This video in unsponsored. A 1-time donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated! www.paypal.me/ultramobility *Monthly subscribers help keep my channel going!* www.patreon.com/ultramobility Check out my new Amazon Storefront - No sponsored products! www.amazon.com/shop/ultramobility Let Safari Condo know Ultramobility sent you: Phone : 418 836-6664 Toll-free : 1 866 836-6664 Fax : 418 836-5553 info@safaricondo.ca Monday to Friday : 9am to 5pm Saturday : 10am to 4pm
My Roadtrek 4x4 on a Chevy 3500 chassis is a beast. Totally reliable in every way. Today I went from driving very rough slick mud roads to smooth highway speed at 65 MPH within minutes. As versatile as it gets. The Chevy chassis is a winner.
Neal, this is my number one favorite RV, if we could only get one. However, I contacted Safari and was told the wait time is over a year. I also think it is a bit difficult for people to buy and drop off a van and I asked if there is any way to buy direct and I was told no. If these guys ever expand to the U.S. I will be there waiting to buy. Especially with Roadtrek no longer an option since they are bankrupt these vans would be great. Thanks for another great review.
Buy a van and get one of the many folks on TH-cam to do the conversion for you. Watch Humble Rd to get an idea of a quality build. Then have them do it for you. Much cheaper. Much faster.
Hi Neil, in this video, you mentioned Smart Battery Lithium. They are NOT a reputable company!!! Please do not consider this company. Just look at all the BBB complaints and negative reviews. Anyone considering this company, just don't. My batteries lasted 1 1/2 years, I put in a warranty claim and was totally ignored. I had to go through hoops to even receive the delivery when I purchased brand new. There are many good Lithium battery companies other than this one. Just trying to save someone from the experience many of us have gone through with this company. Safari Condo are a first class company and really like their designs. Cheers, Steve
ScubaStevee62 thank you so much for drawing me attention to this. I will investigate further and will not recommend them until I have had a chance to look into myself. I appreciate your sharing this information as a person who purchased from them.
I know people who love the camper vans wouldn’t switch. I had a VW pop up camper van years ago, and it was so cozy, but SO small! And of course was horrible on anything with a hill. Don’t need a ton of room, but truly for us, as wonderful as the new vans are, we have to have a fixed bed to collapse in for naps or after an exhausting day of travel and hiking. These are charming for those who love vans.
glad that i'm able to bring alternatives to viewers rather than all the same rehash, sponsored videos or videos from dealers that we see on TH-cam! I couldn't really find any videos on any Safari condo so I thought I should do one.
I had the opportunity to tour this RV up close and personal at the BC RV Show today and I was not impressed. The build quality felt very cheap, and the layout was extremely awkward. For example, with the bed down there's no access to the kitchen. And that "convertible" bathroom was rickety at best. Although I did give your channel a plug to the folks who were watching me build the bathroom and wondering how I knew about it!
lol - well i'm glad that Ultramobility viewers know their stuff! other viewers have told me that they know more than many dealers. I appreciate your sharing your experience viewing this model. if I ever to a full review then i'll surely give my impression of its build quality. i'm glad you got to see one.
Jennifer Jones : I’m only going by what is shown on the website, but I agree the toilet/shower design looks way too finicky to work for me personally. Could you describe in a bit more detail about the “very cheap“ build quality? Were the cushions thin, cabinet hardware loose, cuts poor, etc? What did you think about the quality of the pop top roof?
Thank you for this Safari Condo review! I hope you will do more pop-up campervan reviews. My husband and I are trying to find one that will fit in our garage and have the option of sleeping up to 4 people. Much appreciated!
The GMC is a great van platform. Like the pickups it gets decent mileage with the 5.3l engine. It’s wide enough to work with and the seats are great for long distance travelling
Another great review. I'm always excited when a new Ultramobility video notification pops up in my feed. But Neil, have you ever considered reviewing van conversion companies? Brands like Glampervan US, who outfit their rigs with custom made components? A quality check on their individual process would be great for customers who want a more personalized look in their rig!
@@Ultramobility Uh...absolutely! Lol I know there are a few more; Outside Van in Oregon, Sportsmobile in Fresno, RB Components in LA...I just think there are many others like myself who are looking at converting a van in the future, instead of buying a loaded rig from an already established company like Winnebago or Hymer. The personalized touch of a custom ride feels more at home than a mass produced model, in my humble opinion. But of course, this comes from someone who's never owned a van/RV, so what do I know?
Yes you should go. And look at the work done by the other custom converters Pages from the Nayes mentioned. And any others you can unearth. I’m sure there are others out here who don’t need sleeping for 4 or 6, or even seatbelts for more than one. All that wasted space and unfulfilled functionality that can be recovered by a custom build is important to us. But so is an assessment of quality in design and workmanship. The websites and brochures will be filled with self-praise. But you can make a valuable assessment from first hand observation and a practiced critical eye.
Yes, brilliant bathroom design, but only if you're travelling alone. I couldn't imagiine having your family or friends with you and asking them to get out of their seats so Dad can use the facilities. Still, love these fully functional options you're covering that are at a lower price point. Great job.
