TV/VCR Combo for the car ~ where to get?

[SandraC]

Hi, we are planning a 10 hour drive to Southern Ohio this summer and I would like to buy a TV/VCR combo. Where can I get one? I live in Mississauga. Anyone know the price range? We will likely be driving dh's Sable, so a mid-sized car, will it take up too much room? Thanks! Sandra

[DSNY FN]

Check out Canadian Tire and Wal Mart they have them and probably at the best prices they come in a bag and hang from the seats so it doesn't take up much room I think you can get them starting at around 200 dollars
Hope this helps
Darren & Lisa

[MikeJ]

We bought a Memorex unit at Walmart a year or two ago - it's AC/DC powered, so you can either plug it in to the accessory outlet (AKA cigarette lighter) in the vehicle or else the standard AC outlet of any hotel room. I think the going price on them now is around $250-$300. I believe the screen size is 13" (but I'd have to measure to be sure) and the unit has a footprint about 30cmX30cm (12"x12" for the metrically challenged) and a height about 45cm. We place it on the floor of the van between the front seats and I built an angled stand for it to tip the screen up at about a 30-degree angle. The unit sits near the kids feet, so they look down to watch the screen. If your car has front buckets or a split back, you may be able to place it between the seats, depending on space.

Another option is the laptop. My DW just acquired a new laptop from her employer and we made sure it had a DVD player. We popped Shrek into it the other day and it plays DVDs just fine - and takes up a lot less space than the TV/VCR combo.

- Mike

[MikeJ]

After seeing Darren's comment, I was going to edit my previous post, but the edit feature seems to be pooched.

We looked at the video-in-a-bag solutions, but the advantage (to us, anyway) of the traditional TV-style unit is that we can take it anywhere. Some units come with flat screen monitors which hang from the headrest of the front seat, and although they tend to be much more compact, they also tend to be more expensive and somewhat less flexible. There are also units which are built-in to a console, but they tend to be aimed at the van market. And if you've bolted it to the floor of your vehicle it's not as easy to use it elsewhere.

- Mike

[MikeJ]

OK, last post. (No, not the military tune. :D) Here's a link (http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortments/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=129867&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=168423&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=969301&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=972131&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=972131&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=166971&bmUID=1020779159240) to one at the Canadian Tire web page. And it's on sale. We all know how Sandra can't resist a sale. :p

- Mike

P.S. I don't think I've ever posted three messages in a day, let along three consecutive on the same thread. :eek:

[kellyla]

Well Mike,you had to post that because you were a wealth of information on this thread.;)

[Sandyrella]

We bought ours at a close-out sale in Montreal for $229.00. It's a 9" and it fit perfectly between between the seats of the SUV we rented to drive to WDW in January. We just secured it with some of those bungee cords. The 13" are quite a bit bigger, bulkier and heavier but they are also cheaper. When I was looking, I found a 9" on the Brick.com website but it was around $350.-$450.00 (can't remember exactly). We actually would have paid that much if necessary (glad it wasn't!) because this purchase was an absolute life-saver in the car. The kids were occupied and it entertained DH and I while driving. Now the TV is in 10 year old DD's room and she could watch all the Mary Kate and Ashley movies she wants without driving the rest of us crazy!

The ones that hang on your seat are the best idea, but as you can see, they are quite costly. I also saw them at Toys R Us but they were about $500.00.

The laptop with DVD would be great if you already own one.

[DSNY FN]

we actually use my laptop with the dvd player in it all we did was buy a power inverter mind you the laptop was 5 grand unlike the tv vcr combo but I use it for work so it was an investment that the company helped me make not just out of pocket for a toy to watch movies hehe.

[tmli]

I picked one up for my parents at costco. 13" tv/vcr combo with ac/dc adaptor and "game" plugs on front to plug in a N64 or playstation, etc. I believe the price was $229. Excellent quality. I own an electronics shop please beware of memorex product. While it is great value, next to impossible to get replacement parts for repairs.

[tigger2on]

Sandra C
You live in Mississauga don't you.......
If you want, you could just borrow ours for your trip as its collecting dust anyhow. Could save the money and put it towards Disney....

