Watching TV

[GR "Scott" Cundiff]

One advantage that I think 5th wheels have over MHs is the placement of the television.  It seems to me that having the TV up over the dash, where most MH TVs I've looked at are wouldn't be very user friendly.  I like my chair to face the TV and I want the height of the TV to be "normal" (in the mid-range of my progressive eye glasses).

However, I confess I've never watched television in a setting like that.  If you like watching TV and have the over-the-dash setup I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts about it.  

Please note, I'm not looking for a solution that includes moving the TV and I'm not wanting to start a discussion about whether or not other people like watching TV.  I'm just wondering if my impression that having the TV over the dash is a real negative in the minds of those who have that setup.

 

Thanks in advance for any helpful replies.

[pjstough]

The location of the TV in our 2005 Winnebago Voyage 38-J was one of the major reasons we chose this model.  It is located behind the passenger seat, angled toward the seating area on the opposite side of the motorhome.  Since, both the TV and the seating area are on slideouts, watching the 40" TV is just the right distance.

[SWharton]

Ours is similar to PJs but is kept in a cabinet and goes up and down, directly across from the recliners.

 

[pjstough]

Sorry, my post was a little off topic.  I would also like to hear from people with the TV over the front windshield, and how that works for them.  A brother of mine has a Southwind with the TV over the front window, when he is parked, he just pulls his recliner out into the middle of the RV to watch TV.

[SWharton]

I don't think there are many MH's built now with the TV over the dash. Not sure but I haven't seen one in a few years. Many people with older MHs have moved their tv from above the dash to a cabinet with the tv going up and down.

[GR "Scott" Cundiff]

Maybe it is just coincidence, but I've been looking at PPL online at MHs around 10 years old and nearly every one of them has the TV mounted above the dash area.

[Yarome]

My first rig was a class A that had the TV overhead in the cab. It wasn't really a determining factor in the purchase as I'm not a big TV watcher, but I hated it. When I did try using it I could never get through a show without standing up every now and again and working the kinks out of my neck. I thought about installing one in the bedroom but eventually just cancelled my dish service and took to watching shows on the laptop.  

[docj]

We had an "over the driver's seat" TV which was too high to watch comfortably and too far to the side for people sitting on the driver's side to see easily. We use this mount which permits the TV to "drop" 10" from its stowed position and allows it to swing out nearly to the mid-line of the MH as shown in the attached photos:

Ergotron sit/stand mount

The mount is spring-balanced and will hold the TV at any height.  It even extends far enough in the other direction that my wife and I can use our recliner and the passenger's captains chair if we both wish to have "lounge chairs" for TV viewing.  With a power footrest and lumbar support the Flexsteel chair is nearly as comfortable as our Ekornes Stressless.

For travel, a lightweight bungee cord holds the TV in place against the cabinet.

[lenp]

I always hated the idea of a front mounted TV and that was the primary reason for fifth wheels (three of them).  However, our current MH had the dreaded front mount big box TV.  

It is gone!  Along with the sofa.  New are two recliners both facing forward and a 32" flat screen that you no longer bang your head on when entering the MH.  Only issue now in the bright sun through the windshield when your watching TV.  Simple to close the curtains though.

Lenp

[Kirk W]

4 hours ago, docj said:

We use this mount which permits the TV to "drop" 10" from its stowed position

We too had a high mount TV above the dash when we bought it but upgraded to a flat screen with a mount similar to this one. Had a larger TV and it then was significantly lower to watch. I'm not that into TV but Pam is. One significant factor in TV placement importance is also the distance you sit from it. I think if I were close up the high mount might be an issue. For me TV is mostly for when the weather is bad and I run out of things to do, or if I'm sick. 

[Ray,IN]

We enjoyed our 5ers, and I didn't like the overhead TV;'s in MH's. Before we bought a MH we surveyed the watching TV issue. Our MH has 2 couches that are just right for reclining and watching the overhead TV. If we have company the TV is off anyway.

[coachmac9]

Ours also came with the overhead tv mount in a box. We took it out and use the box for storage. We don't watch much tv but when we do we like to lounge in bed so we put a larger flat screen in the back bedroom and enjoy it there.

[Dutch_12078]

We replaced the original tube TV in our coach with a larger flat screen, but it's still mounted over the windshield. The way our floor plan is set up, the only seats that can't see the screen without turning or leaning forward are the very front most section of the sofa in the slide and the rear facing dinette seat in the slide. Both the driver and passenger seats can easily see it, although it's most comfortable with the backs reclined some. My wife normally sits in the rocker/recliner near our mid-ship door, and I normally sit in the front facing dinette seat, since the table is pretty much my "office". Both of us wear glasses with progressive lenses, and the upper portion is where TV viewing is the most comfortable for us, so the height of the TV works quite well for us. Enough so in fact, that we installed the wall mount TV in our vacation cottage a bit high as well. We would easily get used to a more straight ahead view, but it would not be a requirement if we were buying another coach. I like being able to work on my computer at the table and with just an eye movement glance at the TV screen without moving my entire head.

[sandsys]

We aren't big TV watchers but we do stream a lot of movies and some TV series when they become available on Netflix for binge watching. When we were in the B's and C we used our laptops to watch since we didn't want the weight of a TV. When we were in the Class A we had a retractable TV right across from the sofa also viewable from the Euro chair. I would not buy an RV with a TV over the cab because I had heard tales of them falling. Yup, I'm a worrier.

Linda Sand

[wildmandmc]

my class a had the TV above the windshield. sitting on couch watching it was a pain in butt, neck. But further away was ok.

Newer models with them at close to eye level is great idea.  Watching TV is usually considered relaxation time. So if your not relaxed then it's not enjoying. Any an all times we went camping i ended up watching TV much less than i normally do.

[FL-JOE]

Our set up has one mounted overhead dash area and then one curb side on televator.  At first when we looked at our floor plan we thought it was "overkill" but now after living in the coach for over 2 months it really works well.  If you are sitting in one of the front captain's chairs (turned around of course) the televator TV is easily viewed, If you are on the long couch you can easily see either one.  If you get up to fix something in the galley area the overhead front TV is easily viewable.  When we sit down to watch TV both of them are on the same channel and it really works great!