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Old 12-15-2024, 09:40 AM   #1
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Exterior TV

Good day we are looking to buy soon a Tiffin Phaeton 36QSH , would like to get one with exterior TV an a TV overhead between drivers seat an passanger seat seems hard to find both , installing a overhead TV I could do but to install a exterior TV an cutting a hole into the fiberglass seems like a job but probably doable I believe the hardest part of that would be having TV enclosure painted to match . I need to check with Tiffin if I can buy a TV enclosure from them . Has anyone done this or seen one done ? Or any advice .
Seems when I find one for sale it is on the other side of the country . Live in Yuma az.
The years I am looking is 2006 - 2010 pre Def . Thanks
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Old 12-15-2024, 03:18 PM   #2
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Both my tv in the overhead and the one outside came factory installed. That said I’m sure you’ll get the full range on feedback, but mine that’s overhead is our primary viewing tv. The outside one I would not waste my time on. More often than not, too much glare from the sun to be viewable.
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Old 12-18-2024, 11:25 AM   #3
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To each his own, We have the outside TV that came stock on our bus. We have never used it.
I also had the overhead TV changed out to cabinets during the build.
We have rarely seen anyone using their outside TV in campgrounds.
Unless you can find what you are looking for, it will be very expensive to install an outside TV. You might want to check with some of the custom workshops near RedBay for an estimate for that work before making your purchase.
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Old 12-18-2024, 12:24 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick carter View Post
Good day we are looking to buy soon a Tiffin Phaeton 36QSH , would like to get one with exterior TV an[sic] a[sic] TV overhead between drivers seat an[sic] passanger[sic] seat seems hard to find both , installing a[sic] overhead TV I could do but to install a[sic] exterior TV an cutting a hole into the fiberglass seems like a job but probably doable I believe the hardest part of that would be having TV enclosure painted to match . I need to check with Tiffin if I can buy a TV enclosure from them . Has anyone done this or seen one done ? Or any advice .
Seems when I find one for sale it is on the other side of the country . Live in Yuma az.
The years I am looking is 2006 - 2010 pre Def . Thanks
The only time I see anyone with an outdoor tv it's surrounded by a bunch of drunks shouting at the screen. Our 5th wheel came with one, I removed it. I converted that space to an outdoor garage for tools and a bbq. I mounted a charger for my Makita batteries.

The bedroom was also supposed to have a tv, and came with the mount. I thought about taking the outside tv and putting it in the bedroom but chose not to. We don't watch a lot of tv and have the one big one in the main living area.

The big issue with doing an after-market conversion like what you propose isn't just cutting into the fiberglass, and properly sealing and securing it, but making sure that you have a cavity in which to recess the tv and studs to mount it. And power nearby. Typically the makers of RV's use up all the available space for storage or living space.

If you are dead set on this you could look for a rig with an outdoor kitchen and convert that.

In my view an outside tv is a stupid and worthless feature and should be banned in campgrounds.

I absolutely hate pulling into a park and seeing outdoor tv's. Those are the parks we tend to avoid. Generally we tend to stay in the dry-camping loops of state and national parks. The other benefit to these government parks is that they have their own armed law enforcement rangers. Sadly we've had to call upon their services more than once to report drunken, loud and unruly campers.

Staying in the dry loops (no hook-ups) tends to be quieter because people don't have power for tv's, movie screens, jump jumps, boom boxes, disco balls and karaoke machines. They'd have to run generators to power any of it. And typically people with generators tend to stay buttoned up inside.
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Old 12-18-2024, 12:37 PM   #5
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Here in the South, especially during college football season, outside TV's are in full bloom....
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Old 12-18-2024, 12:53 PM   #6
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Our 2011 36QSH had 4 TVs. Front of rig, midship, bedroom & outside. Came that way from the factory.
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Old 12-18-2024, 01:04 PM   #7
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Looks for a rig with an outdoor TV already. If you can't find that in a floorplan you like, I would look at mounting a TV in a storage compartment. There are non-Tiffin coaches that do this. Sure, the viewing angle is a bit low, but better than putting a big hole in the side of your coach and finding a place to build out the box inside as well. You will lose some of your storage space and accessing what is left could be more or less difficult depending on the TV mount you use. The second part is getting a TV in a size that fits in the bay door and uses technology that works with some level of outside glare. Sylvox are supposed to be good, but the smallest they make is 43".