[SandraC]

Thanks all! Hey Mike! Guess what I ate today??????


YEPPERS! A Krispy Kreme! AND only one! OOOHHHHHH, AAAAAAHHHH!!!!

Thanks for the link! You all are so helpful! Sandra

[MikeJ]

Sigh. It's too bad we can't make the meet this weekend, Sandra, because I had a special surprise in store for you. I guess it'll just have to wait until the next meet. :P

- Mike

(And yes, that's all I'm going to say. :D )

[SandraC]

HMMMMMMMMMMMM! What could it be Mike? Or should I say YUMMMMMMM!

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Especially this weekend! Sandra:sunny:

[the4moores]

Does anyone know where you can rent one of the tv/vcr combos for a van. My husband doesn't want to get one he wants our children to enjoy the scenery etc. but they are 4 & 2 so I think we would get some use out of the tv/vcr combo.

[SandraC]

I've been to Zellers and Walmart and can't find anyone to help me in the store, I'm usually with ds and in a hurry, I'll need to get some time to shop for a tv/vcr car thingy soon!

Now, in Zellers and Walmart, I saw a reasonaly priced tv/vcr combo that said AC/DC on it. Would that mean it can run to batteries? Thanks! Sandra

[MikeJ]

Sandra,

AC/DC means it will run off your vehicle battery without the need for an inverter (which will set you back another $100 or so). The one we have is also AC/DC, and we can plug it in either in the house or in the van (different connections, of course) with the supplied cables.

I don't know what the current drain on it would be, but it would take 8 D-cells if you wanted to drive it off regular batteries, and you might get 15-30 minutes worth of viewing before the batteries died. :)

- Mike

[SandraC]

Thanks Mike! Do you think these TV's steal lots of battery juice from the car battery? THANKS S

[MikeJ]

I woldn't let it run for hours on end without the vehicle going (and charging the battery), but we've let ours run for 30-40 minutes here and there and the van has still started at the first turn of the key. It's likely no different from any other device you'd run off a car battery.

[SandraC]

I was thinking about letting the kids watch a movie or two in a row in the car ~ most kid movies are about 90 minutes. Two movies would be 180 minutes. Is 90 and 180 minutes too long? Thanks! Sandra

[MikeJ]

But you're driving at the time, no? Won't be a problem. I just wouldn't recommend it when you've got the vehicle parked somewhere, that's all.

When we came back from Vermont at March Break, the kids watched three movies in the 7-8 hours it took us to get from Montreal to London. Never had a problem. Other than fighting over which movie to watch next. :)

- Mike

[SandraC]

Thanks Mike! Much appreciate all your info! I'd like to get one before July Ohio trip. It's only 10 hours in a car, but it's the longest car trip my kids have been on. THX S

[maryliz]

Hi Sandra. My kids are 2 and 5 and even though they travel incredibly well, we bought a tv/vcr combo that plugs into the cigarette lighter before our trip to wdw last Sept. It was truly a god-send. Now we have a van, and it was very easy to place it on a little stool between the driver and passenger front seats. My dh ratchet-strapped it in and hooked it to the metal on the seats underneath so it was not about to go anywhere if we had been in an accident (I was very worried about this). It did take away our drink holders in the front seat, but a small price to pay for quiet, contented kids ! (lol). Actually the passenger could recline their seat a bit and actually watch the movie too. We looked at the models made for the car/van, but they were so pricey, and very tiny screens. The 13" tv/vcr combo is now in our livingroom as an extra tv. Ideally I think the laptop with a dvd player would be the best but neither of us is in a job where our employer would be so kind to pick up the tab for it ! It was a great investment for us (only about $300) and we will be sure to take it with us whenever we go to Disney.

Mary Liz

[SandraC]

Thanks Mary Liz. I should get me butt in gear and go buy one soon! Picking the video's might be a tough one! THANKS S

[abbyndrewmom]

Check out Costco as well, we are also looking for one before our June trip and so far have found Costco to have the cheapest prices.