetPack for Verizon, Nighthawk for AT&T, etc). Problem with this approach is that if you don’t have an unlimited data plan you are going to eat through your allocated data quickly when streaming. As in super fast!
More information on data plans can be found on this website (the experts on the subject).
Or you can rely on the campgrounds wi-fi connection, if it exists. Just keep in mind that most campground wi-fi connections aren’t that great, and may prohibit streaming since this is very data intensive. If you go the campground wifi route, you don’t need any extra equipment. You would just log into the campground wi-fi using the streaming device of your choice.
So, yeah, no real simple answer to the ‘how do we get a signal to the streaming device’ question.
Hope that helps a bit! Thanks again for the visit!
Helpful article. What I am wondering do I need wifi installed for my antenna system or get a cellular booster and stream from my phone to watch a smart tv?
Hi Monica,
Thanks for checking out Camp Addict. Glad to hear you found this article useful.
I’m confused as to what you mean by “wifi installed for my antenna system”.
If you want to stream shows via a smart TV, you need some source of internet connection. This can by a phone if your plan allows tethering (connecting an external Internet using device such as a computer, tablet, or smart TV to your phone in order to use the phone’s data plan) or it may be another type of cellular hotspot such as a JetPack from Verizon or whatever they are called from the other carriers. Or Starlink if you want to get really fancy.
Or if you are staying at a campground that has reliable wifi (good luck finding that!) then you can simply connect your smart TV to it and stream.
Bottom line is that you will need some source of internet that is capable of providing enough bandwidth to stream shows on your TV. And a data plan that supports high data usage, as streaming uses a tremendous amount of data.
I hope that helps! Best of luck setting up your mobile entertainment system!
(If you want to learn more about mobile internet options, we highly recommend you check out the Mobile Internet Resource Center as they are truly experts when it comes to this topic.)
I simply use the Hotspot on my phone as wifi for my smart TV, but its generally cheaper to mirror your phones screen to stream movies providing your phone has that capability.
Either way, using your phones internet connection is the simplest (and cheapest) way to provide wifi for your smart tv.
What is a good quality base mount system for a TV in my travel trailer? I am replacing a 2006 JVC 44” TV with a new one, and a Bose sound bar. Ideas please. Thanks 😎☀️
Hi Larry,
Sorry, but we haven’t done this research. So we can’t come up with something that will be good for your TV situation. Any decent mount should work, just be SURE you have it installed into studs in the RV wall. You may have to mount plywood onto the wall into studs and mount the TV onto that. Hope this helps just a tad and good luck with your mount search!
Why are smart tv’s not used in an rv?
Hi Tim,
That would be a great question to ask manufacturers! 😉
I do believe there are smart TVs being used in RVs, but they are 120-volt TVs. So household TVs being used in a camper.
Keep in mind that it is SUPER simple to make almost any existing TV a smart TV by adding a Roku (or similar device) to it. Considering a Roku Streaming Stick can be had for around $35, it isn’t a major investment to be able to easily stream content on a TV that isn’t already ‘smart’.
How big is too big? I like to watch on a large screen. I have a small travel trailer camper but I still want to put my big tv in there. Can I?
Hi Diadre,
How big is too big? It comes down to how much space you have to put a TV, how it’s going to be mounted, and if you can power it.
If you are planning on hanging a TV from the wall, make sure that the wall can support it. Most RV walls are VERY thin and you have to make sure you have some sort of support to hang the wall from. Many RVs will come with a reinforced area to hang a TV from because the wall won’t support the weight of a TV otherwise.
So to answer your question definitively… 🙂
I always doubt that there is an inverter insider a 12v TV and it actually is a 120v AV TV. It just converts 12v DC to 120v AC and uses 120v AC to power itself. If there is an inverter inside a 12v TV and it actually is a 120V AC TV, I rather buy a 120v AC TV and power it by my solar generator (already equipped with an inverter). Can anyone answer my question? Or is there a tech spec to clarify my doubt? Thanks. Ming
Look at where the power cord plugs into the TV. It will often say the required input voltage. If it’s less than 120v than the power cord itself is converting the 120 volt power supply into a lower voltage. This is what the power brick part of the power cord does.
I’m not electrical engineer so I don’t know if all TV’s use this process (lower input voltage), but I wouldn’t be surprised.
No.. the internal circuitry of most LCD and LED tvs are actually DC. Some have a brick on the power cord to convert it from AC to DC, while others actually have that converter housed inside the tv (most people wouldn’t want to have to break open the tv to modify it, but some do).
If your tv cord has a 12v brick then you just have to cut the brick off and splice your battery directly to the cords wires.
