22 safari sport vs. 20 safari

[jeffrho]

Hello everyone, first timer here trying to be an owner but need some advise.
I will try to be breif.I have my search narrowed down to a 2008 22 safari sport or a 20 regular safari. After crunching the specs and the numbers, there is 4,800 dollar difference. Full time bed, heavier axel,stone gaurds,tank cover and more make it very hard to go with the sport.BUT bigger bathroom,
2' longer(not) and lower price make it attractive as well. So the 36,000 question is are the upgrades to regular safari for 4,800 more a good deal?

Thanks in advance,
Jeffrho

[2airishuman]

hi jeffrho and welcome to the forums

shopping is SO MUCH FUN!

some thoughts....

-neither unit will carry much, only about 6-800 lbs; is that an issue for ya?

-both units pack a LOT of features in a small footprint.

-the galley in the ss seems to have more counter space while the range/sink are bigger in the 20.

-front or rear door? i'm not huge fan of the rear door but on these shorties it may not matter.

-while the 20 looks to have more windows, the style used in both models don't open much. do ya like fresh air?

-the ac is an option (who doesn't want ac?) on the ss, did you calculate that in the price difference?

-the 20 comes WITH an awning, imo an absolute necessity.

-IF you spend much time outside while camping the awning nearly doubles the living space, besides the shade, rain and cool factor.

-once ac and an awning are added to the ss the carry capacity goes down and the price goes up.

-i like the look of the ss line inside better than the 20 (the lobsta sink is odd)...

-NO rear bumper on the ss is impractical. this might be cool in europe but we bump more in the usa...

-neither bed will be comfortable without some mattress mods...

now back to your price difference, is that msrp difference or purchase price difference?

how will you finance and how long will you keep this unit?

answer these questions because the dollar issue is likely to be much smaller AND

ultimately, it's the livability and charm that we value most...

last bit...

a lightly used 23 would be less than either of these, and i really really like 2 axles on newer units....

cheers
2air'

[Wayne&Sam]

The full time bed is enough of an advantage for me.

[rseagle]

I also like the permanent bed and heavier weight on the single axle.

[billberk]

We looked at a couple of the Sport models when we bought our 20' Safari back in July. I did like the rear bathroom in the Sport.

Bottom line, we really enjoy the 20' Safari. It's perfect for our weekend getaways. I think you would miss that full time bed, and even the small amount of storage in the rear bumper for the grimey stuff.

Bill

[bobfowler]

I like the rear bath of the Sport, and the floor plan seems a lot more open. The Sport is narrower than the regular Safari, but if you can deal with not having a full time bed, I think it would be a good choice. Of course, $$$ and carrying capacity are an issue with BOTH trailers. Have you considered looking at a vintage unit? The new models are so bloody heavy compared to the older rigs.

[Ahab]

We went through the same dilemma and ended up with the SS. Full time bed? So leave it made up. We like it being adaptable. The slimmer profile makes for being able to see without extension mirrors and tows more economically. In all, it seemed more spacious inside.

[tpi]

I have a 3 year old Safari. The rear bumper has paid for itself many times over. It actually will take quite a jolt before damaging it, and if it gets damaged it is easy to replace. It also makes a good storage area to keep sewer accessories.

Also IMO the AC and awning are necessary items if you go w/ the Sport.

[AirStrmFltRN]

While I dont have the 22' Safari Sport, I do have the 17' Sport which I just bought. I got the awning , convection oven, AirCon, and all the other "options" including a full towing package and installation of a tow hitch on my car thrown in for free. Yes you heard me for free. Plus I the price was lower than all the advertised prices at all the nearby Airstream dealerships.
I love the large bathroom with separate shower ( the same size in both the 22' and the 17'). The kitchen is great and for a small trailer, very ergonomic with enough storage space. Because it is 20% lighter than conventional Airstreams, its alot lighter on one's tow vehicle and ones Gas Tank!! Mine is so light that I can physically push it into it's camp site. As a single person , thats a great advantage. I tow my airstream with a V6 Jeep commander without any trouble. The sports were made to be light and fuel efficient and to be towed by smaller average SUV's and vans. The price difference with the great deals that most dealerships will do is considerable.
I'd go for the Sport model any day.Good luck with your purchase.

Originally Posted by jeffrho

Hello everyone, first timer here trying to be an owner but need some advise.
I will try to be breif.I have my search narrowed down to a 2008 22 safari sport or a 20 regular safari. After crunching the specs and the numbers, there is 4,800 dollar difference. Full time bed, heavier axel,stone gaurds,tank cover and more make it very hard to go with the sport.BUT bigger bathroom,
2' longer(not) and lower price make it attractive as well. So the 36,000 question is are the upgrades to regular safari for 4,800 more a good deal?

Thanks in advance,
Jeffrho

[ct.mcdaniel]

Here is my Safari Sport 17, I'm towing it with a 2007 sprinter. Under tow my MPG went from Mid to low 19 mpg @ 70mph to 16 mpg @ 70 mph.

The main reason for posting is get rid of the prompt to post every time I visit the forum.

Tom



Actually this a picture of a pancake... Why it is here I don't know

[cosmotini]

That's a DANDY pancake!

Oh, and the trailer is nice too.

Welcome to the forums.