Stan & Fe's Cheetah RV

Electric Car for RVing?

2011-11-07T23:26:00.001-08:00

It seems to me that an electric car would be the perfect TOAD. Think about it. Your motor coach would be rigged through an inverter to charge the car when under way. Using the same charging connection the car would be charged via the RV parks electrical connection to your RV.
With driving ranges now of 100 miles plus on electric cars it would easily handle most driving needs in the areas you visit. No gas purchases for free driving where ever you RV. Something to think about, no?

Not sold yet.

2011-09-25T08:33:00.001-07:00

Our RV is up for sale bit I have not put it up on eBay yet. Hopefully this week I will bet it done.

Use SlingBox when you are away from home.

2011-07-05T01:02:00.000-07:00

In my last couple of articles I talked about WIFI and the iPad. Since that time I have moved up to the iPad2 that now has a front and rear facing camera. I switched from the WIFI and 3G model to just the WIFI model since I find that WIFI is so plentiful I don't really need the 3G. And if I should, since I am also using the iPhone 4, I can activate the Hot Spot feature making it act like a WIFI. $25 a month though.

Anyway, that is not really what I want to talk about here.

How would you like to be able to watch your local home TV from where ever you are? See the local news when you are clear across the country so far away?

You can do it with the SlingBox. We have been using it for over three years now and it is great. Now they have HD models and more but I don't think you really need it. I have the SlingBox Solo and it runs $179.99. $157.99 on Amazon and free shipping. But that is all you pay. There is no monthly. All you have to do is hook it up to your cable box and to your router and you are set. Follow a few instruction and you are good to go. The when you leave you only leave the cable box on. The TV is off. On your computer you down load a free SlingBox player. Same for your iPad or your iPhone or your Android phone if you have one of those. You can then watch your home TV over WIFI, 3G or 4G. Even driving down the road the co-pilot can enjoy it. I even use it in my car or the food court at a mall when I am waiting for my co-pilot to shop. So, obviously, it works in your RV too as long as you have WIFI or 3G or 4G. My iPad captures the picture in HD and is better than the picture on my TV. It is available at places like Best Buy and Amazon. Here is their website: http://www.slingbox.com/go/buy

Home to the Weeds

2011-06-13T01:04:00.001-07:00

So after six months away we are home. Great trip but also glad to be home. Only trouble is that we have had a very wet spring and the weeds are very long. It is going to take some trip to get the yard back to normal.
My oldest daughter joined us un the trip home and are enjoying having her here. Today we are going to take her ove to Seattle for a little shopping and sight seeing. A ride back on the ferry will be fun.

Heading North Soon

2011-04-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

Moving toward the end of April. Just about one month from now we will be leaving Tucson after my grandson's high school graduation. Then heading north to Washington seeing some friends along the way.

Going To Be On The Move Soon

2011-01-31T20:55:00.000-08:00

Just short trip to Yuma to park the RV then to LA to visit family and friends. At the end of the week back to Yuma to help celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of our good friends Virgil and Donna Ford. Should be fun. Also looking forward to our trip back to Branson, MO for the USS Wahoo (SS565) reunion the first week in April.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-20T07:20:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is almost Christmas. We have been spending time with the family here in Tucson. I have been helping my son in law with is pool cleaning business. You know what a pool is right? A hole in your backyard you poor money into.
Fe is in Hawaii until December 28th. So, for the near future we will just be hanging out here and looking forward to our RV trip to Branson, Mo the last of March and first part of April. That will be for a submarine reunion for the USS Wahoo (SS565).
We hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season and a great New Year.

We Have Arrived

2010-12-06T08:04:00.000-08:00

After three days without WIFI we arrived in Tucson on December 5th. After my last blog we spent a couple of nice days with our friends Jim and Barb VanVranken in Chowchilla, CA. There, I also had to change the water pump in the RV. I think the 11 degree temp got to it before we left Belfair.
We then proceeded to Edwards AFB for an overnight in their FamCamp. $15 full hook up but no TV or WIFI. It is really out in the desert.
From there we went through Palm Spring and then entered Arizona. We spent a day with our friends Jim and Judy Alplanalp. They really live in Bend, OR but have a nice place in Quartzsite, AZ where they can get away from the Pacific Northwest winter cold.

