Help me understand the flaws with these "features"

[TurnThePage]

There are a couple other threads floating around where people are complaining about certain features. These features are available/common in the particular brand I'm looking at right now. I can understand the frustration that might go with having a fridge installed in the slide resulting in constantly running fans. But this seems like it could be easily remedied in a variety of ways. The other feature I thought was pretty clever was the TV that rises out of the counter top. It appears to me that adequate counter space is usually even more rare than adequate storage space. The pop-up TV seems like a great way to solve some of that. I want a TV and my wife wants counter space, but usually not at the same time. Unless it's prone to breaking, what's the beef with this feature?

[spoon059]

BillyW wrote:
Unless it's prone to breaking, what's the beef with this feature?

Personal opinion a lot of the time. Fridges on the slide get you to start worrying about proper ventilation. Heat naturally wants to rise out of a vent, nothing to really break there. Having the heat change direction and go out a side vent could cause issues.

Personally, I try not to test new technology myself. I let someone else try it. If it works, it works.

[ktmrfs]

we love the pop up TV. we seldom watch TV and with the TV down, we have a great view out the back window. But it is still there for the few times we use it. In fact our grandkids had been camping with us for almost 2 years when they came in from visiting some kids camping in the trailer next to us. They said Wow, Grandma and Grandpa, THEY even have a TV in the trailer.

They had never seen our TV.

Ours is much like dutchman sport's. TV up or down has just about the same amount of counter space.

[MrWizard]

TV's not really installed in 'kitchen counters'

its in a cabinet the top is wood . coran. etc. another piece of furniture
your not going to place pictures or vases up there, to move everytime you use the TV
it really is about 'look' of the living area, might be useful when entertaining people for an evening with NO tv
place to set the snacks, party decorations, etc..

[lanerd]

Back in the day when flat screens first came out, all the upper end models that Monaco made had their TV's in the ceiling and would fold down when needed. Great idea, except like the over dashboard TVs, it was still at a 90 degree angle to the couch(s). But at least it didn't take up any storage or counter space.

Ron

[wilber1]

Don't know how you could mount an RV fridge in a slide without using a fan, besides I like hearing the fan because when I do, I know the fridge is working. As far as a TV that pops out of a counter is concerned, just something else to go wrong but if you really like it, it's probably worth it.

[DutchmenSport]

Ours has the television that raises and lowers. We use it both ways. Actually, the counter space with the television raised is just as much as it is when it's lowered with ours. The front of ours has shelves and the sound system. Others have fireplaces in this spot. So, actually, we do have storage in front of the television cabinet. Ours is at the back window, there is absolutely no water near it. No comment on the refrigerator. Ours is not in a slide.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

enblethen wrote:

I am not thrilled about TV coming up out of counter top adjacent to galley. I would be afraid of liquids being spilled and going down onto TV components and operating mechanism.

We saw a smaller Class C like that, and that was the first thing I thought of, too. And since Ed can't survive without a television being on, all I could see was valuable kitchen counter space being subtracted....

[pegdiver]

We have both - TV coming out of the buffet is only raised when we want to watch it. With it down, it doesn't block the windows. But we have used it to block our view to a less than wonderful fellow camper.
Our refrig works when we are camped. Doesn't seem to like going over 60 mph but then our old frig with a roof vent didn't like it either.
2 years with this set up and those are not the things that seem to bother us.

[dewey02]

When flat screens first came out, there were many console cabinets that had the "magic disappearing/rising TV" for residential homes. They are pretty rare today. I just don't think they are practical. If your TV with stand is 3 inches wide, you can bet the mechanism for the lifting console will be several inches wider. You lose a lot of storage space to hide that TV. Then when you want to use it, you've got to clear off the top of the counter for the TV to rise. Where does that stuff go?

In short, it may work for some, but not very practical for most.

[fj12ryder]

I've never given the rising TV much thought, but it just appeared to me to be the answer to a question that was never asked. But a person we met was less than enthused with his. His was mounted in a side cabinet and when he had a flat tire the shredded tire tore up his wiring and he not longer could raise his TV. Not a happy camper. 🙂 The added complexity in something that bounces down the road on a regular basis just seems like not that great of an idea. KISS.

I've never given the fridge in the slide a thought. Ours works fine so it's never been an issue. I suppose you can hear the fans from inside, but I never have.

[TurnThePage]

This model has both of those features. If the fridge works well and is reasonably quiet, it's a non-issue. The 42" TV sinks into the counter behind a fireplace, thus no real storage lost in my opinion. And for a half ton towable, this particular trailer manages to stay under 30' and has lots of storage AND counter space.

Grand Design Imagine 2650RK

[donkeydew]

this why their is many mfgs and many models of each. everybody has an opinion even if it doesn't agree with yours.

[Tripalot]

Can't comment on the fridge - we are happy with what we have.
Our TV rises out of the counter which is on the opposite side from the kitchen.
We like the nice clean look when it is stored and having the counter space to set things on. . As far as storage goes, we have plenty.
The counter that houses the TV is only about 12 or 14 inches wide, so no big deal.
After 3 years of using our 24 ft. unit we still have some empty cupboards and don't do without anything that we want or use regularly.

[GoPackGo]

I have both and really like both. Been full timing with them for 3 years now.

Fridge fans: Yes, you can hear them running IF you are sitting near them and there are no other noises. Otherwise not. My 4-door fridge in the slide works fine.

The TV. Again, what's wrong with this idea ? It seems like you get a bigger TV this way then those mounted the other ways (I think mine is 42 inches, but I have seen larger). Just send it down when not using it and I have extra counter space. Mine is in a counter that goes across the entire back. There is about a 6 ft wide window behind it. I don't really consider it to be a dedicated kitchen counter. Yes, it's a tradeoff for cabinet space but everything in an RV is a tradeoff. Pick what you like or want most.

[Bumpyroad]

do you really want the TV in a kitchen counter?
bumpy