If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best TV for RV is, then we recommend the Sceptre 1080p LED HDTV DVD TV Combo as the best one.
Just because you are traveling cross country and enjoying the great outdoors does not mean you need to give up television.
When it comes to living in an RV, you want the best TV for RV use, and you need one that can accommodate the space.
If you are an avid RV traveler, you know the importance of energy efficiency, ease of setup, and multi-functionality so all the best RV TV’s will have these things.
We’re checking out five great options today.
In this article, we’re going to review the following TVs:
- Sceptre E246BD 720p TV DVD Combination
- SuperSonic 1080p Widescreen HDTV
- Sceptre 1080p LED HDTV DVD TV Combo
- Insignia LED 720p HDTV
- Westinghouse LED 720p HDTV
Guide To Choosing The Right RV TV
There are so many options when it comes to choosing a TV but if you are using it in your RV the options are limited, and you do not want to get stuck with something that doesn’t make sense.
If you are shopping around for a TV for your vehicle keep these things in mind:
New Is Better Than Old
The most logical thing to do seems to be, taking an old TV from the basement and slapping it up in the RV and calling it a day. That might be the easiest way to go but there is no guarantee that you can mount it and if you have an old box TV you will not be able to install that on the wall.
In the RV the worst thing you could do is leave a TV unmounted because it will slide around and most likely get damaged.
Realistically, the best decision is to shop around and buy a TV with the sole purpose of being mounted in your RV and then leave it there.
Try And Get A 12 Volt TV
If you can, get a 12 Volt recreational vehicle tv with the correct plug. This ensures that your TV operates on your RV’s power and its just more convenient that way.
Of course, you could get an adapter but once you start changing outlets around like that there is always a risk of fire or electrical damage, and it’s best to have everything set up correctly.
Where Will You Mount It?
You would be surprised how many people get so excited to pick out a new TV for their RV that they do not think twice about where they will put it. This should be the first and most important thing you consider when shopping around.
Most people use the option of mounting the TV to the wall, and that works fine, but it does take away some square footage and every inch matters.
The best option if possible is to go with a flip down TV mount. They sell brackets that will lower and retract your TV as you want. This keeps it entirely out of your way and if you have a decent amount of headroom you could put it anywhere you want.
Size
Going along with your mounting strategy is the overall size of the TV. Take a look at the area you are considering putting the TV, and if you are mounting it on the wall, you want to measure that space to determine how far it will stick out from the wall and how much space you are going to lose.
Most RV’s will not accommodate a TV larger than 20-24 inches, and most will require a much smaller TV.
If you are mounting it on the ceiling that gives you a lot more flexibility on size.
A big thing to look at when it comes to size is the thickness of the TV. Luckily, they continue to make TV’s thinner and thinner so if you choose an LCD TV you should have no issue squeezing it into tight quarters.
This doesn’t have anything to do with the size of the TV, but it goes hand in hand – make sure you go for a durable TV that can hold up against life in an RV. If the TV is easily damaged or the mounting brackets are weak, then you might want to move along.
TV Functionality
We are lucky to live in a time where traditional TV is not necessary to find some form of “mind-numbing” entertainment. With Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and many more of these options you can still watch TV without an antenna or satellite.
Try and get a TV that at least has a USB port so you can set these things up and even better if you can get a Smart TV.
Worst case scenario, go for a TV that has a TV DVD combo.
Sceptre E246BD 720p TV DVD Combination
This TV meets the need of the traveling RV family. The DVD and TV combination is a great feature that allows you to get a lot more out of your TV. Plus it comes with an HDMI which means you only need one primary cable to get this one up and rolling.
The Sceptre TV is mountable to any room in your RV. The sound is decent and could be improved by hooking up a few speakers.
The primary downside to this one is the image quality. You’re getting a 720p resolution so you’ll never get that high-quality digital image that most TV’s provide now. Given the price range on this one, it’s perfectly acceptable though.
Pros:
- DVD TV combo
- HDMI Cable
- Energy Star rating
- Ready to mount
- One remote controls both devices
Cons:
- Lower quality images
SuperSonic 1080p Widescreen HDTV
This SuperSonic TV is an excellent choice if you want to combine a quality image with crisp sound in your RV. This LED TV provides crystal-clear imaging using modern technology, and the TV itself looks attractive when mounted up in the RV.