We had nice weather all the way. No rain and no wind. An RVer can not ask for a whole lot more than that. Mayb cheaper diesel. Average $3.24 on the way down but $3.05 here in Tucson. So, now preparing for a nice Christmas with family.

A good day over the mountains

2010-11-28T23:02:00.000-08:00

Siskiyous near the top

In to CA and Shata ahead

It rained all night in Canyonville, OR which made me think it might be snowing in the Siskiyous and over Shasta. I planned this day to go over the mountains based on weather predictions. In the morning it looks kind of Okay. I checked the traffic cameras along the away and it was foggy but I was convinced it would be a good day. We drove over the four passes before Grants Pass then through the Rogue River valley past Ashland where I was born and climbed the highway to the summit at 4,200 ft. By the time we got there it had cleared and most of the highway was dry. Crossing into California was sunny. We stopped at the summit of I-5 next to Mount Shasta and had lunch and a couple of Lates. Then on to the Rolling Hills Casino and RV park in Corning, CA where we are tonight. Tomorrow on to Chowchilla to spend time with our good friends Jim and Barbara VanVranken.

Day number one, cold and wet

2010-11-27T21:16:00.001-08:00

So today we made it the 6.5 hour drive to 7 Feathers casino and RV resort in Canyonville, OR. Tomorrow, Sunday, we will tackle the mountains, Siskiyous and Shata. Once past that we are home free, so to speak. Next stop is Rolling Hills casino in Corning, Ca.

Off We Go Snow Birding

2010-11-26T22:54:00.000-08:00

Winter moon over load out.

Okay, so I set our departure date on week late. But we have lived through the Washington November Arctic blast and survived. Now the rain has come and cleared the ice and snow and we are heading south tomorrow morning. Frist stop is 7 Feathers in Canyonville, the Rolling Hills at Corning, CA the our good friends at Chowchilla, ca. After a two or three day lay over we will be off to Quartzxite, AZ with an overnight stop at Edwards, AFT. From Quartzsite we will make the final push to Tucson where we will be for the winter with a spring trip to Bronson, MO for a submarine reunion.

The iPad, Perfect for RVer?

2010-11-13T16:42:00.001-08:00

iPad, Prefect for RVers

In April of this year Apple started selling the iPad. I had to wait until June to get mine because the demand was so high. 300,000 units were sold the first day. 4.5 million iPad were sold in the first three months. Last figures released shows that 8.75 million have been sold. Estimates are that Apple will sell 45 million iPads in 2011.

Now, me being a Geek is was natural that I would by one. I would have bought one whether I was an RVer or not. After a couple of weeks of using this outstanding device I started wondering how it would be when we are RVing. The more I thought about it the more I started thinking this could be the perfect device for RVers. After taking it on two trips I found I was right. It is the perfect device for RVing. Here I will explain why and then you can make up your own mind.

First it operates over WIFI or 3G (same as cell phones). There is no contract unlike your cell phone. When on WIFI there is no cost. When on 3G with AT&T it is only $25 a month. It goes by month to month, so you only need activate it when you are going to be traveling. Like now, we are home so it is not activated so there is no $25 a month charge. Perfect for RVers.

What about cost.
The basic 16 GB model is $499 but that is WIFI only. The 16 GB model with WIFI is $629 and this is the one I recommend. That is the smallest model with WIFI but really, that is all you need. You are not going to use up that 16 GB for all that we do. Target and Amazon are also now selling the iPad. I know, I know, it sounds expensive and it is BUT it delivers. So, lets talk about what it will do for you and why I think it is the perfect device for RVers.

So, here is what it will do for you, on the road AND at home.

* It will handle all your email, in and out with a real slick program. Even while driving.

* It has great Google maps with GPS. To/From routing with mile and time. Apps for Tom Tom, Magellan, Garmin and others are available.