If your TV requires (for example) a 19v input then you can purchase a transformer to up the voltage from 12v to 19v which would also be more efficient than using an inverter.. there’s a few YouTube videos showing people who have done this.
Keep in mind that LED tvs are a little more efficient than LCD tvs.
I grew up with this “RV life” you rave about—so people finding it quaint and inspiring is funny to me. My parents purchased the biggest house model TVs they could fit through the door—LONG before they made flat screens. Naturally they upgraded to flat screens when they became available—the answer to so many RV’er prayers. Lol. Whenever we travelled point to point—we took the tv off its shelf (in the box set days) and off it’s mount in the flat screen days. Couch cushions make excellent tv protection. Seem extreme? You didn’t see the size of the tv’s—or the chug holes for that matter. Good luck to all and safe travels.
Hi Al,
Thanks for the comment! Yes, RVing is the latest ‘it’ thing that is something lots of people have been doing for a very long time.
I came to RVing in my early 40’s after wanting to do it for most of my adult life, so I’m definitely one of these late comers. And in the almost 8 years since I started, I’ve definitely seen a lot of changes and growth in the industry. Not sure how I feel about all of this, but hey, at least people are getting out there and trying something new to them.
Love your story about how y’all dealt with the TV back in the day. And to think that today one doesn’t even need any separate device to watch TV – a smart phone or tablet will do the trick (assuming you like to stare at a relatively small screen).
I remember having a rather large tube TV back in the day and having to move that thing. Ugh, good thing I was much younger then! Kids these days don’t know how easy they have it with these light, thin, easy to manage monster screen TVs. 😉
Does the Insignia tv you use work on 12 volt. I have been looking at the 28” and 32” smart models.
Amazon claims it is but Best Buy is mute on the subject the specs only say 120v
Hi Wes,
The TV that Kelly has does indeed work on 12-volts. She’s had this TV a long time now and I wouldn’t be surprised if Insignia no longer makes 12-volt compatible models.
The key is to look at the back of the TV where the power cord plugs in. It may give a voltage rating at the plug. If it says 12-volts (or lower), then you should be able to get an adapter to fit it and it should (in theory) work on a 12-volt system.
So you’d have to physically look at each TV you were interested in and have access to the back so you can check out the power input.
This is a newby. No more tents! I have a tv, but other than plug it in, i don’t have a clue what is next. We have an antenna. I see a lot of things in the camper stores that relate to tv’s, but there is too much to choose from especially since i do not know what i need.
Hi Mary,
Welcome to the RV world! So, what is it you want to do with your TV besides watch over the air stations or cable?
Just watch cable tv. Do i have to sign up for a provider. It looks like there is a cable hook-up on one wall.
Hi Mary,
There should be an exteriors ‘port’ which accepts a coaxial cable. This allows you to connect to an external TV source.
Some RV parks will offer cable TV at the power pedestal, and all you have to do is have a coaxial cable to connect between your RV and the cable source.
You won’t have to have your own provider unless the RV park requires you to connect service yourself. This usually only happens if you are staying at one place for months at a time.
We have a new Rv that has no cigarette plugs. I already own a 12volt tv/dvd combo. Can I add a cigarette lighter to a new RV? Plenty of USB ports …. no AC/DC
Hi Jill,
You can add any sort of power port to your RV – assuming you are comfortable with electrical work. I’ve added numerous 12-volt outlets (cigarette lighter style) and USB power ports to my travel trailer. But I am comfortable working with a 12-volt power system.
If you aren’t handy with electricity, you can certainly find someone that is who can install whatever you want in your RV.
Bought a 2021 Grand design Imagine 22MLE and am currently on my second trip with it. The Roku TV that was installed by the manufacturer/dealer has already broken in the back, where the mount attaches to the TV. I’ll be buying an RV specific RV now.
Hi Van,
Sorry to hear that the TV your trailer came with didn’t last long.
It sounds like your RV should still be under warranty. Did you discuss this equipment failure with the manufacturer and/or dealer?
I bought a 2021 Shadow Cruiser and the dealer installed is a Toshiba Fire TV (Amazon) and I was unable to get cable tv to work while hooked up to the campground cable coax. Does anyone know if this TV is not compatible with coax cable tv feed? I did turn the cable switch (located next to the coax connector in the RV) on with no success.
If this TV is not compatible does anyone have a recommendation for a replacement?
Hi Diana,
Are you able to remove the TV from the RV mounting position and take it outside where you can connect it directly up to the campground coax cable? This would bypass any internal RV wiring that may be causing an issue.
