recommendations purchasing a tv

Aluminum will completely block a TV signal, so your most important thing is to be able to mount the antenna outside the truck above all the other trucks and trailers that you are parked near. Most TV's have similar abilities to receive, so you can pretty much buy any TV you want provided you get an antenna that is mounted up high ---- like about 16 feet would probably be good, make sure you take it down before going under a bridge though.

 

Check amazon.com for 'portable TV' Easier to find a small ac/dc tv there, and cheaper than the truck stops.

 

We have had a 22" Vizio for 3 years, during which time it was mounted to the wall of the sleeper with a Target mount (it is really heavy compared to the ones at Walmart) and until a week ago only had tv from a digital antenna weput in a window. We got ion most places, but it would pixelate when a truck passed
We are just now getting a brighter line at the bottom. Three years in a truck is pretty good though
Sold us on Vizio

 

Hi, I got a 32" LCD HD TV from K-Marts that works great off a small 175 watt inverter. The important thing is a good digital antenna like already mentioned. I agree with you about the truck stop t.v.s they are selling as junk, way over priced junk and if the sometimes dvd player goes out in one, the whole thing is usually useless.

So yeah, shop around, all the big box stores and everyone has t.v.s that are so cheap. If you look on the back of the unit, it has a base plate listing the info, every electrical appliance has it. It will tell you how many watts it takes to use it.

Mines an RCA that uses less than 100 watts, and I checked out even larger ones and they are the same.

It can be a hassle to watch movies, ooooh yeah! I just thought of something, make sure your t.v. comes with a VGA port, so you can hook up a comp and use it either as a monitor and even use your laptop as a dvd player with your movies showing on your t.v. set.

Thats what I was going to start out by saying, you can either get a separate dvd player or use your laptop. But then you got cords going everywhere. Two power cords to inverters, one from your t.v. and another from your laptop, the VGA cable connecting your comp to the t.v. and you can even use your trucks speaker system as an 8 speaker surround sound by using a cord from your comp to the aux port on your trucks radio.

I only watch t.v. maybe only 1 day a month, but when I do, I really enjoy it. The thickness of the new t.v.s is only a couple of inches, so it fits flat against the wall or side of the bunk, so there still is plenty of room to spread out and get comfortable. I do brace up with a towel and even my blankets the t.v. to keep it safe and from being knocked around.

Depending on your model of truck, I first got mine when in a prostar, it was a perfect fit. Then went to a volvo, the t.v. seemed big, now in a columbia, it seems really kinda small, lol.

I am actually thinking upgrading and getting a 39" or 40" one.

What I would like to do, is attach somekind of hooks to the back, and then be able to mount it as needed on the front visor over hang on the front of the truck.

good luck, and happy hunting, there's lot of options out there waiting for you, this is just my perspective.

 

oh yes, p.s. usually if you go large, you'll need to keep your truck running so as not to kill your batteries. just fyi

 

A big tv is great with the exception of power usage. If you can do with smaller do so that makes everything easier, smaller inverter longer battery life and so forth. I sell Tv's right now for Kmart and I can tell you most are made in same factory just have different face plates. store brands are cheapest with Sony RCA on the higher side. you do what you pay for though. The TV I used in my truck was a 22 inch and I drove the oilfields and it got the crap beat out of it and it still works today. it is a best buy store brand. with a cobra 400 watt inverter

 

The one I bought from Amazon and liked, was a tiny 'Haier', which I don't see for sale, now. It's the same factory that makes some of the Naxa the truck stops sell. I'm using a Sansui 19 inch I bought at walmart a year ago, now. Think it was $120.....and it runs fine with a 125 watt inverter.