Upgrade current Navion

[Scottorado]

We have 2020 24V with 4000 miles; want a 2022 24D for Murphy bed and would opt possibly for lithium battery upgrade, Wi-Fi/cell booster. Does the 2022 come with smart TVs? We have the 3.2K watt Onan diesel now; would get that, too.
Other option is to find a place to upgrade our 2020 with lithium, smart TVs, boosters. Have no idea who could do this work in Denver metro area.
We only dry camp—our thinking is that would be of some benefit.
Thoughts?

[DavidM]

If you mostly dry camp, I would try to stick with your 2020 and upgrade it appropriately. Most new RVs are being built now with compressor fridges which use a lot of DC power, at least 50 Ah more daily than an absorption fridge. For dry camping you want an absorption fridge.

I can go for at least three nights, maybe four with our absorption fridge and 200 Ahs of AGM batteries. No need to upgrade to lithium. If I had a compressor fridge I would have to spend thousands to change to lithium batteries, change the converter/charger and maybe add a DC to DC charger to protect the alternator.

David

[rprochnow]

We have a 2021 24D. Only minor changes were made for 2022.

Even though you have low mileage on a 2020 - because the sales price has increased dramatically over the past year due to RV demand and supply chain challenges, you're going to pay a lot to change from a 2020 24V to a 2022 24D (and more likely, unless you can find one on a lot - you're probably looking at a 2023 model).

The cost for adding the lithium batteries, smart TV, WiFi and/or cell booster, and other upgrades will be significantly less than purchasing a new View - plus you'd still end up paying around the same amount to get these upgrades on a new View.

We love our 24D floor plan - and the great flexibility it gives us with all of the floor space, multiple seating areas, U-shaped dinette and sleeping for 4 adults (and maybe 1 or 2 small kids). But are the floor plan differences enough to justify the cost of purchasing a new View (which now lists for around $190K - without upgrades)?

If you have the Atyme 32" HDTV (that came with our View), that is a very basic HDTV with no smart TV functions, poor sound and poor picture quality. The first upgrade we performed on our drive home from Lichtsinn to Houston was to purchase a 32" Samsung 4K Smart TV - that has the built-in (4K) streaming apps along with significantly better picture and sound quality. We later added a JBL 5.0 Multibeam soundbar - that simulates Dolby Atmos sound. The only challenge with swapping the TV and adding a sound bar will be in mounting the new TV - in the 24D floor plan, the TV mount is designed for the Atyme - and our Samsung required some creativity to get mounted.

Another much expensive upgrade option would be to purchase a Google Chromecast with Google TV - providing you the same smart TV interface present on Google TV's (like Sony's 4K/8K TVs) - with simple installation and much lower cost (around $40).

We have both a Winegard Connect 2.0 WiFi booster and a WeBoost Drive Reach Extreme RV (with the upgraded interior antenna) - and they both help to provide us better internet whether we use a cell phone/hotspot or camp WiFi.

When we purchased our View in June 2020, we had Lichtsinn install 250Ah of Lithionics batteries and an additional 380W of solar panels. We've had multiple planned and unplanned boondocking periods - and the extra solar and lithium batteries have helped considerably - especially when I rode out the Texas freeze a year ago in Galveston - with no shore power (or ability to refill diesel or proprane!).

Since we live in Texas, don't have any recommendations on installers. You might be able to get Best Buy's Geek Squad to install a TV or soundbar (didn't check with them when I installed our TV). For the other upgrades, check with the manufacturers and see if they have any distributors or authorized installers in your area. Or if you can a strong endorsement of a local RV dealer - who will make appointments - that's another option...