I would think that assuming the TV is cable ready (is that even a thing anymore?) it should be fine.
It is very conceivable that the wiring inside the RV isn’t setup correctly. Yes, even on a new RV, there are these kinds of problems. Most RVs aren’t of the highest quality and will have all sorts of issues coming out of the factory.
You just need your WiFi and Amazon account if you are ever in east Alabama i can set that up you won’t need the cable
Thank you!!! We just bought an RV for full timing. The TV in the rig isn’t a Smart TV, & we have a brand new one in the house.
I’ll be switching to keep my new, cool Smart TV.
Again, thanks!!
Hi Kim,
Thanks for visiting Camp Addict! Glad to hear that you found this page useful.
Happy camping (and TV watching)!
We just bought a used 2021 Forest River Salem. The TV mounts are there but not the TV’s. My question is… The guy told us that the TV just slips down onto the mount and that there was not a part of the mount that attached to the tv. I am really confused because all of my mounted house TV’s have a part that attaches to the wall and then a part that attaches to the back of the TV. So does that mean that in order to use the existing mounts, I must buy RV TV’s?
Hi Donna,
Thanks for the comment and for checking out Camp Addict!
I know this may come as no surprise, but many RV salespeople have no clue what they are talking about. It may be the case in this instance.
My Jensen RV specific TV doesn’t come with any way to slide into a wall mount. Instead, it has an aftermarket mount attached to the back of the TV. Just like your house TV.
So you’ll need to figure out what needs to go on the back of your TV to be compatible with the mount on the wall. Or change the wall mount to something that has both the TV and wall pieces.
I’d start by either contacting Forest River directly and asking them what you need. Or jumping on a Forest River owners forum and ask there.
Best of luck!
Hi Donna if your missing the mount for the TV to slide into the mount on wall possibly it’s like the one I just had to buy… check out Paw International TV bracket on Amazon. There are a couple sizes.
Char
Our rv television will need replacing, the information you provided answered all my questions. My wife and I full time and work as gate guards for the oil field so we do deal with all levels of temperature and road conditions. Thanks for your well written article.
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Hi Mark,
Wow, that’s not an easy gig! We have friends who did it for one season/session/whatever they require as the minimum. They had a lot to say about it!! (especially stories about the tarantulas and tarantula hawks!!!) Good luck with it, we hope it’s going well for you.
Great to hear that this article helped. RV TVs aren’t so mysterious after all. Get one you like and enjoy!
Great information!! Thank you!!!
Hi Diana,
We are happy we could help!
Cheers!
Love the article.
Question is what do you use to mount stuff to the super thin hollow walls.
Thank you, Beth!
Oof, yeah, that’s not an easy one. Have you considered reinforcing the wall by putting a piece of wood behind it? (If accessible) I’ve done that in a few places.
The walls are almost no better than cardboard in places. I mostly use command strips. There are some walls where I just couldn’t do what I wanted to do for the walls being too weak and the object too heavy.
You could try using those anchors that spread out behind the wall. But again- the wall itself may eventually rip or tear if you put something heavy on it.
If you CANNOT get behind the wall, and you don’t need to ever remove the item, you may be able to use a pop rivet gun. Those are great for thin walls in the right situation.
Command strips are most RVers favorite option. For whatever reason I have REALLY bad luck with them staying adhered in my RV. But I’m the exception to the norm.
Was wondering if you can hook up or to an adapters for running regular TV into or with separate battery packs of some kind so you don’t have to be tied to 120 shore power? Because I’ve found that most 12volt tv’s have really crappy picture quality and the sound quality is junk. Like our furion that came in our 2019 GeoPro RV.
Hey Rose,
Do any small TVs have really good speakers? I’m not sure you’d be any better off with a 120-volt TV, but maybe I’m wrong.
You might consider hooking up a sound bar or other external speakers to the existing TV to improve the sound. That may be the easiest route to take.
You can always get an inverter that converts 12-volt power to 120-volts to run a ‘normal’ TV off of, but that would drain your RV house batteries pretty well (especially if you only have one). I wouldn’t really want to go with this option.
Or you could buy a stand-alone lithium battery pack to plug the TV into. Not a cheap option, but it’s an option.
Or you could just go with Option A and see about improving the speaker setup with your current TV.
Dec, 28, 2020
Our last RV had a Furrion TV and the trailer had a cigarette lighter type hookup to plug it in to and it of course worked off the 12 volt solar charged battery. Fast forward, we purchased a new RV with a TCL Hulu TV and things have changed. It never crossed our mind to check to see if this was the same type of setup. We got accustomed to have the TV when we were dry camping and would like to continue doing the same with this trailer without having to replace the TV with a 12 volt set. So my question is…..Is there anyway to make the unit work by adding a different type of connection? As you may have guessed I really don’t know much at all about this subject. We do have a solar hookup on the roof that gives us power for out lights.