To the naysayers, not everyone uses their RV in a campground all the time. Some people use them for tailgating, motor racing events, festivals, or parking on their own personal 10-acre lot where using an outdoor TV wouldn't bother anyone.
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Old 12-23-2024, 10:54 AM   #8
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TVs can be a problem!

Our RV has the outdoor TV and we have never used it. We do not intend to do so. Outdoor TVs are a disruption to campground peace and quiet.

We ordered the RV without the front overhead TV. It's a head banger.

It is amazing how little we watch TV on a trip. There seems to be a lot more interesting things to see as we travel than reruns and news.

Good luck in finding the rig with the options you prefer.
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Old 12-23-2024, 02:36 PM   #9
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My previous coach was a 36QSH. It had both outside and front TVs. We found the front overhead TV to be in an awkward location for viewing and opted to install a pop up one behind the jacknife sofa, much like what my current coach has.

FWIW, I consider myself to be VERY handy, but would not want to tackle installing an "outside" TV unless I was installing it in a bay.
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Old 12-23-2024, 02:55 PM   #10
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Look for the telltale outlines of the metal framing inside the slide wall on a cool, moist morning. Suspect, RVs with outside TVs have specific framing to accommodate the opening. This factor alone makes a retro-fit project unrealistic. Actually, I find the exterior TV in the slide-wall too high and the one in the basement too low.
PS--we have an exterior TV--but never use it.
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Old 12-25-2024, 07:40 AM   #11
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If you are in Yuma you will find a lot of RVs there. Check out how many are using their outside TVs and when you find one- check out the quality. Some folks have painted the inside of the cabinet door black to try and eliminate some of the glare. The only time ours or our RV neighbors have been successful is with a canopy tent right next to the RV to shelter the TV. Have used ours 3 times in 7 years. Once was for a football game when far enough away from other RVs to not disturb them and the other two were for cartoons for the grandkids!
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Old 12-25-2024, 08:20 AM   #12
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FWIW, I consider myself to be VERY handy, but would not want to tackle installing an "outside" TV unless I was installing it in a bay.
Agree with this completely!! I don’t care how confident you are in your skills, I would not recommend cutting a hole in the side of your coach just for a TV.

It seems like most Tiffins come with outside TV from the factory. If this is your top priority, maybe you will have to compromise on floor plan to get what you want. As others have mentioned, other options for outside TV exist that you could easily retrofit. My nephew just mounted the wall part of a TV swivel on the outside of his fiver, then brings a large screen from home in the back seat of his truck. When camping in the fall, it’s a great way to watch college football. He keeps the sound off so as to not disturb others.

Our Phaeton came with the front overhead TV and it was a head knocker. I smashed my head on it many times and I’m only average height.

FWIW, we’re just the opposite. Our current coach came with four TVs. I’ve already removed two of them. I converted the outside one to storage space by adding a couple of shelves.
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Old 12-25-2024, 08:24 AM   #13
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Its not surprising to see many complaining about outdoor TV use. We all have different camping priorities.
Some complain about campfires in a campground. So its easy to see how outdoor TV offends someone.
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Old 12-25-2024, 10:37 AM   #14
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It does not matter why the OP wants an exterior TV, they were asking for advice on how to install one if the rig they were to buy does not have one. They did not ask for your opinion as to whether you like them or not. Heck, some people actually like Yugo’s and KIA’s and I do not bust their chops. If you cannot help with his original question, start a new thread about your personal opinion on the subject, that will keep from insulting the OP and he might get some relevant information on the original question.
In our 2017 Phanton 36GH, there is plenty of room where the original external TV is located. The installation only takes about 6” of depth. It would be time consuming but not difficult to install a TV providing you have or can make the space available. We did way more complicated TV installations in the business jet completion business.
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