would love to know how many of you take a T.V. with you when camping. I ve been kind of against it, but I realized I sure would have liked to have one when it got rainy a couple of weeks ago on one of my excursions, plus I felt a little disconnected from the war news (is that a bad thing? hmmmm).
I also would like a suggestion on a small portable color TV that isn t too bulky or heavy.
J.[:)]
SuezyQ...maybe you can find some TV deals?
JemJen24We take a TV/VCR combo when we go camping. My daughter wakes up around 7AM and I d rather not get up and moving around too much before 8 -- when most camps end their quiet hours. We pop in a movie and let her watch for an hour while we get to either relax in bed a little longer, or get showered and ready for the day. It s also been a LIFESAVER during rainy days when there are only so many coloring books you can color and games you can play!
As for watching the news, we don t often get a campsite with cable and we never get great reception with just the antena on the TV. Besides, we go camping to leave the " real" world behind for a couple days.
JemJen24We actually have 2 in the camper. The first one is one of those teeny tiny AC/DC Models for $20.00 to $40.00. Raymond was having fits because he could not watch the news. He rarely leaves the camper or at least the awning area.
I went Radio Shack and bought a gizmo to attach to it to hook up to cable as some of the campgrounds we go to have cable included.
Then the AC adapter broke and I got a new one from Walmart for electronics and the signal was OHHH so much better. Stays hid under the seat in a larger soft sided lunch box cooler) So my $25.00 B/W TV ended up closer to $40.00 when all was said and done.
Early last summer AMES (now defunct) had a 13" TV sale, any brand they had for $49.99. Got one! Also take the spare VCR with us.
JemJen24We disconnect from the world while on the road.
We considered bringing a TV in the van on our 8-week cross country trip, but that would have been limited to driving time, which would have effectively limited it to videos. We decided the money was better spent on souveniers and dinners out.
Apart from a few essentials, I feel that anything you " have to have" owns you instead of you owning it.
Austin
JemJen24With younger kids, we ve found having the TV/VCR combo in the tow vehicle a nice accessory. Our kids use headphones and watch movies. They don t always use it, but it s nice to have (they tend to argue less when watching a movie [:D]).
We ve had it in the camper once, when it rained for a few days on a trip. We watched two movies in two days and that was it. Then it was off to play cards or board games, talk and listen to music.
We don t watch TV often at home (we own one), so it s not something we use often when camping.
JemJen24We have a 15" TV/VCR that we take with us when we go somewhere for a week. Got it for $69 in WalMart a couple of years ago. We ll tape a few movies in advance just in case the weather doesn t cooperate with us at night.
JemJen24We brought one on our first trip since the kids were pretty little (ages 1+2+5 yrs) just so I could grab five minutes to pick up, etc. Then last year, down in TN we put it in the back of the van to travel the distance and make it bearable for the kids. I cannot recommend this enough for LONG trips with kids. Makes for a much more peaceful ride. However, they didn t have an urge to peek at it the whole week we were there - neither did we!!
You needs are different though, as you haven t started to have kids yet. Even if it s raining, the kids want to find something to do outside!! I think a TV is fine while camping, even though this is bound to be a hot topic on the board!! I think the biggest concern for other PUTers is the loudness. We ve all has bad experiences of campers blaring a TV or radio, etc. For us it was actually a generater [: (] And everybodys style of music varies, so what one loves, another is looking like this - [:@]
As for size - it depends what you can pack away. We brought a small 13" color and it worked great!
JemJen24JenJen,
I was like you. I fought having a t.v. in the PU. After all we re camping! But DH wanted it and felt it would be a nice feature, so he bought a 13" color with VCR. It was the first thing he bought for it. I have to admit, at night when it is dark, our family is ready for bed, we pop in a movie and have popcorn before going to sleep. It is quite nice.
Mary Romeo
JemJen24DW wanted to know why I threw an old B&W 13 inch TV in the camper a couple of years ago. Can t say that I even knew.
It rained 7 inches that trip.
The TV has never left the camper...
JemJen24Hi Jennifer,
With Terry s and my busy schedule, we do a lot of taping of our favorite programs. Sometimes we get to watch the tapes within a week or so, but most times, we have to wait for a lag in our schedule, like camping, to get caught up. (To give you some idea, we had some time last weekend and we were watching a tape that had Christmas commercials on it! We ve got to get control of our time management!