Nothing bonds a group of travelers than the intimacy that goes with singing a merry tune (to block out other noises) while dad is in 'full-on' call of nature mode. One just hopes that ceiling fan was made by Boeing. [;-\
Wouldn't you be using the "facilities" when you are at a camping site? No need to ask people to move then, I hope(everyone should be outside). Can stop at a Starbucks when driving and everyone is their seat.
caryolyn, that's always possible. I like the idea of having an inside toilet and shower. there are times in the middle of the night when you just don't want to head outside.
@@Ultramobility I think this bathroom should be treated like oxygen masks on an airplane. Hopefully, they will never be needed but glad they are there in case of emergency only. This makes your bathroom in the Ascent look like a spa at the Fairmont.
Good review as always. Would love to see a full review to find out about the comfort of the seats and other things. Hopefully you will get answers to your questions soon.
if enough people like this video then I'll try to figure out a way to get to one and review it. they have no dealers yet here in the United States so that makes it difficult for me to check them out.
@@Ultramobility We live in Quebec City which is about one hour away from their factory, so the choice was easy for us. We went to their "open doors" event last june and we got to see their production line. We placed our order in april of 2018 so our wait period is about 15 months (for the model we picked). One thing to note is that their customer service is excellent !!
by the way I miss Quebec and especially Quebec City. It was out go-to-spot when we wanted to get away from Montreal and enjoy the true Quebecois life style. Lovely city and region.
You want to shit is a bucket that you have to empty at a rest stop and then have everything on the RV to fall apart the moment the warranty is up? That's weird...
@@herranton I do not understand the squeamishness surrounding cassette toilets in the US, maybe this is an RV park camper mindset. If they were more popular here RV parks will install the dumps for them and for the people that use vans in national parks and off grid areas can empty them in vault toilets every day or 2 instead of driving with 20 gallons of blackwater you have to pay to get rid of.
@@Adiscretefirm I dumped a cassette toilet once. It smelled absolutely awful. Never again. And I'd much rather take 10 minutes every 20 days than five minutes every two days. That way you can stay out longer. You're not tied to having to find a bathroom every two days. Maybe cassettes work well at rv parks where you can dump them all the time, but I'd much rather stay out of those.
@@herranton with a cassette you can stay out forever. Shovel, hole, dump, cover. Just like backcountry tent camping. It's fresh water, food, and fuel that limit you.
I liked tour video so much. As a matter of fact I have a Chevy Express AWD 8 cl. It's not a cargo van. It' a passanger's one that I would like to convert in a Mini RV tou show in the video. I live in Florida.
Hi Neil, I love your videos, they’re great! I just watched the one you did for the Safari Savana LDX. I emailed Safari Condo via their website. I would like to forward that email to you because you probably know which RV camper will meet my needs as I described them in my email. You may even have a video for it. I can’t figure out how to email you. This is the first time I’ve sent a comment to a TH-cam provider ever. How can I email you? I’m not sure how I’ll see your reply to this comment if any!
This is a really neat lower cost option! Only thing lacking is an air conditioner... here in the South, it's kinda a necessity! A lithium battery system and underhood generator would be icing on the cake. Edit - I see there is a rear window mounted AC option... that's a good thing! Would need it!
Well my friend very good job. I thought everything was cool untill you showed me the bathroom. I see this van is for young people not for the young at heart. Stay thirsty my friend.
I know this is a mini-review and you don’t have time to cover everything. Two features that caught me eye are the gasoline-fueled furnace available on certain models and the rear window mounted AC unit that consumes less power. Replace the AGMs with the drop-in lithium as you remarked and you can power the small air conditioner for an hour or two to keep pets cool while you hike places where pets aren’t allowed.
Neil, this might be the most useful review yet for me!! My only question is: do you know how you'd go about changing the catagory of the van from residential/commercial to recreational vehicle? There is a significant vehicle tax difference amongst the different catagories.
We here in the USA are crying out for more options when it comes to camper van conversions using vans that will fit in a standard garage. Europe seems to be on the right track when it comes to these vehicles but unless you have the DIY skills you probably won't have one here. As much as I like these layouts using GMC van chassis, I won't purchase one in Canada. I just think buying one in Canada and driving it back to the USA might cause a myriad of problems. And what about where to go for service? I enjoyed your review of the Recon Camper Van using the Nissan NV200 chassis but those are very tiny vans. Recon isn't even taking new orders right now. And Volkswagen STILL refuses to export their California camper van to the USA. Ironic that with a name like that we can't buy one here.
If I heard correctly, Neil said to drop off a GMC Savana van. The van doesn't necessarily have to be bought in Canada. I'd check to see if they'll upfit a van bought in the US. That way the van can still be serviced by the place you bought it from.
Interesting designs. Maybe I missed it on your channel search, but would love to see a Sportsmobile review with your keen eye for quality and upper scale likes as your current rig. I am particularly interested in the 4x4 capability’s of the Quigley conversions but looking for quality comfort rather than gritty surfer escapes. I think you are close to one of their conversion shops out in Fresno area.
