Do you take a TV (television) camping?

[mrflinders]

We keep a 13 incher in the PU all the time, but it doesn't always come out.  Really only when we are at a site with Cable hookups, although we have used the antenna once.

We sometimes like to rent DVDs, and then watch them together in the camper at night as a family.  We just watch them on the notebook computer - no need to get the TV out at all, and best of all, the Notebook has its own batteries so no need to drain the PU's!

- Randy

[Gone-Camping]

Since this seems to be the proper topic.... I went into Sams Club this evening, and while I made the rounds in there, I noticed the stack of 20" TV's with Built-in DVD players was GONE! I found five units left under the display shelf. Wait not longer, I grabbed a cart and bought one of them! The trailer has an early Christmas present!!! Good deal too, they marked it down from $168 to $159.01 which made it even sweeter!

[wiininkwe]

We do usually take the television with us.  We don't always have kids with us to keep us  busy.   I have some favorite shows, as does DH, and we enjoy relaxing in the evening to watch.    Most of them are on right around what we would call quiet time in the campgrounds, so we can lay on the bed and watch, and if we're camping on our own place, we'd probably do the same thing anyway.   And, if the weather cool and rainy it's nice to have something to do inside.     Especially when deer hunting, since I don't go out in the woods anymore, it's good for me to be able to watch a little tv during the day when DH is stalking dinner.  I love sitting my the fire and reading with my coffee, but at some point I get cold and ready to put the book down.  I go in and cuddle in the sleeping bag and watch Judge Judy.  

T

[JonesFamilyJayco]

We take a portable dvd player to watch movies.  It draws little power & it is easy to pack.  Plus, the movies we rent can all fit into the case I keep the player in.  If the site has cable hook-up, I have to admit I take a small TV/VCR combo instead.  Just fun to say you watched cable while camping.

[Watchman]

I have two kids.....  Of course we take a TV

[griffsmom]

I fought my DH tooth and nail over his wanting to buy a TV/DVD combo for the PU.  Ultimately, he won, and I sheepishly must admit that with a three y/o, it has been a god-send at times and lets me get a few things done, like making dinner or cleaning up after a meal.  Also, since Lil' Griffy gets up before the crack of dwn, let alone the end of quiet hours, it helps to keep him quiet and occupied early in the morning.  As my little monkey gets older though, I hope to use the TV less and less.

[a1coolmom]

we have had a TV from the first trip in the PU.(it was a selling point when we went from tenting!) I use it mostly to watch movies while the hubby is outside with his telescope looking at stars. That way I can watch the sappy movies that he dislikes while he gets to do what he wants as well. Makes for a great camping trip!

[OC Campers]

I never thought I would bring a TV.  Camping was to get away from that right?  Well, then I had another baby and this 3rd child is more active than the first 2 put together.  He will actually sit down and relax for most of a movie.  You better believe when we camp and there are hookups, the TV comes.

 
Jacqui

[2manytoyz]

We take a TV, but don't watch it during the day unless the weather turns bad.  We do watch it in the evening just before bedtime.  Now that we have kids, I feel it's important that they spend the vast majority of the day outside and playing.  Too many friends let their kids spend the day inside the camper playing video games.   :rolleyes:

I had been taking a 13" color TV and small VCR.  We recently bought a tiny 7" DVD player which takes up half the room of a laptop computer.  I have a tuner about the size of a pack of playing cards I can use with it.  The boys can now watch movies while we are making long road trips.

[kathybrj]

We purchased a 9" tv/vcr combo and went to great lengths to fit it into a console in the tow vehicle for long trips. That lasted about 1/2 of a season and now the tv/vcr combo is collecting dust in the basement. We just aren't big telelvision watchers to begin with and we don't own a video gaming system. It's books and audio cd's on trips for the kids and when it gets too dark for them to read on the drive, they usually end up sleeping. The tv/vcr came out of the van-no use in having the extra weight if we aren't going to use it.

While at the campground, we're usually too busy to be sitting for long. On rainy trips (never too rainy to ride our bikes usually) and we're in the camper, we play lots of card or board games or the kids will read or draw. At night, we sit around the fire, talking. We all usually head in early, because we're up early to hike/bike.

[2manytoyz]

Here's a pic of the little 7" DVD player I bought:




Weighs nothing, folds flat when not in use, and the kids really appreciate being able to watch TV in the TV while on a long trip.

[campertime]

We just ran across an Emerson 13" TV/VCR Combo at Wallmart for $79. Thought it would be perfect for the trailer. DW has always been against TV while camping, but thought this would be a good TV for the kids room at home and to entertain the kids on long trips.

I wanted the 9" AC/DC version to conserve space, but it was $159. The 13" will be big and bulky in the truck and appear small in the girls room. We also purchased a AC/DC converter for $20 at radio shack.

Now I just have to come up with a way to keep it in place on top of the console in the truck.  :confused:

[dee106]

We just ran across an Emerson 13" TV/VCR Combo at Wallmart for $79. Thought it would be perfect for the trailer. DW has always been against TV while camping, but thought this would be a good TV for the kids room at home and to entertain the kids on long trips.
 
I wanted the 9" AC/DC version to conserve space, but it was $159. The 13" will be big and bulky in the truck and appear small in the girls room. We also purchased a AC/DC converter for $20 at radio shack.
 
Now I just have to come up with a way to keep it in place on top of the console in the truck. :confused:

you can use a cheap plastic step stool and put it over your console and use a bungee to hold it on, or get a plastic crate (milk crate) and do the same.

[tlhdoc]

Now I just have to come up with a way to keep it in place on top of the console in the truck.  :confused:

They sell bags to put 10 inch TV/VCRs in.  You strap the bag to the 2 front seats and it will hang or sit on the console.  I don't know if they make a bag for 13 inch TVs.

[Cheryl]

We've camped for about 15 years out of our 25 year marriage and at least 10 of those camping years were with our 2 kids along. Now that they are 21 and 16, we have adult camping excursions. On all of those camping trips we've never taken a TV along. I'm an avid reader and can easily go thru 2 or 3 500/700 page books aday. Both my kids have grown up with books in their hands. We also made it a practice to bring along several fun board games just for camping and spent many an evenning playing and enjoying, no matter the weather. Both these activities are what we use still when it's too wet or cold to sit and enjoy a campfire (cave-man TV is what my DH calls it). I cherish the memories of those evennings around the gameboards or sitting around the campfire even more now that my two are getting involved in growing up!
Cheryl