cell phones,laptop,internet on the road...

[postisland]

Likely buying Vista Cruiser Mini 2008 in June- planning on spending 8 months a year on the road for the next 5 years. Welcome any suggestions for best cell phone, laptop, internet use on the road, also suggestions for handling back home mail beyond reducing as much as possible, payments by direct debit, etc... Thanks for any pointers! Mike and Cyndy

[sueandjerry]

Welcome, we are envious of your chance to spend that much time on the road each year! We are fairly new to this site but have found the people here extremely helpful and knowledgeable. You have come to the right place.

Personally, we have been having excellent luck lately with our 2 year old Dell laptop and standard wireless card. We previously used our Verizon cell phone on the national plan with data (not America's Choice) and a USB mobile office cable for internet, but have not needed it for the past year. If we are in a spot without wi fi, we pop into a local library and use one of their computers, or their wi fi.

As for your AV question, we have had nothing but trouble with the "upgraded" surround sound system we purchased in our 2008 BT Cruiser 5272 so I would suggest going outside the dealer/manufacturer for a system. Small home theater systems are inexpensive and easy to mount and run a few wires. I wish we would have chosen that route! Instead we have very expensive lovely wired in speakers, but a receiver/dvd player that doesn't work and we are unable to get any help from the dealer or Gulfstream. In the spring, we will just buy a new unit.

Check your coach over carefully when you have your walk through, watch for loose screws, doors that won't stay shut, rough edges, tire pressure, etc, and make sure you are getting what you thought you paid for! Don't be afraid to ask alot of questions. We ended up with day shades in the bedroom because Gulfstream decided they were no longer doing day/night shades in 2008. It never occured to us that a manufacturer would put in shades you could see through in a bedroom. We ordered sight unseen as there were no longer any 2007's to be found.

Good luck!!!