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We are new to the motorhome world. We will need advice on tv's as it does not have one also awning and room as have not got that either but looking to get both in the future. Any advise would be gratefully received. Thanks Les and Doug
We use an ordinary domestic TV which has an inbuilt DVD player but we only use it in winter when on hookup.
A wind-out awning is useful to keep sun off you and, when it is calm, rain too. Fiamma sell hooks that slot into the front of the awning and you can suspend sunshades - homemade or bought- from them to give more directional shade. Fiamma and Omnistor both make them and some people do fit their own but I guess that depends on how brave you are - and if you have help to lift and hold it in place.
As for safari-rooms- the more substantial awning sides that make a room like a caravan awning- I'd advise holding on until you have had a few trips and seen how you use your van. They are heavy, a pain to erect and dismantle and not cheap. If you are going to stay on one site for a week or so then they make more sense but, if you are going to move on reasonably often or use your van for transport when on site, you will get very fed up with it !
A compromise is a lightweight porch awning which fits into channels on the outside of your van- like a caravan awning. This gives you extra space and can be quite lightweight and compact. You can buy them ( " drive-away awnings" ) that are like a freestanding tent but with an extension that can be attached to your van and detached when you want to move the van but not the awning. What you buy will depend on the van you have and height, door position etc. A browse on any accessory store website will give you the general idea ( eg Riversway Leisure, Towsure etc)
Tv is easy just make sure it's one which has a charger rather than just a mains plug.
Awning only good if you use sites, wild camping it's a bit of a no no as you'd look like a pikey.
We had an awning and safari room but sold it as we would never use it, so look out for used/unused ones, easy to fit and awing with bit of thought, ours took about 10 mins to take off once all the bolts were undone.
Hello and welcome
Re tellys - You should decide on what type of camping you will probally do first. eg If you like wild or out of the way camping without hook up then you will need a tv that runs off 12v. You can buy a 240v tv and run this via a battery through an inverter but this is quite inefficient and some tvs dont like the voltage that inverters put out.
The modern flat tvs run off 12v via a 230v transformer which is OK on mains. You can make up a 12v lead to use off the battery but the modern TVs like a very clean and steady 12v so you should use a 12v lead via a voltage regulator...oterwise when the other half goes to the loo and runs the pump to wash his hands the telly goes off for a few seconds.
another alternative is a dedicated Tv for caravans and campers such as those made by avtex which can run off 12 or 230v. most have a dvd player and digital tv built in. These are very good and you dont have loads of wires all over the shop.
Awnings.. I find that i dont use mine as often as i would thinks and so i am glad it came with the van when i bought it as they are not cheap. we didnt use ours hardly at all this year but they are nice to have if its not too windy. You will need the awning tie down kit available from caravan shops..or just buy some good quality ratchet straps and tie these around the awning at each end and into th ground via a big tent peg.
Anyway good luck and welcome to the forum and the world of motorcaravanning.
Phill and Pauline Cotterill
______________________________________________________________ Just when i found out my dad was right I had a son that thought I was wrong.....Henry winkler.
Hello and welcome
Re tellys - You should decide on what type of camping you will probally do first. eg If you like wild or out of the way camping without hook up then you will need a tv that runs off 12v. You can buy a 240v tv and run this via a battery through an inverter but this is quite inefficient and some tvs dont like the voltage that inverters put out.
The modern flat tvs run off 12v via a 230v transformer which is OK on mains. You can make up a 12v lead to use off the battery but the modern TVs like a very clean and steady 12v so you should use a 12v lead via a voltage regulator...oterwise when the other half goes to the loo and runs the pump to wash his hands the telly goes off for a few seconds.
another alternative is a dedicated Tv for caravans and campers such as those made by avtex which can run off 12 or 230v. most have a dvd player and digital tv built in. These are very good and you dont have loads of wires all over the shop.
Awnings.. I find that i dont use mine as often as i would thinks and so i am glad it came with the van when i bought it as they are not cheap. we didnt use ours hardly at all this year but they are nice to have if its not too windy. You will need the awning tie down kit available from caravan shops..or just buy some good quality ratchet straps and tie these around the awning at each end and into th ground via a big tent peg.
Anyway good luck and welcome to the forum and the world of motorcaravanning.
Phill and Pauline Cotterill
Modern TV's have inbuilt power regulators, we just plug into 12v and no problems. We still use it on 12v even on hook up.
I asked our TV guy where I could get a 12v regulated power lead from, and he looked at me like I was an idiot. The above was his answer.
Modern TV's have inbuilt power regulators, we just plug into 12v and no problems. We still use it on 12v even on hook up.
I asked our TV guy where I could get a 12v regulated power lead from, and he looked at me like I was an idiot. The above was his answer.[/quote]
Tried and failed thought like you 12v regulated but blew out circuit board as although says 12v you must rember that most batteries give out 13+v and that was enough to blow circuit ...... now just use new tv on mains and cause of probs with TV signal going to fit Sat for SKY
hello and welcome - can't add to the info already provided by the more knowledgeable forum folk as I am rubbish with anything technical/electrical/mechanical but I can say a warm welcome and happy motorhoming
Re TV, no one has mentioned you can run most modern LCD tellys from a small cheapo inverter we certainly have for the last 4 years, silverline do a nice 300watt one which will happily sit in the ciggy socket and charge phones or laptops, right up until you spill coffee into it
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