* Handles all your recorded music and apps for music over 3G even while driving

* Has a fully functional iPod

* Organize and store all your photographs.

* E book reader with Apples iBooks, Amazon’s Kindle app and others.

* Stream movies and TV show from Netflix. Only $8 a month, all you can eat.

* Record and play back movies and TV shows from iTunes or Amazon.

* Fully functional Contact address book with email contacts

* Wonderful apps for newspapers and TV news programs.

* Apps like ABC’s where you can watch TV shows

* Facebook and Twitter apps where you can keep in contact with family and friends.

* Some of the best RV apps I have ever seen. Passport America, Truck stops, Rest Areas, AllStays Camps, RV parks, RV Trader, AllStay Overnight Parking at Walmart, AllStays iExit and more.

* Apps for keeping track of your RV mileage and maintenance.

* Apps for keeping your medical information and first aid

* And Games? Hundreds to choose from. There is around 200,000 apps in the Apple store at this time. All can be accesses right from the iPad.

* Great Browsers for surfing the Internet.

* Can be charged via AC or your DC supply.

* 10 hours plus battery life.

There is so much more that I could keep going but this should give you an idea of why I think it IS the perfect device for RVers. I don’t use the satellite TV anymore. I just don’t need it with everything we get from WIFI, 3G, RV Camp Cable and wonderful HD Digital over the air signals. There for you take the money savings from Dirctv or Dish per month and it does not take long to pay for the iPad.

So, check out the iPad. Maybe someone you know or stop by an Apple Store and check it out. One warning though, once you touch one you will be hooked and you will know why it is the fastest selling electronic device in history.

RV WIFI

2010-11-13T16:41:00.000-08:00

RV WIFI

Why WIFI? Well, it allows you to use your computer anywhere in the coach or even outside. It also allows you to run more that one item on the Internet at a time. In our case both of us have laptops and smart phones. All smart phone can operate over the Internet via WIFI which saves you using data minutes with your carrier. And with what I am going to show you, you can even have others traveling with you to use your WIFI hot spot.
First, lets talk about hot spots. Hot spots are a WIFI area usually open to the public. Right not McDonald's and Starbucks all have open WIFI. There are smart phone apps that show where WIFI hot spots near you. AND you would be surprised at how many people run a WIFI at their home or business and do not have it secured with a password.
You can usually tell when you look for a WIFI signal and you see one or more of them are Linksys and there is no little lock icon next to it. You can use that signal and there is no law against it. Do you have WIFI at home? Is it locked down with a password?
rv_kit_repeater_1 Okay, the system I use is from Jefa Tech. It uses a WIFI router specifically configured to receive a WIFI signal and then rebroadcast it. This system also comes with a short white tube antenna that they show strapping to the back ladder. That sounded like to much humbug to me. I don't want to have to mount it at every stop. So, I mounted it on the shaft of the crank up TV antenna.
I attached it with two radiator hose clamps then ran the coax forward and thru the roof near where then satellite and radio wires enter. That drops the coax into that area above the windshield where all those other wires are. The WIFI router then sits on one of those shelves and plugs into AC. It is amazing how well it works. If you have other questions please ask but with this email is the link to Jefa Tech's website, a PDF of the instructions and a picture of my antenna mount. WIFI antenna
Here is the link to Jefa Tech http://bit.ly/duSYnn

Do we need satellite TV anymore?

