Radio for Boondocking - Montana Owners Club

Lenny K · 09-15-2014, 01:48 PM

Has anyone added a 12volt radio to their entertainment center? Do you think it is possible to tap into the existing speakers rather than adding some more?

TAKPAK · 09-15-2014, 02:57 PM

There are all sorts of options you can do. As far as the 12 volt radio, a lot of the smaller and less expensive trailers have just that, a 12 volt radio/CD player built in to their system. These are the trailers WITHOUT the large entertainment center. So yes, it's possible to install a 12 volt radio. As far as the speakers go, speakers are rated by "ohms" that they need, such as 4 ohms, 8 ohms, etc. You need to make sure that whatever radio player you buy, is matched with the speakers you have. Also, power output plays into this some. Speakers are also rated in "watts" of power that they can handle. Some are 10 watt, some go all the way to 200 watt or more (ever sit beside one of those "boom box" cars at a stop light????? If you do set it up with a unit to use the existing speakers, you can get switches that will switch from the entertainment unit to the 12 volt radio and back, if you want to go that route. Just ask your local car stereo shop. They will be able to help you out immensely.

Lenny K · 09-15-2014, 04:30 PM

Thanks Terry. I'll check on what size the speakers are. The reason for wanting a 12 volt radio is that we are seldom hooked up to 110 AC. We spend 4 1/2 months in Quartzsite every winter with no hookups. The draw for the receiver is fairly large when you are running off of solar if you happen to have a cloudy day. We listen to the radio all day long and at night is when we watch TV for about 5 hours, so we will enjoy the entertainment center then.

h2ojocky · 09-15-2014, 06:00 PM

Another option is if you have a Iphone you can get a bluetooth portable speaker. The speaker is rechargable and very small but great sound. You can load songs onto your ipod or Iphone.

JandC · 09-16-2014, 05:11 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by h2ojocky

Another option is if you have a Iphone you can get a bluetooth portable speaker. The speaker is rechargable and very small but great sound. You can load songs onto your ipod or Iphone.

We were recently on a friend's boat and they pulled out a couple little oval shaped speakers that fit perfectly into two of their cup holders. They were Bluetooth speakers, stereo of course, and they really sounded great! They played them from songs on their I-phone. We have been looking to purchase some for our rig.

bncinwv · 09-16-2014, 05:20 AM

DW got me a JBL flip speaker last Christmas, and to this day I am amazed at the quality, clarity and volume that can come from a $99 speaker. Have an app called tunedin on the iPhone that has thousands of radio stations from all over the world. Speaker will run about 6 hours between charges. I have the outdoor entertainment center and prefer the JBL!
Bingo

CORattler · 09-16-2014, 12:11 PM

It always puzzled me as to why a 12V Radio/CD/USB player wasn't OEM on Montana's.

Lenny K · 09-22-2014, 05:08 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by TAKPAK

There are all sorts of options you can do. As far as the 12 volt radio, a lot of the smaller and less expensive trailers have just that, a 12 volt radio/CD player built in to their system. These are the trailers WITHOUT the large entertainment center. So yes, it's possible to install a 12 volt radio. As far as the speakers go, speakers are rated by "ohms" that they need, such as 4 ohms, 8 ohms, etc. You need to make sure that whatever radio player you buy, is matched with the speakers you have. Also, power output plays into this some. Speakers are also rated in "watts" of power that they can handle. Some are 10 watt, some go all the way to 200 watt or more (ever sit beside one of those "boom box" cars at a stop light????? If you do set it up with a unit to use the existing speakers, you can get switches that will switch from the entertainment unit to the 12 volt radio and back, if you want to go that route. Just ask your local car stereo shop. They will be able to help you out immensely.

Thanks for the heads up about ohms for speakers. The Samsung speakers in the entertainment center are 3 ohms and the 12 volt radio are 4 ohms.
So I bought and installed the correct speakers for the 12 volt radio.
Thanks again TAKPAK for the info so that I didn't make a costly mistake.

Artemus Gordon · 09-23-2014, 04:44 PM

I got a radio from C Crain.

http://www.ccrane.com/!vS2ooA1e6dl3dyKE8PNOCg!/?gclid=CJTCw7Tq-MACFURgfgoddh0A4Q

mtheo · 10-06-2014, 03:02 PM

Lenny, I install an auto radio in my Monty, Like you I dry camp alot and wanted a 12 volt radio with a seek feature. I did install new pair of speaker both inside and outside of the trailer. Also installed a power switch to ture off radio, to completly stop prarasidic leak.
I should be a Quartzite if you want to talk.

Lenny K · 10-06-2014, 03:56 PM

I finished my install of a 12v Car Deck radio. Put an external antenna up on the roof and installed speakers in the entertainment center. I couldn't come up with a good place to mount external marine grade speakers so I put a set in the basement.

Mark, maybe I'll get a chance to talk to you in Quartzsite. Do you winter there or show up for the rally?

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