Hi BJ,
Congratulations on your new RV! We sure hope everything runs smoothly for you.
Regarding your TV, check the manual or the back of the TV where the power cord connects. If it or the manual says 12v for the input, you’re gold. You simply need to change out the power cord and hope you have a 12v outlet close by. (Or if you’re familiar/handy with electricity, add a 12v outlet close by) (Marshall did this with the new TV I put in my RV way back when. It happened to be 12v friendly.)
Or, you need to get a small inverter to run it, unless your RV comes with one built-in. (We’re assuming it does not since you asked this question.)
I don’t know if smaller TVs come smart. I connected a ROKU to mine to enable it to watch Netflix, etc.
Good luck, hopefully your TV has a 12v input! If not, TVs are SO cheap these days, it should be an easy and inexpensive upgrade for you. Cheers!
My 5th wheel came with a Jensen TV. died within 2 years. It was a 120v version, had poor resolution. First it wouldn’t respond to the remote then the manual buttons ceased To function. Technically it still worked if you only wanted to watch the channel is was stuck on. Replaced with a Samsung that worked flawlessly for the 3 years I owned it. When mounting I added several Velcro straps to buffer vibration and protect against the mount failing (it never did).
Thanks for the input, Will!
My 12-volt Jensen is still ticking along after 6+ years of full-time use and many miles. But it is far from the pinnacle of TV technology.
Glad to hear you had good experience with a non-RV specific TV.
I just got a used RV with a Continou-US brand TV. On our first outing, we found bolts on the floor and the TV hanging sideways on the wall mount after 3 of the 4 VERSA mount points on the back of the TV housing cracked and broke. We will have to replace the unit and are looking to confirm that the next TV has more robust mount points as well as ensuring our wall system is appropriate for an RV
Hey Joe,
Whoa! The TV lasted one whole trip? I wonder how long ago the previous owner installed it?
If you want a TV that’s designed for RV use, then you have few options. Jensen is the one we review on this page.
You’ll notice that they are considerably more expensive than other 12-volt TV options. So you have to weigh the pros and cons and how much risk you want to take (of a non-RV specific TV having VESA mount issues).
As for the actual attachment to your RV’s wall. My TV mount fell off the wall on my Lance trailer, which is actually a decent RV manufacturer. So if better brands can’t get it right…
I ended up remounting it (original screws were put in with just drywall style anchors) with anchors that spread out behind the wall and gripped from behind. Not coming out now. BUT this may not be possible depending on what type of wall (i.e. what it’s made of, hollow, foam filled, etc) the TV is currently mounted to.
Not sure what to tell you about how to best secure your TV mount since I don’t know your exact mounting situation. That is other than what I did in my particular situation.
I just have a older conversion van with no 110 outlets but am considering getting a 12 volt tv using a 12 volt 300 watt inverter off my vehicle battery, I do not have solar nor do I have extra power to run the tv..How long could I watch a 19 in 12 volt tv off my vehicle battery.?
Hey Becky,
I can’t answer that question as there are waaaaaay too many variables:
-How many amp hours does the current battery have?
-What is the condition of the current battery?
-How much power (amps) does the 19 inch TV that you are interested in draw?
-What other 12 volt draws does your rig have?
-Probably other variables I’m not thinking of right now…
(I don’t expect answers to the above – they are just variables one has to consider.)
I wouldn’t plan on using my TV if you have no way to charge the battery (solar). I’d get an iPad and watch shows on it. That’s the way to go if you have power issues. Otherwise you are going to kill your house battery and get really, really irritated.
If you get a 12V TV, you don’t need an inverter – at least not for the TV. That’s the whole point of getting a 12V TV as opposed to a 120V “home” TV.
Hey Greg,
Good catch! Not sure how I missed that part of the comment.
Yes, you don’t need an inverter when you have a 12-volt TV. The rest of my answer also still applies.
Side note: Most 12v to 120v portable inverters that plug into cigarette socket (12v )have a low battery cutoff so you don’t drain vehicle battery too much.
You haven’t mentioned power usage. What is wattage of these TVs?
Hey Michael,
Power usage numbers are kind of hard to come by as most manufactures either make it difficult to discover, or just don’t provide that information. What I was able to find indicates power consumption in the 24-36 watt range for the smaller screen sizes. Obviously, the larger the screen, the more power it is going to consume.