We have a little 9" TV/VCR combo that we bring with us, along with all the tapes that we want to watch and get caught up on. Sometimes we have reception, sometimes we don t. I ve been threatening to get a portable dish to use with our extra DirecTV box, but Terry won t let me go that far yet.
We ve found the TV useful to be able to catch the local weather especially if there is bad weather brewing. Its always nice to have the TV for that. Other than watching the news before bedtime and watching the recorded tapes, the TV pretty much stays off. Even if it is raining during the day, and we re stuck inside the camper, the TV is off while we re reading or playing a game and listening to the sound of the rain on the canvas.
Sam s, Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Wal-Mart are probably the best sources.
C & T
JemJen24We carry along a 9" tv/vcr combo and it has served us well. With kids 2, 4, and 9 it is nice to have for rainy days. Plus DH would have a fit if he could not watch his race[:)]
JemJen24We take our 13" tv/vcr combo for rainy days and just to fall asleep with.
HAPPY CAMPING
JemJen24Absolutely no television during camping time. For us, that would defeat the whole purpose of camping. It would be a major distraction for my little ones and I feel it takes away from the family time. We bring books, games, puzzles in case of rain (that, and a good sense of humor).
However, our TV does have a built in DVD player that we allow the kids to watch if we have a long drive to the campground, and sometimes to keep them safe during pop-ups and pop-downs.
JemJen24So far, we have not taken a television along and until we go full time, I don t think that we will. Actually, we are discussing the tv quandry and we may not take one even then. We took a 5 week trip a couple of years ago and didn t miss it at all. It was soon after 9/11 and I felt that we kept up-to-date on events just by listening to the radio while traveling. I like the idea of being a bit cut-off from the world events, media, etc. when we travel. If you have children, I guess it could be used as entertainment, but having children learn different ways to entertain themselves isn t all bad.
JemJen24We have a 13" TV in the camper. We use after we ve gone in for the night. We have a tendency to stay up late and play cards or some other game inside the camper after quiet time. Also DW stays up later than I do and watches the TV until she comes to bed.
JemJen24The first year, no TV, was completely against it. Now we have a tv/vcr and we take our satellite from home. (we keep an extra dish in the camper and unhook our home receiver). After playing games, etc. we all bundle up and watch latenight tv sometimes til 2 or 3 am. This is what we enjoy and by no means is it for everyone. We have camped both ways and the trips are more pleasant for us this way. I must admit, some people have given us " that look" when they notice our satellite dish but we camp for our enjoyment and as long as we aren t bothering others, it s all good!
JemJen24
QuoteIf you have children, I guess it could be used as entertainment, but having children learn different ways to entertain themselves isn t all bad.
GWhiz
I really like your statement. Too often it is the adult that provides the entertainment when the kids could be doing it themselves.
We did a 49 day cross country trip when the kids were 6 and 10 without a TV. None of us missed having one.
DS did a lot of reading and played a strange version of double-deck UNO that he and dd had made up rules too.
We had other games on board also.
Ever wonder what happened to unorganized activities for kids or just letting them use their own imaginations to entertain themselves.
Somehow many of us survived without tv and just sandlot baseball and football when we we kids. I think our parents had more free time to themselves instead of always taking the kids somewhere to be entertained.
JemJen24Always bring a tv. It s never used during the daytime as we re out doing other things. But when it s time for the kids to go to bed, they can watch a video and as I like to stay up late, once we ve come in from the fire, I love to pop in a video of an old movie...it s so relaxing!!
GeneF
QuoteEver wonder what happened to unorganized activities for kids or just letting them use their own imaginations to entertain themselves.
Somehow many of us survived without tv and just sandlot baseball and football when we we kids. I think our parents had more free time to themselves instead of always taking the kids somewhere to be entertained.
You mean the " good ol days" ? [;)]
JemJen24We have 2 kids and a dh that works shifts. Dh s sleep habits are a lot different them most, but if you are just finishing up 2 weeks of 12 hour nights its pretty hard to turn yourself around, this is the only weekend we have available per month that he is not on call. He uses the tv at night with a movie to have something to do when everyone else is sleeping. My youngest daughter is borderline adhd and we use the tv when she gets over stimulated. She will calm down in 10 minutes with a quiet movie and alone time and you can bet she only takes about 15 minutes and then its off and running again. The television is not for I m bored, it is a tool like everything else. Taught wisely, kids can and do still entertain themselves. It is a tough world we live in and like everyone else we camp to get away from it all.
