Category: Gadget Reviews
ARRGGGGH!!!!!! (Finding a digital TV signal)
October 13, 2011 by Professor95 · 2 Comments
It was around five o’clock before we finally pulled off the highway into a nice, cozy little campground away from the traffic noise of the Interstate. Once on our site I pushed some buttons to lower the leveling jacks, run out the slides and open the awning. Both water and power were right at the side of the RV where it was easy to hook-up. Boy, I love this push-button automatic stuff – it makes setting up so much easier than the old way. This campground offers no cable hook-up and the canopy of huge trees overhead renders the satellite dish useless. I want to catch the six o’clock news and then the National News that follows. I have about 30 minutes to get the TV tuned in. My only choice is to find the terrestrial stations in the area. So, I crank up the “Batwing” TV antenna with the Wingman attachment and turn on the TV. Since all of the TV stations are now digital, as is the TV, before I can even think about positioning the antenna I have to hit menu on the remote,... [Read more...]
Chinese Company Copies the SylvanSport GO
October 6, 2011 by Rex Vogel · 2 Comments
In an earlier post, Meet the GO! by SylvanSport, I reported on the GO, a lightweight, reconfigurable, pop-up trailer manufactured by Brevard, North Carolina-based SylvanSport LLC. Meet the Go! All ready to Go! (Credit: sylvansport.com) SylvanSport has learned that Wuyi Tiandi Motion Apparatus Co. Ltd., a manufacturing company operating out of Zhejiang, China has begun manufacturing and selling counterfeit versions of the popular SylvanSport GO, according to a press release. Designed and manufactured entirely in the U.S., the SylvanSport GO has been widely praised for its innovative design features. The GO “was copied down to the color scheme and even the marketing support materials,” said Tom Dempsey, founder and president of Sylvan Sport. Sylvan Sport said that “this is an unusually blatant example illustrating the increasing problem of many of China’s most accomplished companies achieving their success by pilfering the intellectual property of other industrialized nations.” The... [Read more...]
A Compact Efficient Dish Drying Mat For Camping
September 21, 2011 by Melissa A. Trainer · 1 Comment
If you cook when you are camping, then you most likely begrudge washing and drying those dishes. I know that I do. I often find it a hassle to dry the dishes and then deal with the damp kitchen towels. Getting those kitchen towels to dry here in the maritime Pacific Northwest can be a challenge on a cold rainy day by the Pacific Ocean! Well, just this weekend, I discovered a lightweight, compact, and affordable drying mat that seems to fit the bill for campground cookery. I purchased one on Saturday night and have been using it in my home kitchen, but I now intend to get one for my camper. The Dish Drying Mat is made from absorbent microfiber and easily folds for storage. It is cushiony, absorbent, and fast drying. And, it is machine washable in cold water. I haven’t washed mine yet, but I have found that the mat is priceless for drying pots, pans, knives, wine glasses, and miscellaneous kitchen items. The mat absorbs the water beautifully and thereby minimizes the use of kitchen... [Read more...]
Modifying our bathroom – a review for Extend-A-Shower
August 8, 2011 by Canadianladybug · 5 Comments
RV Extend-A-Shower Created by Stromberg Carlson Products Inc. About the product Enjoy the comfort and privacy of your RV’s shower with Extend-A-Shower. Extend-A-Shower creates more room in your RV’s shower so you won’t need to run to the public showers anymore. When not in use it folds out of the way with no tools required. To fold in or out, simply move the main bar to one side, swing one leg in or out, move the bar to the other side and position the other leg. Fits shower stalls 35″- 42″ wide Pivots into your shower stall when not needed. Can be used to drip dry laundry over your shower basin. Our Thoughts We always found that our bathroom in our RV was small. And we wished that there was a way to have the area feel bigger at times. One day while looking into an RV magazine, I saw the Extend-A-Shower product being announced. Being a reviewer, I decided to email the company behind this intriguing product to see if we could review one. They... [Read more...]
Tempflow Mattress and My Sleep Experiment
August 2, 2011 by Good Sam Team · 7 Comments
Ready for Testing I take sleeping very seriously. As the days get longer and the nights get increasingly shorter, the time I have to sleep becomes more precious every day. If I don’t get a solid six hours of quality sleep a night I am irritably, groggy, sore, and basically a drain upon society. That is why choosing a mattress can become a monumental challenge. If I don’t choose a good mattress then I can say ‘good night’ to a good night’s rest, and that does not sit well with me (or my wife for that matter). So when Relief Mart contacted me about testing and reviewing the Tempflow Mattress for RVs and home, you can imagine my hesitation. Before I even took the mattress out of the packaging, I wrote up a list of the qualities I wanted in a mattress, and I decided right then and there that for me to recommend this Tempflow mattress, it would have to meet all these criteria. Support I have had my run-ins with lumpy, droopy, hard-as-rock mattresses in the past, and they were not pleasant... [Read more...]
WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN! ( The EASY way to Keep Your RV Carpet Clean)
July 6, 2011 by Professor95 · 4 Comments
It easily picks up lint, crumbs, pet hair and tracked in dirt. The handle lies flat so you can reach under furniture. The most amazing thing is there is no cord, broom or dustpan to deal with and it does not require electricity – not even batteries! Yep – what is old is new again, and the darn thing works fantastically. What I am talking about is the Bissell Sweep Up carpet sweeper. I just happened to stumble onto one of these little wonders at Big Lot’s one day for the partly sum of $12.00. Shucks, for twelve bucks I thought I would give it a try. Every RV we have owned had some carpet. Our current fifth wheel has carpet in the living area and the bedroom. Even with a front door mat, we continually track in stuff and Oscar, bless his little heart, sheds fine little black hairs all the time. The makers of our RV installed a Dirt Devil central vacuum. It is a nice accessory but you still have to drag out a bulky 30-foot long hose, tubes and attachments to vacuum the carpets. ... [Read more...]
The 10 Best Camping Gadgets (Don’t leave home without them!)
June 24, 2011 by Professor95 · 25 Comments
I was recently asked by a fellow camper, “What are the 10 gadgets you consider most essential for camping?” I wanted to respond with items like an air conditioner, clean bed off the ground, TV and remote, coffeepot and ice maker. But, I was quickly informed that those were not considered “gadgets” (or tools) and would not be acceptable. “This is serious!”, he admonished. So, giving it only a little thought (and very little at that) I did my best to reply with what I consider my ten most essential camping gadgets. Actually, my list could have been much, much longer – perhaps a hundred or more items. But, having to limit it to ten, this is what I came up with. See if you agree and perhaps add your own essential gadgets in the comments section. #1 – Duct Tape You can make anything from duct tape. A coffee cup (yuck!), rope, patch a leaky tent or awning, start a campfire, fashion a plate or bowl, strap pants cuffs tight to keep out ticks (leave some sticky side... [Read more...]
Stop Bugging Me!
May 23, 2011 by Melissa A. Trainer · 3 Comments
Camping is a wonderful way to escape the endless challenges of everyday life–work, email, phone, chores, and many other things. Unfortunately, the most amazing camping trips can quickly sour when mosquitoes take over and start to eat away at the party! I abhor bug bites, and my children are quite allergic to them. This isn’t a huge problem in the Seattle area because there aren’t many mosquitoes around here. However, when we travel to the East Coast or when we travel throughout Alaska in the summer, mosquitoes can be a huge annoyance. Over the years, I tried various products, but about eight or nine years ago I discovered an all-natural bug repellant from one of my favorite stores in Seattle–The Herbalist. Located in a residential neighborhood, this privately-owned shop is simply wonderful and their own custom-blended bug spray–B.O.O.– is awesome. Consisting of a blend of essential and herbal oils, the spray is designed to simultaneously repel... [Read more...]
Patti’s Saga of an RV Rookie: Life On the Road or How to Destroy Your New Hubcaps While Your Husband Faints
May 12, 2011 by Patti F. · 14 Comments
We did it! We drove from Prescott, Arizona to Whitefish, Montana (our first major RV trip) and loved it. However, there’s a reason I titled my blog “Saga of an RV Rookie” and that’s pretty much because this is the journey of two people who have no idea what they’re doing. I’m inviting you to follow along, either to commiserate with us or laugh at us, because we love your company. Our trip, thank God, was largely uneventful. The irritations were few, hubby withstood my myriad observations about his driving (even though I was the one who hit the chunk of tire on the freeway, ripping off two hubcaps and a side panel in the process), our Winnebago View is AWESOME and perfect for us, technology was grand, and Sirius radio allowed us to listen to the humiliation of the LA Lakers as the Mavericks kicked their…anyway…you get the picture. And in my defense about hitting the tire chunk, I did hear him yelling “Whatever you do, don’t hit that tire!” but I... [Read more...]
The True Cost of Poor Sleep
May 3, 2011 by Guest Blogger · 2 Comments
Whether you are traveling or at home, poor sleep will cost you. I am not just talking about the cost to your wallet, although it is well documented that a poor sleep can lead to a whole host of medical conditions and consequently, could lead to more doctor’s visits. I am also referring to the time and activity loss that occurs when you are not feeling up to your peak performance level. While there are many causes of poor sleep, two of the greatest issues are an uncomfortable mattress and overheating of the body. A recent Dutch medical study revealed that when the body temperature lowers a few degrees, people enter deep sleep stages longer and are less likely to awake early. This is especially important, when you consider how deep sleep has been proven to help repair the body and balance hormone levels. Whether you are uncomfortable during sleep from over heating, lack of support or pressure points, you can count on a lot of tossing and turning. This in turn will prevent... [Read more...]