I really like their design, brilliant bathroom, and doesn’t seem too pricey relative to other B vans. I wonder if safari condos will build on other chassis? I’ll have to look into it great mini review Neil! Thanks :-)
LOL C'est quoi ces unités de mesure du moyen-âge ? 2:40 Largeur ? 2:45 Hauteur toit en bas : 8 ft = 2,44 m 4:47 Lit du bas : 51x76 in = 129x193 cm 6:33 Lit du haut : 48x76 in = 122x193 cm 20 ft = 6,10 m PS : Félicitations pour cette présentation qui en dit plus que le site du constructeur.
Nice review again Neil. I was wondering for a US buyer, are there any taxes or tariffs to be aware of? The van chassis is of course already a done deal with respect to typical tax and registration. But what about the value added for the conversion. Is there a sales tax somehow applied? What about bringing it back across the border? Is there any kind of tariff that applies?
i'm checking that out and will get back when I hear anything. there's probably not a tax or anything since technically you've already purchased the van but don't quote me on that.
I’m certain it’s based on distance from the GM factory, so it’d be nice to know what the average ship-through cost to Montreal would be. Just to be clear, we buy the van first and then pay Safari Condo separately for the build? You didn’t cover the 18-footer MX, but that’s my personal pick at this point...still a year away from starting the process.
Hi, i just discovered your channel. Excellent! I was looking at another Quebec company called Mars5. I was wondering if you could some time review their Illusion rv that is built on the dodge caravan or the Chrysler pacifica.
Neil, thanks! I've been *very* intrigued by Safari Condo (esp. their Flex models on the Sprinter & Promaster - tho' you've interested me in the GM models now, too). I like their styling, but do you have any feel for their build quality ?
Awesome! But I’ve got to wonder what size are the holding tanks? I’ve taken a few road trips in a relatives camper van, and the holding tank would fill up with just a few restroom trips on the road.
Erin I actually have all this information and more in a notebook that I keep on each and every model that I research. I use that notebook when I do a full review so it was no problem at all and I’m happy to share with you
Ultramobility Hi Neil, Could you expand further on this. I read a Jan 31 article that said that Thor did not acquire the North American Hymer, only the European Hymer. We were going to buy the 2.0 loft rear sofa in a week or so for our family of 4 after renting one and liking it. If we did, what would happen with our warranty and local service dealer? Also, any guidance for other class Bs that seat and sleep 4 preferably 21’ or shorter that you like?
hold off on purchasing any Hymer Group of North America brand and that includes Roadtrek, Hymer, Carado & Sunlight. The only official word is that Thor is NOT going to acquire the North American subsidiary and Hymer Group SE out of Germany has made no public statement about what is going to happen to them. One possibility is that they will simply close shop. You don't want to purchase something right now only to find that there is no one to cover your warranty and no dealer will do warranty work on it. Hold off any purchase until after the Thor deal closes in May and see what finally happens to Erwin Hymer Group of North America. That's my recommendation.
Ultramobility Thank you so much!! It’s a big bummer because after shopping for 1 1/2 years, we thought we finally had the one, but thankfully we found out before spending $100,000! We are new subs, love your videos! 👍🏼😀
1:10 Y a t-il la possibilité d'avoir ces portes cargo à charnières des deux cotés du véhicule ? Les portes battantes me semblent plus intéressantes que les portes cargo coulissantes. En les bloquant à 90°, en les occultant avec un rideau, cela peut faire un espace privatif pendant les saisons douces (cuisine extérieure, douche extérieure, etc).
I thought it was clever too. I prefer having a toilet and shower in the coach even if it's a makeshift one like this. if the family is out and about it's not a problem to have the coach to yourself for a quick shower or whatnot. of course a fully enclosed toilet and shower is preferred but let's be honest - that takes up a huge amount of room. in this setup for the times when the toilet and shower are not needed then you have a nice, functional front dinette.
Good review as usual, thank you! However, I prefer the Condo trailer build to the RV. The RV seems a glorified version of a VW conversion. Tiny kitchen, toy fridge, and the power grid is inadequate. Not even close to Hymer, Dethleff, Adria, Chausson, and the Euro models. It bothers me greatly that they would put in a Modified Sine Wave Inverter in their vans. When you pay $70K, $80K and these monumental sums of cash, to be so cheap is insulting. AIMS True Sine Inverter is $263 on Amazon at retail. A Modified Sine Inverter is about $150 on average. They want to save $100 and ruin your $1500 phone and $2000 laptop? This is called a suicidal business decision. I would not buy this RV just on the basis of this one fact. If any RV maker is this cheap, what other cheapo parts are hidden all over? Much better to get a used Pleasureway or get one built to specs. I will build my own RV intelligently with quality components. You cannot even stand up in one of these vans without raising the roof. No good for stealth and any kind of storm.
you're right it cannot be. that's what is listed on their site and obviously I should have caught that. GM site says 79 inches or 6.6f with mirror in. that sounds about right. thanks for pointing that out.
Excellent review. Thanks. But I’m not a fan of this almost 25 year old chassis and platform. Safety, technology have moved on so much since 1995. This is an antique compared to the Ford, Fiat and Mercedes options, all of them new in the last few years.
thanks for sharing that alliejr. it does have safety features that blow the ford transit and promaster out of the water and are more in line with the Mercedes like: blind spot assist, rear park assist, onstart emergency communication.
