It was like an episode from “lifestyles of the rich and famous” when RV Lifestyle Magazine visited Bella Vista RV Centre in Oro-Medonte, Ontario to take a test drive in the new Cheetah from Safari Motorcoach. Sleek and eye-catching from the curb, step into the coach you are immediately impressed by an elegant and sophisticated interior, with a floor plan that will bring a smile to the face of any experienced RV traveller. With facing slides in the forward section of the vehicle, your galley and dining area expand to create a bright and spacious penthouse caliber environment, complete with all of the modern accoutrements that distinguish a top-line RV… hardwood cabinetry in a choice of Newport Cherry or Champagne Select, high-end residential quality appliances, entertainment and automotive components appropriate for a vehicle of this price range.
            We were really quite impressed with the floor plan in this motorcoach. At the rear of the vehicle, a queen-size bed with wrap-around nightstands is positioned in one slide-out section, and the slide opposite this contains a full-wall vanity and closet – this is a very convenient design. The full rear wall of the vehicle is a wardrobe closet, ideal for full-time RV couples. The ensuite bathroom includes a Neo-Angled shower with obscured glass door. Select the optional ceiling fan in the bedroom and you can stay cool without using the rear roof air unit.
           
Construction
            Without a doubt, the Safari Cheetah is built to provide luxury for years to come, from the one-piece molded crowned fiberglass roof down to the foam insulated floor with three-ply underbelly. The laminated gel coat fiberglass exterior of the vacuum bonded walls envelop an aluminum superstructure and there’s not a hint of flex or squeaking from the Structurewood™ flooring, covering the aluminum framed floor on steel trusses. The front and rear molded fiberglass caps fit perfectly, and the view through the one-piece Panaview™ windshield is unobstructed and distortion-free.
            With full-body paint in a variety of styles and colour combinations, your Cheetah can be ordered to match your taste, and your lifestyle. With ¾” insulation in the walls, and an all-season insulated roof, this vehicle is quite well suited for all-year enjoyment.
            Inside the coach, the selection of opulent interior fabrics and materials blends with the rich beauty of hardwood cabinetry and the functional elegance of a ceramic tiled floor in the entry area, kitchen and bath – the balance of the floor is covered with designer carpeting. Our test model had the optional Ultraleather™ Hide-A-Bed with air mattress, which was just too comfortable to resist. All fabrics in the vehicle are, of course, treated with a soil repellant.

In the Cockpit
            Slide into the Ultraleather™ pilot and co-pilot seats and the vista provides a picture window just waiting for you to explore the RV roads to adventure. At the driver’s fingertips are the controls for all of the vehicular systems, including power sun visors, and the entertainment and information components of the in-dash AM/FM/CD stereo with Sirius-ready compatibility, iPod control, aux-in connection, SD memory card slot, and the very important weather radio.
            At your feet, the brake and accelerator pedals are adjustable to suit a wide range of driver heights, and the pilot chair is, of course, fully adjustable and oh-so-comfy.
            With the optional GPS mounted in-dash you will never be lost, just key-in your destination and the system will guide your route with visual as well as audio directions.

On The Road
            Whether your adventures take you along the interstate or down winding country roads, this baby cruises like a jetliner thanks to the luxury ride characteristics of the Roadmaster RR8R-series chassis with Cushion Air Glide suspension. This wide track chassis is a very stable platform for a luxury coach, and with eight outboard-mounted gas charged shock absorbers and air bags it certainly helps turn the back country roads into velvet highways.
            The Caterpillar®C7 350 Electronic engine displaces 7.2L (441 cu. in.), and the smooth transmission of power through the Allison® 3000 MH 6-speed World Transmission is as easy as can be with push-button controls for the electronic shifter. While we did not fully load the vehicle for our test drive, we did traverse the hilly terrain of the area, and the coach handled like a dream, accelerating briskly and stopping on a dime with the smooth confidence of a real road machine, thanks to the anti-lock braking system with full air brakes. The 4.30:1 rear axle ratio and 275/70R/22.5 tires provided excellent performance on both dry and wet pavement, with automatic traction control taking charge to assist on the wet roads. While the vehicle is equipped with an exhaust braking system, we did not utilize this feature on this road test, although we have on similar vehicles in previous test drives, and it certainly is a valuable component to have on a large motorcoach.
           
