Help-will the Safari 25' LS sleep 5

hgdong · 03-08-2003, 10:24 AM

I am a new member of the forum and looking for advice on our first Airstream. We are parents w/kids age 9,6,2. Our current rig is a tent trailer with dual slide out beds and slide dinette. It will sleep 6 also.
We are looking to get away from opening and closing the trailer on short trips, but want to make sure that we have enough room for in and out storage (any tips on bike storage welcomed) Does anyone have experience with this type of family configuration ie 2 adults sleeping in the smaller full size bed, 2 kids on the dinette or couch, raising and dropping the dinette for sleeping)

The dealer tells me this is their best selling trailer. Anyone interested in sharing prices paid for this 02' or 03' unit
We will be towing with a 96' 1/2 ton Suburban.

Silvertwinkie · 03-08-2003, 01:40 PM

The best Safari I can think of for your situation would be the Safari 25C, the 6 sleeper. This would fit you, the kids and the gear very comfortably.

http://www.airstream.com/trailers/20...loorplans.html

Also, check out this link from a previous post:

http://www.airforums.com/forum...ht=safari+L S

Your 1/2 ton Suburban should be able to pull this. I would suggest that you look into the cooling system, and gearing. Also make sure you have the right hitch setup and brake controlers.

I don't know what this unit costs, but I would guesstimate it to cost in the mid 30s.

Anyone know for sure.

Regards,

Eric

Eric

Silvertwinkie · 03-08-2003, 02:00 PM

Also check out this thread as well....

http://www.airforums.com/forum...7984#post27984

Regards,

Eric

dmac · 03-08-2003, 02:43 PM

I have a 2003 Safari 25C with the LS package. The list price was ~$40,000, and the selling price was ~$30,000. It will sleep six, assuming that some are kids. It sounds like the right Airstream for your situation. Your Suburban should tow it, but you should verify it's tow rating - which is dependant on the rear axle ratio, the engine, and the "towing package". Search this site for "Safari" and "25C" and you will find a number of postings that should help you out.

Some dealers won't deal. Others will - especially if they know you are shopping around. The WBCCC club magazine "Blue Beret" has dealer ads. Toscano RV in Los Banos, CA has a 2003 Safari 25 for $28,995. Oasis RV in Tuscon, AZ has a Safari 27 (no price), Don Mar RV in Lynchburg, SC has a 2003 Safari 25 (no price), and Bates RV in Dover, FL has a bunch of Safari's in stock.

Silvertwinkie · 03-08-2003, 02:51 PM

That's a pretty big difference $40k list and $30k selling. I wonder what the real profit margins are on these.

For example, the Bambi I bought was listed at about $29,900. I walked away with it for about $5k less. Go to a car dealership and those differences are not that great.

It makes me wonder if they just inflate the price and really sell it for what they really wanted while the customer thinks they got a really fair deal.

Any thoughts on this?

Eric

dmac · 03-08-2003, 03:16 PM

Huge spreads between List Price (shown on the manufacturers sticker) and actual selling price seems to be the norm in the RV industry ($200,000 diesel motorhomes routinely sell for WAY less than list). Dealers must be making a good margin even with "discounts" or they wouldn't make the deal. I suppose they are able to take advantage of a few people that don't shop around. Depreciation on a full list price purchase must be terrible!

Manufacturer lure potential dealers with the potential of huge margins, but in a competitive world the dealers beat each other up on price resulting in a more "normal" margin (I'd guess that at 25% off list Bates RV still made about 10-15% on me). The consumer feels he "got a great deal", the manufacturer get's their price from the dealer, so everyone is happy. Except the occasional consumer that pays "too much" - whatever that is.

Silvertwinkie · 03-08-2003, 03:22 PM

You're not kidding! I could not imagine paying full sticker and watching most of that disappear as the rear bumper left the lot.

Eric

**jcanavera** · 03-08-2003, 03:52 PM

I've heard that the rule of thumb for a starting negotiation point is about 25% off list. I tried that number with my Safari and ended up about 18%. Obviously a lot depends upon the dealer's inventory, time of the year you are looking etc. My gut feeling would be the best deals probably come about in October or early November in the cold weather states.

Jack

hgdong · 03-08-2003, 09:07 PM

Thanks everyone for the great insight on the Safari 25'. Looking at all the referenced threads have already added to info that I need to make an intelligent decision. It is very interesting how the list and actual sales prices can vary.

Thanks Dmac for the info from the magazine! Does the ad for the Toscano Rv 2003 Safari specify wether it is a new or used 6 sleeper. Out
of curiosity does anyone know how much you would lose in value once you drove a unit off the lot and returned it a month later.
My guess would be a half year depreciation, abouts 10% of the value of the trailer.

Silvertwinkie · 03-09-2003, 08:47 AM

I hope it helps.

Last night I was going through my A/S gear and paperwork I got when I got mine a few weeks ago. People are always referring to the Safari as the Safari LS and I could never understand why since the web and the '03 Brouchure don't mention it as the Safari LS....

We'll, I got my hands on an '02 Brouchure while I was at the dealer and when I tumbed through it, sure enough, Safari LS was in it.

Ya learn something new here everyday!

Eric

dmac · 03-09-2003, 02:46 PM

The Toscano RV ad lists a "New Airstream 25' Safari Trailer" at $28,995. It does not indicate if it is a 6 sleeper, or if it has the LS option package. You could call them directly at 209-826-2488.

For clarification... "Safari" is a model line (the lower priced Airsteam trailer line). Within this line there are several lengths and interior arrangements, the 25' six sleeper being one choice. "LS" indicates an option package that is available for the Safari trailers. The contents of the package are listed on Airstream's web site.

My impression is that if you towed a new trailer off the lot and returned it to the dealer a month later as a trade-in... you would lose a much larger percentage of the purchase price than 10%. I would guess 30-40%.

Silvertwinkie · 03-09-2003, 03:37 PM

I see it now. Another thing that is not in the '03 Brochure.

Nice trailer.

Regards,

Eric

babsz · 09-20-2007, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hgdong

I am a new member of the forum and looking for advice on our first Airstream. We are parents w/kids age 9,6,2. Our current rig is a tent trailer with dual slide out beds and slide dinette. It will sleep 6 also.
We are looking to get away from opening and closing the trailer on short trips, but want to make sure that we have enough room for in and out storage (any tips on bike storage welcomed) Does anyone have experience with this type of family configuration ie 2 adults sleeping in the smaller full size bed, 2 kids on the dinette or couch, raising and dropping the dinette for sleeping)

The dealer tells me this is their best selling trailer. Anyone interested in sharing prices paid for this 02' or 03' unit
We will be towing with a 96' 1/2 ton Suburban.

I realize thia is a very old post. But it is my exact situation. How did it end? I don' want to re-invent the wheel. : )
Barbara

richinny · 09-20-2007, 12:44 PM

i guess we'll never know. the last visit by this member was:
Last Activity: 03-29-2003 05:31 PM