@@Ultramobility Not understanding allejr's comment. He is saying GM has old technology but your response is that the GM chassis does have those safety features similar to Mercedes? Thanks for the review. (I love the little Safari trailer with the pop-top roof too!)
I worked in the automotive industry. This chassis is actually Safer than pro master. In an accident, I would hands down want to be in one of these than a promaster or transit.
@@ArvinAsh Agree. The GM body on frame construction is esp. sturdy. We have some friends who run an HVAC business here in town and they won't buy anything but GM vans.
🎬 1 📽 🎞 🗣 🎙 🧐 🚐🌎🌍🌏🗺 🚐 Outstanding, thank you so much for sharing. 🤔 🧐❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👁👁 👍🏿 👩🏾💻🗺🚐 RV Journey ROAD TRIP!🚐 CORRECT we would LOVE the USA (Chevy 🚐) Ugly unit UltraMobility...
@@Ultramobility It is ok just cramped...I am 5ft 8 and my wingspan is 6 feet...WOW, massive female, My two daughter inlaws are 6ft 1" my only son 6ft3" 🙃🙃🙃🙃. Growing up in NYC most females were tall when I moved to the state of Georgia short people! 🚐Families that are small framed may enjoy this... 👩🏾💻👁👁 UltraMobility, you know where my ❤️ is 🚐AdvancedRV.com for engineering and 🚐midwestautomotivedesigns.com/ for design Sexy 4 captains chairs, my special bathroom with water closet, sink for 🤮🤢🤑🤧💩💩💩💩... 🚐 Love the channel...
Super vidéo et critique. J'ai jeté un coup d'œil au Safari Alto il y a quelques années. Ils ont des idées et des designs européens uniques. :) Have you heard about the Erwin.H. NA.? th-cam.com/video/qxhkDSG3FgQ/w-d-xo.html
This video in unsponsored. A 1-time donation via PayPal is greatly appreciated! www.paypal.me/ultramobility
*Monthly subscribers help keep my channel going!* www.patreon.com/ultramobility
Check out my new Amazon Storefront - No sponsored products! www.amazon.com/shop/ultramobility
Let Safari Condo know Ultramobility sent you:
Phone : 418 836-6664
Toll-free : 1 866 836-6664
Fax : 418 836-5553
info@safaricondo.ca
Monday to Friday : 9am to 5pm
Saturday : 10am to 4pm
Can you do a review of the roadtrek 210 popular?
Can you do a review of the 210 popular?
WOW!!! Love this van and I love that it can fit in many parking garages! Thank you Neil!
My Roadtrek 4x4 on a Chevy 3500 chassis is a beast. Totally reliable in every way. Today I went from driving very rough slick mud roads to smooth highway speed at 65 MPH within minutes. As versatile as it gets. The Chevy chassis is a winner.
Neal, this is my number one favorite RV, if we could only get one. However, I contacted Safari and was told the wait time is over a year. I also think it is a bit difficult for people to buy and drop off a van and I asked if there is any way to buy direct and I was told no. If these guys ever expand to the U.S. I will be there waiting to buy. Especially with Roadtrek no longer an option since they are bankrupt these vans would be great. Thanks for another great review.
Buy a van and get one of the many folks on TH-cam to do the conversion for you. Watch Humble Rd to get an idea of a quality build. Then have them do it for you. Much cheaper. Much faster.
You make the the best reviews! Short and sweet! Thanks
really appreciate that. thank you.
Hi Neil, in this video, you mentioned Smart Battery Lithium. They are NOT a reputable company!!! Please do not consider this company. Just look at all the BBB complaints and negative reviews. Anyone considering this company, just don't. My batteries lasted 1 1/2 years, I put in a warranty claim and was totally ignored. I had to go through hoops to even receive the delivery when I purchased brand new. There are many good Lithium battery companies other than this one. Just trying to save someone from the experience many of us have gone through with this company.
Safari Condo are a first class company and really like their designs.
Cheers, Steve
ScubaStevee62 thank you so much for drawing me attention to this. I will investigate further and will not recommend them until I have had a chance to look into myself. I appreciate your sharing this information as a person who purchased from them.
I know people who love the camper vans wouldn’t switch. I had a VW pop up camper van years ago, and it was so cozy, but SO small! And of course was horrible on anything with a hill.
Don’t need a ton of room, but truly for us, as wonderful as the new vans are, we have to have a fixed bed to collapse in for naps or after an exhausting day of travel and hiking.
These are charming for those who love vans.
yes safari condo is also another canadian company. thanks for the comment.
That hard top pop up was a pleasant surprise. Hoping to see more. Thanks Neil. The video peaked our interest.
glad that i'm able to bring alternatives to viewers rather than all the same rehash, sponsored videos or videos from dealers that we see on TH-cam! I couldn't really find any videos on any Safari condo so I thought I should do one.
I had the opportunity to tour this RV up close and personal at the BC RV Show today and I was not impressed. The build quality felt very cheap, and the layout was extremely awkward. For example, with the bed down there's no access to the kitchen. And that "convertible" bathroom was rickety at best. Although I did give your channel a plug to the folks who were watching me build the bathroom and wondering how I knew about it!
lol - well i'm glad that Ultramobility viewers know their stuff! other viewers have told me that they know more than many dealers. I appreciate your sharing your experience viewing this model. if I ever to a full review then i'll surely give my impression of its build quality. i'm glad you got to see one.