2010-09-26T02:35:00.000-07:00

In his article I am going to talk about our RV entertainment and communications. The question is, do we still need that expensive satellite system?
In mid 2009 the government mandated a switch from the old fashion analog TV signal to a High Definition TV signal that operates on a different frequency. In the beginning the government subsidized the purchase of a box that would allow you to make your old tub type analog TV receive this new signal. It was a stop gap measure and did not deliver the true HD signal to your set. It just converted the HD signal back to a analog signal. You can't even buy those converter boxes any more. So, what to do? Sooner or later you will have to do this since when your old set breaks nobody will fix it. It just isn't done anymore. What you do or will need to do is to replace your old tub type analog sets with a new digital flat screen set. The advantages are these; you lose 60 to 70 pounds of weight in the RV, you don't need that converter box anymore and you will be shocked at the HD picture you will get, right over the air.
So, now we come to the satellite question. After we picked up our 2001 Safari Cheetah in Tucson last December, I made that change. I was truly shocked at how great the picture was coming right over the air. Okay I thought, nice in Tucson, about 20 miles from town but what about on our way home to Washington state. Well, I was amazed. We stopped in Palm Springs, Chowchilla, CA about 30 miles north of Fresno, Corning, CA somewhere near Chico, CA and Canyonville, Oregon. At every stop I was able to receive amazing HD TV. I have to admit that the signal in Canyonville was not the best. It is in the mountains south of Roseburg, Oregon. But you know what? Most every RV camp these days also supplies cable TV. Not HD but either in satellite.
Now, what other way is there to watch TV? On your computer or iPad. Don't have an iPad? More on that later. More and more TV program are being sent over the Internet. Eventually that will be they way you get your TV. Netflix streams movies and TV shows right over the Internet for $8 a month, all you can eat. CBS.com, NBC.com, ABC.com and others are already streaming many of their programs right over the Internet. And it is on demand so you can watch that program you like when you want to see it. And most good RV camps offer WIFI for free or for a very low cost. In this day and age I wont even consider staying at an RV camp that does not have WIFI and they know it. That is why most will have it these days.
So, with TV coming at you from so many different places and so cheap, why do we need satellite? Granted, if you do a lot of camping out in the desert or high in the mountains you might need a satellite system. But then again, you might be surprised. I know I was. Now if I can just figure out a way to get rid of the big white dome on top of the RV, I will be all set. Might even get better fuel mileage. (weight and wind resistance) It's the way of the future folks. Enjoy it.
I will talk about why the iPad is the perfect device for RVer in my next article.

New CPR, learn it.

2010-09-06T23:20:00.000-07:00

This new CPR is something that you should learn. Especially us RVs that are on the road and may not be near to medical help. Watch this video:

Recent Work Done

2010-08-26T23:22:00.000-07:00

This is the results of some work done on the Cheetah. Best of all, sent here from my iPhone.

RV Safety Note

2010-08-25T01:57:00.001-07:00

Tire Traker System

All of us are submariners. We had to learn all the systems of the boats we served on. Hopefully, you treat your RV the same way. It has been said that submariners make some of the best RVers because of our past training.
As RVers we learn to monitor all of our RV systems. When we are flying down the free way we monitor our speed, fuel level, oil pressure, engine temp, transmission temp and volt meter. We listen for strange noises and have a sense of how the coach is riding.
BUT, what is the one system on an RV that can hurt or kill you faster than any other?
Your tires, yet it is the one system that most of you don't monitor. If a front tire goes you ARE going to leave the road and in the wrong area you can roll over. For tire blow outs they say that you have either had on all ready or you have not had one yet. I went for a long time keeping my tires on pressures correct and with the hope that we can get from point A to point B with out that dreaded blow out. I have finally seen the light and now run a monitor system on all six of my coach tires and all four of my toad tires. Ya, the system is not cheap but the cost of a blow out and be ten time the expense. This goes for you trailer pullers too. Think about it, it could save your life.

Back from the FMCA Convention

2010-08-25T01:13:00.000-07:00

Fe and I had a wonderful time at the 84th Family Motor Coach Association International convention in Redmond, Oregon. Met a lot of old friends, learned a lot about RVing, coaches and how they work at great seminars, two full buildings of vendors selling everything you could ever need for a RV, entertainment, good food and lot of fun. 2,200 RV coaches arrived and were all parked in an orderly manner by great volunteers.

Back From Hawaii

2010-08-06T05:22:00.000-07:00

We just got back from Hawaii but WAIT, next week we are going to Redmond, Oregon in the RV for the FMCA International Convention. Lots to see and do there and I will keep you cut in on the action.