JemJen24When we were kids we always played outside. Now days kids don t want to play outside because it s to hot or to cold. Aand when they do play outside we call the police because they might scratch our cars. We give them vidio games to play with. The shopping malls make thease nice video gane arcades. But if you are not playing or spending money don t come in. Some of the shopping malls in st. louis are now carding kids when they come in if you are not 18 you are not allowed to come into the mall after 5 p.m. or at all on weekends. without a parent. Kids now days have no place to play. If we see some of them in a group we sure it must be gang related. When we were young there was only regular TV anyway. And we all remimber how that was no fun to watch. So we went out and made our own fun. I may sound a little cynical but just think about how the world has changed from when we were kids and they way the world is today. But on the other hand it s hard to get my DGD inside when it s warm. But we have to keep a eye out for her. And yes we take a TV to camp. When it s time to goto bed we put a video or dvd and all watch tv together. It s one of the few times we do anything together even camping.
JemJen24I resisted bringing a TV when camping.
We now have a 9" TV/VCR that we use in the Van.
With 4 children, we have no problems doing a 4 hour drive.
We rarerly bring it inside the Popup when camping,
and even then, it is only our 2 and 4 year olds that watch it.
I have never watched the TV when camping.
I go camping to get away from the TV.
I would much rather sit by the campfire, talking with my wife,
than sit watching a TV, but that s just me[;)]
jackgoesthepopupWe ve camped for 13 years now in a pop-up and we DO NOT bring a T.V. with us. Even when the kids were young we spent our time enjoying the areas we camped in and in inclement weather we played board games, read a good book, our just enjoyed time around the campfire (my DH calls it CAVEMAN T.V.!). We carry a small radio with us for weather alerts and news updates when something is happening we want to keep in touch with. My kids are now grown up (youngest will be 15 this summer) and on all of our trips I never heard them once say " wish we had a T.V." . Our camping time is our family connection time and now when it s more often just DH and I it is our time away from it all! I still think that everyone finds their own comfort however they may when camping, and as long as I m not kept awake during the night by someones noise box, I think it s great.
Happy camping to all,
Cheryl
jackgoesthepopupI always bring my laptop. Not to work but because it has a DVD drive. We pop in a DVD before going to bed and relax. AHHHH. Nothing better than watching a movie cuddled up with your sweetie in front of the fire.[:)]
JemJen24We take a 13 inch combo with us. The boys take along their video games and play them while we travel. It helps keep the peace in the van. Last week I made them keep the tv in their tent. They had some other kids come over and play video games that they met in the campground. I like watching the beach channels at Mytle beach kind of gives ideals as to where to go and eat and things to do.
jackgoesthepopup[font=" comic sans ms" ]You can put us firmly in the no TV/VCR/DVD camp. We have 4 kids who have no idea that you can actually do that!! We ve been road tripping with them since the oldest was about a year old. (The youngest went on her first trip when she was 2 weeks old) Our oldest has been to 17 states so far and the youngest to nine....all without benefit(?) of a TV in the car. Last year we could cover about 400 miles before they were done in the truck. This year we ll push it a little farther. We started when they were young and now this is the only way they know how to travel. We do bring a radio and a weather radio for emergencies. I keep a special box of books, games, toys, card and art supplies hidden in the PU for rainy days.[/font]
jackgoesthepopup
I always bring a T.V. !!!!
I have no trouble pushing it around in the garage.
But pushing it all the way to a CG is out of the question.
jackgoesthepopupWe have one ONLY For the car rides, and ONLY for DS. I like to have the time when I m out camping to be away from the world, and actually <gulp> Talk to DH beyond what DS is doing. If Dh s not there or busy, I like the time to read or do other things I normally can t anymore. TV s just too much of a distraction.
The only exception is I did let DH watch the Coleman s new owner video on it when we were at Inks. We were having a disagreement about order of things [;)]
JemJen24Yep you betcha! We have a 13" TV/VCR combo, bought it especially for the cabin. The 3 campers also have TV s, two with the combo thing. Sure makes it nice when it is rainy or too hot to sit outside. We even have memberships to rent movies in town so we can always pick up a movie if we need too!!
GeneF
QuoteORIGINAL: GeneF
I really like your statement. Too often it is the adult that provides the entertainment when the kids could be doing it themselves.