Can anyone tell whether or not it's ALL-SEASON, please ?
Their web does not even mention anything about ALL-SEASON, or not.
Jennifer Jones : I’m only going by what is shown on the website, but I agree the toilet/shower design looks way too finicky to work for me personally. Could you describe in a bit more detail about the “very cheap“ build quality? Were the cushions thin, cabinet hardware loose, cuts poor, etc? What did you think about the quality of the pop top roof?
Thank you Neil for the mini review of the Safari Condo!
That hideaway wet bath is a brilliant use of space.
This line of campervans is awesome!!
right don't you think?
Awesome service you provide Neil. Entertaining and informative. 🇺🇸
Thank you for this Safari Condo review! I hope you will do more pop-up campervan reviews. My husband and I are trying to find one that will fit in our garage and have the option of sleeping up to 4 people. Much appreciated!
The GMC is a great van platform. Like the pickups it gets decent mileage with the 5.3l engine. It’s wide enough to work with and the seats are great for long distance travelling
Another great review. I'm always excited when a new Ultramobility video notification pops up in my feed. But Neil, have you ever considered reviewing van conversion companies? Brands like Glampervan US, who outfit their rigs with custom made components? A quality check on their individual process would be great for customers who want a more personalized look in their rig!
thank you. funny enough I know the CEO of Glampervan. He's invited me over to their shop in SF. Should I go?
@@Ultramobility Uh...absolutely! Lol I know there are a few more; Outside Van in Oregon, Sportsmobile in Fresno, RB Components in LA...I just think there are many others like myself who are looking at converting a van in the future, instead of buying a loaded rig from an already established company like Winnebago or Hymer. The personalized touch of a custom ride feels more at home than a mass produced model, in my humble opinion. But of course, this comes from someone who's never owned a van/RV, so what do I know?
Yes you should go. And look at the work done by the other custom converters Pages from the Nayes mentioned. And any others you can unearth. I’m sure there are others out here who don’t need sleeping for 4 or 6, or even seatbelts for more than one. All that wasted space and unfulfilled functionality that can be recovered by a custom build is important to us. But so is an assessment of quality in design and workmanship. The websites and brochures will be filled with self-praise. But you can make a valuable assessment from first hand observation and a practiced critical eye.
Checks all the items we need without spending a fortune. Thank you!!
Yes, brilliant bathroom design, but only if you're travelling alone. I couldn't imagiine having your family or friends with you and asking them to get out of their seats so Dad can use the facilities. Still, love these fully functional options you're covering that are at a lower price point. Great job.
Nothing bonds a group of travelers than the intimacy that goes with singing a merry tune (to block out other noises) while dad is in 'full-on' call of nature mode.
One just hopes that ceiling fan was made by Boeing. [;-\
anthony brown - ewwww! still better than no bathroom and shower at all?
Wouldn't you be using the "facilities" when you are at a camping site? No need to ask people to move then, I hope(everyone should be outside). Can stop at a Starbucks when driving and everyone is their seat.
caryolyn, that's always possible. I like the idea of having an inside toilet and shower. there are times in the middle of the night when you just don't want to head outside.
@@Ultramobility I think this bathroom should be treated like oxygen masks on an airplane. Hopefully, they will never be needed but glad they are there in case of emergency only.
This makes your bathroom in the Ascent look like a spa at the Fairmont.
I love this build out of a GMC cargo van. I'd love to see a review of the middle model. Love the design for the shower in this model.
noted linda!
Brilliant. The Chevy express is a great platform. Thanks.
Yes! I wish more RV mfgs built on it...
Good review as always. Would love to see a full review to find out about the comfort of the seats and other things. Hopefully you will get answers to your questions soon.
if enough people like this video then I'll try to figure out a way to get to one and review it. they have no dealers yet here in the United States so that makes it difficult for me to check them out.
no reoad trip back to canada?@@Ultramobility
mmmmm maybe? I do love Quebec in the summer!
@@Ultramobility might need to go back earlier to solve some problems EHG are having.
rvdailyreport.com/industry/opinion-hymer-stubbornly-digs-in/
We're (impatiently...) waiting for the delivery of our Safari Condo Promaster XL Flex (21') next july. Their vans are really well made !
let us know what you choose them! happy for you!
@@Ultramobility We live in Quebec City which is about one hour away from their factory, so the choice was easy for us. We went to their "open doors" event last june and we got to see their production line. We placed our order in april of 2018 so our wait period is about 15 months (for the model we picked). One thing to note is that their customer service is excellent !!
so great of you to share this information with others. thank you.
by the way I miss Quebec and especially Quebec City. It was out go-to-spot when we wanted to get away from Montreal and enjoy the true Quebecois life style. Lovely city and region.
I love the class B, however, I wish manufacturers in the US/Canada would get up to speed with the German/European quality and innovation.
Brian Chadwick Shameful isn’t it?
