If you frequently use your RV then to update yourself with the latest news and the things happening in this world as well as to keep you entertained it becomes necessary to have a TV in it. Though you can put your TV in the sitting area of the RV people usually prefer to mount it on its wall to save a lot of surface area for other important tasks as RVs usually have limited space.
I don’t have a TV in my camper – yet, but with this research now I know how to put one in.
You can also shift your TV to your bedroom when you are at your home. It can be another reason to mount a TV in the RV. In this write-up, we are going to discuss tips and tricks about RV TV mounting to help you in accomplishing the tasks easily and effectively.
Can you use a regular TV mount in an RV?
The main purpose of a TV mount in your RV is to ensure the safety and stability of your TV so that you can watch your favorite programs even on the go. Most of the RVs manufactured before the year 2000 do not have any preinstalled arrangement to mount the TV on their walls. So you will have to find a suitable mount for this purpose. Though you can use a regular TV mount for this purpose still you can customize the looks of your RV by using the latest TV mount in it.
But while installing a TV mount in the RV you are not advised to do it yourself as nailing, screwing, or drilling into the walls of the RV can make your project more complicated as there can be electrical wiring running under any of its walls. So it is better to call a professional to install a TV mount in your RV as any damage to its walls can cause irreparable harm to your RV.
Things to know before buying an RV TV mount
When you are planning to buy an RV TV mount then you must know about various other types of TV mount available in the market. It will help you in customizing RV TV mounting as per your liking. Some other types of TV mounts for RV may include:
ARTICULATED TV MOUNT FOR RV: This type of TV mount for RV is gaining popularity these days because it keeps your TV close to the wall of your RV still allows you to move around and swivel your TV wherever you want.
RV TV MOUNT WITH THE FLAT-PANEL: This TV mount allows you to hang your TV like a mirror or a photo frame to match the decor of the rest of the RV. This mount with tilt function can be installed easily to allow you to move it in the right or left direction so that you can watch TV comfortably.
UNDER-CABINET TV MOUNT FOR RV: This TV mount allows you to mount your small TV under the cabinet to save a lot of surface area on the countertop. It will keep your TV stable permanently.
RV TV MOUNT WITH PULL-DOWN MOTION: This TV mount for RV will allow you to mount your TV in the RV overhead so that you can pack your TV neatly when not in use and pull it down while watching your favorite programs.
FULL MOTION TV MOUNTS FOR RV: It is one of the most flexible TV mounts for RV as it allows you to swivel your TV in 360 degrees so that you can watch your TV from any direction while sitting in your RV. But you are not advised to use it while traveling in your RV.
How to find a stud in the RV wall for the TV mount?
To mount a TV on the wall of your RV you will have to drill into its wall but you can avoid this step if you can locate studs in the wall of your RV. Though it is not easy to find studs in the wall of the RV still you can find them easily and quickly by following the tricks briefly described hereunder.
Tips to find a stud in RV wall
While finding studs in the walls of a residential building you can use building codes but this rule cannot be applied in the case of RV. The metal or wooden studs normally used in the walls of RVs are rarely placed at a regular distance. You can locate them by using the following tips:
- Studs can be located under the rivets used to attach the interior covering of the wall
- You can also use an electronic or magnetic stud finder for this purpose. You can use this device to find metal as well as wooden studs in the walls of the RV.
- You can also outline the presence of studs in the RV walls by watching its exterior early in the morning. The dews on the exterior of your RV can help you in finding studs inside its walls.
- You can also contact the manufacturing company of your RV to get the diagram of its frame to get the right location of studs in its walls.
- You can also find out the bends in the panels of the walls of your RV by pushing its wall paneling gently with hands after every 8-10 inches.
- You can also use an infrared thermometer to find studs in the walls of the RV. The temperature at the studs will be cooler than other parts of the wall paneling as usually no insulation is used in the studs.
However, before finding studs in the wall of your RV you should also consider a few important points like:
- Spending time to find studs in the walls of your RV may not be worthwhile as usually they are not spaced at regular intervals of 16 inches as found in residential buildings. They can be 24 to 36 inches apart which may not allow you to install your TV mount on them.
- To reinforce some of the areas in the walls of your RV there can be plywood added in some of its sections. Your stud finder can give false results due to the sections including plywood in them. Your device will not give you exact results even after working properly.
- Instead of using screws to install a TV mount on the metal studs, you are advised to use rivets as the threads of your screws may not have a proper grip on the studs if they are extremely thin.
- You should use a drill with a very small bit while drilling at the possible location of a stud as the mark of drilling the wall will not be detected easily if any messing up situation happens.
Thus to find studs in the wall of your RV to install a TV mount, it is better to contact the manufacturer of your RV if possible. They can provide you the drawings of its structure so that you can easily locate studs inside its walls.
Can you put screws in RV walls for your tv mount?
Normally it is not advised to nail, screw or drill the walls of an RV or camper as under its surface there can be running a complicated system of electrical wiring. So, it is best to avoid using nails or screws on the walls of the RV as they can cause irreparable damage to them. Though you can control your hand while driving in a screw into the RV wall still it can damage the electric wiring running inside it.
However, if it is necessary to use a screw to install something on the RV wall then you must use the smallest screw only. Moreover, you must drill the surface before driving a screw to ensure the safety of the wall.
Do you need a special TV for a camper?
Most of the companies manufacturing the latest RVs provide TV preinstalled in them. But if you are using an old model RV then you will have to install a TV in it. Though you can use a regular TV in your RV the providers of RV TV are of the view that it is better to install TVs specially designed for this purpose.
According to them, the TVs for RV manufactured by them are different from regular TVs in many ways. RV TVs are specially designed by experts to use in RVs after extensive testing and expertise. They also claim that their products are made durable by testing them in proper conditions like exposure to UV, high vibrations, water sprays, extremely fluctuating temperatures and humidity, etc. while on the go.
However, many people use regular TV in their RV for many years without any problem. So if you cannot afford to buy a special TV for your RV or camper then you can also use your regular TV in it. But while installing it in your RV you should call a professional for a trouble-free installation of the TV mount in your RV. If you do it yourself without any experience then it can cause irreparable damage to the wall of the RV.