Since this TV is 1080p, you are also going to get a much smoother video quality which is typical in today’s televisions.
Something I liked about this TV and it seems hard to find anymore is having controls on the TV unit itself. I still like this because if I cannot immediately locate the remote I know, I can shut the TV off or lower the volume when I need to. (downloading universal remotes on smartphones is standard practice in my house)
This TV also comes with an HDMI outlet, so you do not need a ton of cables hanging around behind the TV.
One of the primary complaints that we hear about this one is that there is static from the speakers. We did not notice it quite as much as other people did.
Pros:
- Crystal clear high-resolution quality
- 1080p progressive scanning for smooth video
- Controls on the TV
- USB port
- HDMI Port
- TV looks nice when mounted in the RV
Cons:
- Some issues with static coming from the speakers
Sceptre 1080p LED HDTV DVD TV Combo
This is an excellent television for a variety of reasons. You get everything that the previous two reviews provided on one TV.
This one comes with a built-in DVD player so you can watch all your favorite movies when you do not have a good signal.
The Sceptre also has a 1080p resolution to provide you with smooth imagery. One thing we noticed about this TV was its vibrant colors. The resolution seemed to pick up bright colors and made them stick out which was nice.
This one also comes with an HDMI outlet and a USB. Just like the previous Sceptre TV you only need one remote to control everything which limits the amount of behind the bed digging you’ll have to do.
This TV comes with a unique feature called the Mobile High Definition Link which allows you to transfer media directly from your phone to the TV which is very cool.
Pros:
- Top notch quality visuals
- 1080p resolution
- HDMI only requires one cable
- TV with built in DVD player
- Good on the electric bill
- Mobile High Definition Link
Cons:
- Underwhelming sound quality
Insignia LED 720p HDTV
If you RV can accommodate a larger sized TV then you might want to go with this one from Insignia. This TV looks great and mounts easily to any wall surface in your RV, so that takes a lot of the concern out of the TV is somewhat larger than most.
You get 720p High Definition images, and we would say that the video quality is somewhat a step up from the previous but Insignia is a popular and reputable brand, so we expect that a little.
One of the coolest things about this and something that makes it even better for RV’s is the fact that you can view this TV in the traditional horizontal way or you can turn it completely vertical and watch it like that as well. This allows you a little versatility in your RV depending on where you have to put it.
This one also comes with an HDMI cable to limit the amount of wiring you have, and while this does not come with a DVD player, it can be easily hooked up to one if you wanted to.
Pros:
- Great electronic brand
- Well designed TV
- 720p HD images
- Horizontal and Vertical viewing angle
- Boasts three HDMI ports
- Looks good and does not cast shadows in all lighting
Cons:
- No TV/DVD combo
Westinghouse LED 720p HDTV
This TV combines luxury with functionality, and you get a good bang for your buck on this one.
The high-quality HD 720p imaging allows you to watch a crisp and clean video and the TV lighting absorbs shadows, so you do not have to worry about adjusting the brightness all the time.
This one mounts easily to the wall, and it comes with three HDMI ports so you can quickly hook up a bunch of different external media items like DVD, computer, Roku box, etc.
There is also a USB on the Westinghouse TV so you can stream music and video directly from your phone to your TV.
This TV comes with a lot of multi-functionality features that make it perfect for RV use.
Pros:
- TV looks great and mounts nicely to the wall
- 720p HD imaging
- Absorbs shadows
- Three HDMI ports
- USB port
- Multi-Functional
Cons:
- Sound quality is poor
Conclusion
It’s easy for us to tell you everything you need to look out for when buying a TV for your recreational vehicle but it’s up to you to figure it out for yourself. Every RV is different and has its unique capabilities.
Every person is different as well, and some people don’t mind having a large TV even if it’s in their way.
Luckily for you, if you choose the Sceptre 1080p LED HDTV DVD TV Combo, you get the best of everything.
You get a TV that has a variety of sizing options, stable mounting, high-quality resolution, and a USB so you can set yourself up with all your favorite alternative TV programs.
You know as well as I do, you never know where you’re going to wind up when traveling in an RV but when all else fails, you can always turn to the old tube.