You want to shit is a bucket that you have to empty at a rest stop and then have everything on the RV to fall apart the moment the warranty is up? That's weird...
@@herranton I do not understand the squeamishness surrounding cassette toilets in the US, maybe this is an RV park camper mindset. If they were more popular here RV parks will install the dumps for them and for the people that use vans in national parks and off grid areas can empty them in vault toilets every day or 2 instead of driving with 20 gallons of blackwater you have to pay to get rid of.
@@Adiscretefirm I dumped a cassette toilet once. It smelled absolutely awful. Never again. And I'd much rather take 10 minutes every 20 days than five minutes every two days. That way you can stay out longer. You're not tied to having to find a bathroom every two days. Maybe cassettes work well at rv parks where you can dump them all the time, but I'd much rather stay out of those.
@@herranton with a cassette you can stay out forever. Shovel, hole, dump, cover. Just like backcountry tent camping. It's fresh water, food, and fuel that limit you.
Love the rigid pop up, really has me thinking of this Safari Condo as an option. And built in my birth place, La Belle Province!
I lived in Quebec too so I want to throw some love their way! they deserve it!
It's a Swiss army RV! Lol
that's a good description! indeed that bathroom is like a swiss arm latrine!
Love your bloopers!!
Great manufacturer. Please do more reviews on their product line.
noted!
the best van yet,,!good job ultra,,,
Great review, Neil. And bonus at the end so hilarious! 😂
i'm enjoying adding the bloopers at the end. glad you enjoy them too. generally they get cut and tossed into the bit bin.
As always, a wonderful review. I also get excited when I see a new post from you. Thanks!
that's very kind of you GypsyJo. I get butterflies in my stomach with each video's release! It's always a mystery how viewers will react!
@@Ultramobility 😁
Tks Neil for sharing those infos with our US neighbour, this an other Canadian product that we are pround of. See you next time.
of course. i'm going to be showcasing a few other Quebec RV manufacturers in the future. I love Quebec!
I liked tour video so much. As a matter of fact I have a Chevy Express AWD 8 cl. It's not a cargo van. It' a passanger's one that I would like to convert in a Mini RV tou show in the video. I live in Florida.
Hi Neil, I love your videos, they’re great! I just watched the one you did for the Safari Savana LDX. I emailed Safari Condo via their website. I would like to forward that email to you because you probably know which RV camper will meet my needs as I described them in my email. You may even have a video for it. I can’t figure out how to email you. This is the first time I’ve sent a comment to a TH-cam provider ever. How can I email you? I’m not sure how I’ll see your reply to this comment if any!
Very cool camper van
I think so too. it's a god price, great warranty, great chassis and can carry 5 and sleep 5. so well thought out and designed in my opinion.
This is a really neat lower cost option! Only thing lacking is an air conditioner... here in the South, it's kinda a necessity! A lithium battery system and underhood generator would be icing on the cake.
Edit - I see there is a rear window mounted AC option... that's a good thing! Would need it!
yes there's a rooftop AC option as well as a 5k btu removeable rear window option! I edited those out of the final review unfortunately...
Well my friend very good job. I thought everything was cool untill you showed me the bathroom. I see this van is for young people not for the young at heart. Stay thirsty my friend.
They also make this version in the Sprinter or Promaster Chassis: safaricondo.com/en/motorises-serie-promaster-xl21-xl-flex/
Yep agree that they are marketing this for younger folks.
yeah - I thought the same thing. It takes way too long to go to use that toilet! Both my hubby and I would be in deep 'doo-doo'...
nuvoclassis - lol.
Sharon H. Looks good.
I know this is a mini-review and you don’t have time to cover everything. Two features that caught me eye are the gasoline-fueled furnace available on certain models and the rear window mounted AC unit that consumes less power. Replace the AGMs with the drop-in lithium as you remarked and you can power the small air conditioner for an hour or two to keep pets cool while you hike places where pets aren’t allowed.
Hi. I had both those in the video and they got edited out for time unfortunately. I’m a full review I would point that out. Thanks for the suggestion.
Neil, this might be the most useful review yet for me!! My only question is: do you know how you'd go about changing the catagory of the van from residential/commercial to recreational vehicle? There is a significant vehicle tax difference amongst the different catagories.
Crazy wait times. Seems like only rich people with two vans could do it
We here in the USA are crying out for more options when it comes to camper van conversions using vans that will fit in a standard garage. Europe seems to be on the right track when it comes to these vehicles but unless you have the DIY skills you probably won't have one here. As much as I like these layouts using GMC van chassis, I won't purchase one in Canada. I just think buying one in Canada and driving it back to the USA might cause a myriad of problems. And what about where to go for service? I enjoyed your review of the Recon Camper Van using the Nissan NV200 chassis but those are very tiny vans. Recon isn't even taking new orders right now. And Volkswagen STILL refuses to export their California camper van to the USA. Ironic that with a name like that we can't buy one here.
If I heard correctly, Neil said to drop off a GMC Savana van. The van doesn't necessarily have to be bought in Canada. I'd check to see if they'll upfit a van bought in the US. That way the van can still be serviced by the place you bought it from.