At the Campsite
            With fingertip control of the power assisted steering, and the advantage of a rear vision monitor, maneuvering the Cheetah through tight twisting campsite roads is much easier than you might think – the 17.5” chrome head heated remote mirrors provide an excellent view of the sides of the vehicle, and if you upgrade to the optional three-camera rear vision system with audio and adjustable centre camera you can communicate with a spotter to give you complete confidence in backing-in to a campsite.
            Once you position the vehicle in your campsite and set the parking brake, you can activate the automatic hydraulic leveling system. In a matter of seconds the motorcoach is solid and level, ready for you to deploy your four slide-out sections. Remove the travel locks, check for obstructions, and touch the slide-out controls, and your Cheetah expands to its full width. While the exterior compartments do not extend with the slide-out sections, the doors swing open horizontally, and there are slide-out cargo drawers to assure easy access to your gear.
            Hooking-up the Cheetah is quick and convenient, with all of the RV systems accessible behind the large exterior compartment doors. There is an Onan® Quiet Diesel generator with auxiliary start switch to provide power when a 50 amp hookup is not available, and your 12 volt system is powered by four 6V deep cycle house batteries and two 12V heavy duty chassis batteries. A 2000 watt inverter completes the electrical system.
            Once you have hooked-up to the campsite facilities, you can extend the Eclipse Automatic Patio awning, and the front door awning, and sit in the shade as your neighbours walk by to admire the motorcoach. The slides, of course, have automatic topper awnings that extend on their own to protect the top of the slides from weather and falling leaves.
           
Climate Control
            With dual 13.5M BTU roof air conditioners, ducted air, heat pumps and digital thermostat control you’ll be cool on the hottest summer day, and when the cool weather kicks in, your Dual Zone electronic ignition furnaces (21M BTU and 31M BTU) with floor ducted heating will keep you nice and warm.
            On cool winter evenings, you might enjoy the optional fireplace, beautifully finished with a hardwood frame to blend perfectly with the interior décor.
            For cold weather touring, the coach has both water heater bypass valving and winterizing valving systems, and the tanks are mounted in an enclosed and insulated underbelly.
           
In The Galley
            When you enter the Cheetah 40SKQ the first thing that catches your eye is the large four-door refrigerator with ice maker, our test unit featured the optional 14 cu. ft. stainless steel residential caliber model that is ideal for use in a vehicle of this size. The standard refrigerator is a 10 cu. ft. model featuring hardwood inserts that match the décor of the vehicle. The high output triple sealed-burner cook top with oven is right beside the refrigerator, and features removable solid surface range covers that integrate perfectly into the large Corian® Solid Surface countertop. All of the drawers roll effortlessly on heavy-duty ball bearing drawer guides.
            At eye level, the Spacesaver convection microwave is state-of-the-art in RV galley components. Opposite the galley, in the driver’s side slide-out section, the free-standing dinette is ideal for two, and there are extra chairs to accommodate two guests at the expanded table. There is a full wall cabinet adjacent to the dinette, which is a very convenient feature.

Entertaining on the Road
            With a very spacious interior floor plan, the Cheetah 40SKQ can seat eight or more in comfort, and this could make your vehicle “party central” for sporting events, since the facing sofa and loveseat are ideally positioned to provide an excellent view of the 37” flat screen LCD TV, part of the home theatre system on board the coach. Exterior hookups are provided for DSS Dish and cable TV. With digital satellite TV system prep, all you have to add is your satellite receiver and a suitable dish – the KVH R5 In-Motion dish is a recommended option. Add the optional exterior entertainment system with a 26” LCD TV, AM/FM/CD radio with stereo speakers, and you will be a hit with your campground neighbours – it’s the ultimate tailgate party.
            In the bedroom a 20” LCD TV and stereo speakers integrate with the home entertainment system and you can add an optional DVD player with IR repeater. You can also upgrade the rear TV to an optional 26” model.

(Page Top)