Week End at Westport, WA

2010-07-12T16:34:00.000-07:00

We have a great time at Westport, WA this past week end as guest of Virgil and Donna Ford and the Everygreen Holiday Rambler club. Westport, WA is located at the tip end of a Peninsula at the south entrance of Gray Harbor on the Washington State coast. Lots of great food including some wonderful fish and chips at the One Eyed Crab. We also so a great exhibition of kite flying. Along with us was my granddaughter Kasondra Santalella and her boy friend Devin Kelly. They are from Tucson getting away from a hot summer.

More To Com

2010-07-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know there has not been a lot here of late. BUT we are heading to the beach next week end and there will be a lot more then. The future holds a FMCA trip to Redmond, Oregon in August and next April we will be going to Branson, MO for a submarine reunion. Stay tuned.

Keep Cool This Summer, 5 Step to a Good AC

2010-06-15T23:49:00.000-07:00

The air conditioning unit in your RV or motorhome is undoubtedly one of the most important components to keep in good working order. These parts are extremely expensive to begin with. And, on a hot summer day, even the most luxurious of RVs can turn into a searing oven if the air conditioner is broken. While it is not difficult to maintain your air conditioning unit, just cleaning and replacing the filter is not enough. You can get the best possible performance of your air conditioner by following a simple maintenance program.

Clean or replace air filters. This is the easiest step and should be done every 2–4 weeks when the air conditioner is in operation. Clogged filters prevent air flow and make your air conditioner work harder and be less productive. Reusable filters should be cleaned with mild soapy water, dried and then reinstalled. Disposable filters should be swapped out for new ones. Check your owner's manual for instructions on removing the filter and additional details.
Inspect the gasket seal located between the ceiling of your RV and the bottom of the air conditioner. This should be completed on a regular basis. To prevent leaks, replace the seal if it has cracks or shows any other signs of wear.
Clean the outside condenser coil annually. Disconnect the power to the RV and the air conditioner before proceeding. Blow compressed air through the coil–from the inside out–to remove any debris which may have collected on the coil. If the debris is too heavy, you can wash the coils with water and then allow to fully dry before reconnecting.
Inspect, clean and straighten any bent condenser fins.
Add one to two drops of oil to the motor ports if applicable. Ports are visible on the fan motor when the air conditioner shroud (cover) is removed. Check your owner's manual to determine if your air conditioning unit requires lubrication.

RV Tech Tip Up Date

2010-05-27T21:57:00.000-07:00

Two great tips for you this time.

1. When we are RVing around the country most of the time we communicate on our computers via WIFI but you never know how secure that WIFI is. So, here is what you do. This is new from Google. First go to the Google search page but use https://google.com and NOT http://google.com. The S in httpS means secure. Once you use the https:// Google every thing you transmit from you computer to the WIFI will be encrypted. So any time you are on WIFI in a strange place use https://google.com.

2. The perfect computer device for RVers now is the Apple iPad 3G. With the 3G model you will have the use of WIFI and AT&Ts fast 3G network. You don't need to be a AT&T subscriber to use the iPad on the AT&T network. You can turn on the 3G right from the iPad. Cost is $30 a month for all the band width you can use. There is no contract. Turn it on at the beginning of your trip and turn it off when you get home. What do you get? Internet surfing, email, TV shows, Netflix movies, Ebooks, picture stowage, music and GPS. I think it is the perfect device for the RVer.

AT&T Micro Cell

2010-05-25T01:21:00.000-07:00

In some area of the country people live in a fringe cell area. That is was us a problem we had. Close to a window we had 1 to 2 bars. Move about in the house and you would get "searching". Okay, now we live on the Hood Canal and are a bit out in the woods. That is okay and it is nice here AND it is not AT&T's fault that we live in a fringe area. So, I was happy when they offered the Micro Cell. It plugs right into my Internet service cable and make my house a Micro Cell tower just for us. You do have to pay for the equipment but there is not monthly charge. Though some people feel that AT&T is ripping us off and that they should pay for the poor service here, I don't agree for the reason stated above. I LIKE IT!