Interesting designs. Maybe I missed it on your channel search, but would love to see a Sportsmobile review with your keen eye for quality and upper scale likes as your current rig. I am particularly interested in the 4x4 capability’s of the Quigley conversions but looking for quality comfort rather than gritty surfer escapes. I think you are close to one of their conversion shops out in Fresno area.
I really like their design, brilliant bathroom, and doesn’t seem too pricey relative to other B vans. I wonder if safari condos will build on other chassis? I’ll have to look into it great mini review Neil! Thanks :-)
they build on the promaster, sprinter and chevy/gmc chassis right now Ryan.
LOL C'est quoi ces unités de mesure du moyen-âge ?
2:40 Largeur ?
2:45 Hauteur toit en bas : 8 ft = 2,44 m
4:47 Lit du bas : 51x76 in = 129x193 cm
6:33 Lit du haut : 48x76 in = 122x193 cm
20 ft = 6,10 m
PS : Félicitations pour cette présentation qui en dit plus que le site du constructeur.
Great review. I hope you do a review next of Safari’s Quebec competition - the Mars 5 rvs next. I have one of their Imagine’s and love it.
noted and yes I probably will!
GREAT REVIEW!!!
Wow I am in love 😍❤️
With the van or...
I want a roadtrek popular 😩
thanks for the reviews!
Does this van come with a side awning?
Nice review again Neil. I was wondering for a US buyer, are there any taxes or tariffs to be aware of? The van chassis is of course already a done deal with respect to typical tax and registration. But what about the value added for the conversion. Is there a sales tax somehow applied? What about bringing it back across the border? Is there any kind of tariff that applies?
i'm checking that out and will get back when I hear anything. there's probably not a tax or anything since technically you've already purchased the van but don't quote me on that.
I’m certain it’s based on distance from the GM factory, so it’d be nice to know what the average ship-through cost to Montreal would be. Just to be clear, we buy the van first and then pay Safari Condo separately for the build? You didn’t cover the 18-footer MX, but that’s my personal pick at this point...still a year away from starting the process.
I would love to know the process of buying a class b from Canada and bringing it to the u.s.
So good, and in La Belle Province!
yes i'm going to feature and showcase some other great Quebec RV companies in upcoming episodes!
Hi Neil, Always enjoy your reviews. I'm curious about gas mileage on the vehicles you cover also -- is that something you can discuss?
I can. for this model it's up to 20-23mpg.
Wow. That's about the same as my SUV.
Another wonderful one! Great job Neil:) Wonder the clearance and could it come in 4x4! That would top it off!
thank you T S. I would imagine it would add around 4 inches to the height.
Hi, i just discovered your channel. Excellent! I was looking at another Quebec company called Mars5. I was wondering if you could some time review their Illusion rv that is built on the dodge caravan or the Chrysler pacifica.
Neil, thanks! I've been *very* intrigued by Safari Condo (esp. their Flex models on the Sprinter & Promaster - tho' you've interested me in the GM models now, too). I like their styling, but do you have any feel for their build quality ?
build quality was okay. higher in my book than roadtrek and winnebago. below pleasureway. but they offer the same 5 year warranty as pleasureway.
Awesome! But I’ve got to wonder what size are the holding tanks? I’ve taken a few road trips in a relatives camper van, and the holding tank would fill up with just a few restroom trips on the road.
19g fresh, 12g grey, 12g black, 6g lp
Ultramobility - Show off! I am so sorry that I gave you homework on a Sunday! That’s actually way more than I expected! Thank you!
Erin I actually have all this information and more in a notebook that I keep on each and every model that I research. I use that notebook when I do a full review so it was no problem at all and I’m happy to share with you
Rethinking everything now. Maybe it would be better to go with something like this! Nice French accent, by the way!
Good review, but still prefer Aktiv 1.0 , plan to buy on 2020 :)
hold off jeff until after may of this year. we don't know yet what is going to happen to them post thor acquisition. they may or may not be around.
Ultramobility Hi Neil, Could you expand further on this. I read a Jan 31 article that said that Thor did not acquire the North American Hymer, only the European Hymer. We were going to buy the 2.0 loft rear sofa in a week or so for our family of 4 after renting one and liking it. If we did, what would happen with our warranty and local service dealer? Also, any guidance for other class Bs that seat and sleep 4 preferably 21’ or shorter that you like?
hold off on purchasing any Hymer Group of North America brand and that includes Roadtrek, Hymer, Carado & Sunlight. The only official word is that Thor is NOT going to acquire the North American subsidiary and Hymer Group SE out of Germany has made no public statement about what is going to happen to them. One possibility is that they will simply close shop. You don't want to purchase something right now only to find that there is no one to cover your warranty and no dealer will do warranty work on it. Hold off any purchase until after the Thor deal closes in May and see what finally happens to Erwin Hymer Group of North America. That's my recommendation.
You're Awesome - Check out the other models from Safari Condo. Also New-West out of Canada
Ultramobility Thank you so much!! It’s a big bummer because after shopping for 1 1/2 years, we thought we finally had the one, but thankfully we found out before spending $100,000! We are new subs, love your videos! 👍🏼😀
1:10 Y a t-il la possibilité d'avoir ces portes cargo à charnières des deux cotés du véhicule ?