We did a 49 day cross country trip when the kids were 6 and 10 without a TV. None of us missed having one.
DS did a lot of reading and played a strange version of double-deck UNO that he and dd had made up rules too.
We had other games on board also.
Ever wonder what happened to unorganized activities for kids or just letting them use their own imaginations to entertain themselves.
Somehow many of us survived without tv and just sandlot baseball and football when we we kids. I think our parents had more free time to themselves instead of always taking the kids somewhere to be entertained.
Amen to that. When I was a kid all I needed was my bike and then everything in the world was good.
We don t allow any modern amenities when we go camping. That includes TV s, VCR s, laptops, video games, etc. AAMOF, last year was the first time I allowed the girls (11, 13 and 15) to bring their portable CD players. For us, camping means hiking, fishing, swimming and leaving the stress of the real world behind. No artificial stimulation allowed. Just nature, and all that goes along with it.
I ve filled some of the time that they would have used with those other things on some life lessons. All of them know how to chop wood, build a fire, stake down a tent, cook over the open fire, etc. We also encourage them to find a " buddy" from amongst the other kids camping.
Darn, now that I ve said all that I want to leave for the woods right now! [:D]
jackgoesthepopupThe only time the TV goes along is for Titans games (and, that has only been twice so far). The rest of the time, I d much rather do " camping" stuff. I just want to watch a campfire at night. I usually take along a book, too, and a deck of cards or board games. This is how it we did it when we were kids; why change now!
JemJen24I frequently take the T.V. with us because DH goes to bed quite early in the evening (a job schedule habit) and I am left to my own resources. DD is 17 and hardly goes camping any more - so no kids. I love to read and listen to music but sometimes I like to watch a movie or the ice skating championships, and the weather.
JemJen24Don t even like it much at home, I m certainly not taking it camping!!! I watch the birds, chipmunks, Loons, Moose, Deer, etc. I camp to get in tune with nature, not to make TV compete with it. I d much rather watch the campfire TV than a black box that s only purpose, (ultimately through advertising) is to seperate me from my money!
Sorry, don t want it, don t take it for the kids or grandkids, they will either enjoy camping FOR camping or they ll stay home and watch TV while I m camping. IT ain t coming with us! I take a radio/cd player, in case of emergency but that stays packed unless a NOAA alert goes off then I try to listen to both of them!
JemJen24I think it s one of the reasons we bought a PU..... keep theTV dry on rainy days! Kidding sort of. In our previous tenting life, on rainy/yucky days (and cold weather camping) there is little for the kids to do.... except complain about the rain and yucky weather! With a small TV/VCR combo the kids kick back and are happy. It is worth its weight in gold in our opinion.
JemJen24We have a tv/dvd combo & it is not generally used during the day, unless the kids have been going wild at the playground and really need some " downtime" . It is used in the mornings (before DH & I like to get up) and sometimes in the evenings if there was no campfire. It is also very useful during rainy trips, there are just so many games & coloring books they can do.
Is it camping season yet??????[:(]
Sharon
jackgoesthepopupwow..starting to feel like I m in the minority. We have a tv/vcr. Tv is my old one from my military days..multi voltage/frequency thing and is a small one. I like to watch the news while cooking dinner, or have it as back ground news in the morning. My one ritual is after we re all finally set up is to watch The Great Outdoors...love that movie. I m a bit of a movie buff..so I do take some along for myself and the kiddie, and wife...but don t usually watch them, or the tv during the day or evening, but it s nice to have when it s 105 with heat indexes of like 115-120, and the a/c is having a hard time keeping up.
jackgoesthepopupWe got one of the $20 TVs that run on batteries as a gift and thought it a waste of money. During winter camping in our tent we put it at the end of our air mattress in the late evening and enjoyed watching it to our surprise. Now we have a TV- VCR combination for those few times that we camp with electricity and are not surrounded by mountains. It is great enterainment for our grandchildren. When we went with our church group, while the adults sat around the campfire after dark, 13 children sat inside and watched a movie.
JemJen24We keep a TV/VCR combo in the T/V keeps the kids a little quieter on the 6-8 hr car rides. We do not use it much in the camper, too many other things to do.
JemJen24We camped for years with out one and then started using one in the car for night time driving. We used it last year in the PU at Eagles Peak campground. Now it is back to just in the tow vehicle on long trips.