It will work when your on the road as long as you can connect to a broadband service. Not great for RVers but good when you are home if your AT&T cell service is not as strong as you would like it.

Working On The RV

2010-05-14T21:56:00.000-07:00

The weather has improved. Looks like we will get some spring after all. The next project is to replace the rug in the head and replace it with wood flooring. I agree. We men seem to have trouble with marksmanship when it come to the small bowel.

I also am installing some hollow tiles to make a small turning area for the left front time to make it easier to get out of the parking pad.

Quick Up Date

2010-05-04T00:08:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since we got back home in Washington State BUT the weather up here sucks. The neighbors tell me that it was better in January than it was in April and now it is May the temp tonight will be mid 30s and it is SNOWING in the mountain.
I have a lot to do on the RV but I need some good weather. The sky light above the shower is leaking. Just from age and small cracks. Sure, I ordered a new one and it is ready to go. I just have to wait for a sunny day. I am also putting some of that rubber "rain gutter" strips above the windshields so I don't get those awful stains that run down from the body.
So, there you go for a catch up. More soon, I hope. "I'm singing in the rain. .

Short slide show of our winter trip

2010-04-28T22:42:00.000-07:00

This travel slideshow of Stan & Fe Cook’s trip to 3 cities including Tucson, Corning and Belfair was created by TripAdvisor on Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 5:34am UTC. Stan traveled 4,131 kilometers (2,567 miles) on this trip.

Got It Done

2010-04-16T18:23:00.000-07:00

It wasn't easy but I got it done. I have to rework the drive way a little for a place for the left front time to make the final turn when backing in.

Wash it up and park it.

2010-04-14T20:43:00.000-07:00

It looks like spring has come back. I had a chance to wash the RV and the Fit. Now comes the challenge. I have to try to park this big guy in my somewhat small RV pad. I do know that I parked our 34 foot Endeavor there when we had that and I was unable to park our 40 foot See Ya in there. Now I need to be able to park this 36 foot Safari Cheetah there. Tomorrow we will find out.

Home Too Soon

2010-04-03T21:48:00.000-07:00

We are home from Tucson now. In fact we have been home for a week. Rain and even some snow. I can't even get out and wash the RV or do some need work on it. We just flat came home too soon.

Almost Home

2010-03-25T19:33:00.000-07:00

Tonight we are staying at the Rolling Hills Casino RV camp. Nice camp with full hook ups for $25. Plus WIFI. It is located at Corning, CA right off the I-5. Between Sacramento and Redding, CA

Next stop? Seven Feathers casino at Canyonville, Oregon and home on Saturday.

Heading home from Tucson

2010-03-22T20:29:00.000-07:00

After a great winter in Tucson with family it is time for use to head home. First leg is a stop in Palm Desert, California. More tomorrow.

Going Home Soon

2010-03-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

Well, time is going short for our winter stay in Tucson. The winter has been very mild in the Pacific Northwest and the grass is growing early. Soon we will be pointing the Cheetah north and heading home after a nice winter with family in Tucson.

Rear View Camera and Trik-L-Start

2010-01-24T15:30:00.000-08:00

Here is a view of a rear view camera system that I installed in our Cheetah. It came with an old system that required you to have the TV set on to see. You will see how much better this system is.
Also I installed a battery trickle charge system that keeps the chassis battery charge when plugged into AC.

At last, some video of the Cheetah

2010-01-18T17:08:00.000-08:00

Here is the first video of the 2001 Safari Cheetah

We have the Motorhome

2010-01-09T21:46:00.000-08:00

We now have taken delivery of the 2001 Cheetah and it is parked at our daughter's house in Tucson where we spend the winter. I have changed out the old TV so far. Putting in a new entertainment system and a new rear view camera. Pictures to follow soon.

RV Purchase

2009-12-21T05:47:00.000-08:00

We found, hard core negotiated and got our 6th RV. It is a 2001 Monaco Safari Cheetah. Asking price was $69,990 and we TALKED them down to $54,700. Delivery and PDI should be the middle of the week. More to follow. Stay tuned.