Les portes battantes me semblent plus intéressantes que les portes cargo coulissantes. En les bloquant à 90°, en les occultant avec un rideau, cela peut faire un espace privatif pendant les saisons douces (cuisine extérieure, douche extérieure, etc).
You did not talk about tank sizes
Love the toilet shower
I thought it was clever too. I prefer having a toilet and shower in the coach even if it's a makeshift one like this. if the family is out and about it's not a problem to have the coach to yourself for a quick shower or whatnot. of course a fully enclosed toilet and shower is preferred but let's be honest - that takes up a huge amount of room. in this setup for the times when the toilet and shower are not needed then you have a nice, functional front dinette.
Overall width with mirrors extended is ... 13 feet???? There must be some long extensions on those mirrors!
yeah that was my mistake for not double checking their website information which is wrong. the width is 6.6 feet.
@@Ultramobility Oh well. You can't make as many vids as you do without a mistake here and there. Keep up the good work. I enjoy your videos.
If you have to bring a van to Safari for the build, doesn't that add another $3X,XXX to the price?
No they would deduct the cost of the chassis. The US$72,000 includes the cost of the chassis.
Good review as usual, thank you! However, I prefer the Condo trailer build to the RV.
The RV seems a glorified version of a VW conversion. Tiny kitchen, toy fridge, and the power grid is inadequate. Not even close to Hymer, Dethleff, Adria, Chausson, and the Euro models.
It bothers me greatly that they would put in a Modified Sine Wave Inverter in their vans. When you pay $70K, $80K and these monumental sums of cash, to be so cheap is insulting. AIMS True Sine Inverter is $263 on Amazon at retail. A Modified Sine Inverter is about $150 on average. They want to save $100 and ruin your $1500 phone and $2000 laptop? This is called a suicidal business decision. I would not buy this RV just on the basis of this one fact. If any RV maker is this cheap, what other cheapo parts are hidden all over? Much better to get a used Pleasureway or get one built to specs. I will build my own RV intelligently with quality components. You cannot even stand up in one of these vans without raising the roof. No good for stealth and any kind of storm.
thanks for sharing!
If they have no dealers in the US, how can we use the 5 year warranty here?
you can take it to any rv repair shop and Safari Condo will cover the costs.
I don't think the width is 13 feet. Transposition?
you're right it cannot be. that's what is listed on their site and obviously I should have caught that. GM site says 79 inches or 6.6f with mirror in. that sounds about right. thanks for pointing that out.
Bro. I got da IBS-D ya know what i'm sayin?
I can relate...
Excellent review. Thanks. But I’m not a fan of this almost 25 year old chassis and platform. Safety, technology have moved on so much since 1995. This is an antique compared to the Ford, Fiat and Mercedes options, all of them new in the last few years.
thanks for sharing that alliejr. it does have safety features that blow the ford transit and promaster out of the water and are more in line with the Mercedes like: blind spot assist, rear park assist, onstart emergency communication.
@@Ultramobility Not understanding allejr's comment. He is saying GM has old technology but your response is that the GM chassis does have those safety features similar to Mercedes? Thanks for the review. (I love the little Safari trailer with the pop-top roof too!)
Cathy - yes the GM chassis has those safety features.
I worked in the automotive industry. This chassis is actually Safer than pro master. In an accident, I would hands down want to be in one of these than a promaster or transit.
@@ArvinAsh Agree. The GM body on frame construction is esp. sturdy. We have some friends who run an HVAC business here in town and they won't buy anything but GM vans.
2:26 Il n'y a aucune possibilité de mettre l'auvent sous le toit rétractable ?
Pour la furtivité et l'aérodynamique, ce n'est pas l'idéal !
🎬 1 📽 🎞 🗣 🎙 🧐 🚐🌎🌍🌏🗺 🚐 Outstanding, thank you so much for sharing. 🤔 🧐❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️👁👁 👍🏿 👩🏾💻🗺🚐 RV Journey ROAD TRIP!🚐
CORRECT we would LOVE the USA (Chevy 🚐) Ugly unit UltraMobility...
you don't like the look?
@@Ultramobility It is ok just cramped...I am 5ft 8 and my wingspan is 6 feet...WOW, massive female, My two daughter inlaws are 6ft 1" my only son 6ft3" 🙃🙃🙃🙃. Growing up in NYC most females were tall when I moved to the state of Georgia short people!
🚐Families that are small framed may enjoy this...
👩🏾💻👁👁 UltraMobility, you know where my ❤️ is 🚐AdvancedRV.com for engineering and 🚐midwestautomotivedesigns.com/ for design Sexy 4 captains chairs, my special bathroom with water closet, sink for 🤮🤢🤑🤧💩💩💩💩... 🚐 Love the channel...
👍🏾
I knew you were French...
The seats don’t look all that comfortable.
qui moi? pas possible! I need to do a full review to comment on that. thanks for watching!
Super vidéo et critique. J'ai jeté un coup d'œil au Safari Alto il y a quelques années. Ils ont des idées et des designs européens uniques. :)
Have you heard about the Erwin.H. NA.?
th-cam.com/video/qxhkDSG3FgQ/w-d-xo.html