25' Safari

Devoman · 02-11-2006, 02:24 PM

I just got back from the dealership yesterday and Tuesday I pick up a 25' Safari.I traded in the Bambi for it.They gave me more than what I owed on the Bambi so it turned out pretty good and they gave me a deal on the 05' they had on the lot.I did not want a new 06' as they were a lot higher in price.
This is the one I really want and I will be keeping this one for a long time.It is pretty much a base model but that is ok.I plan on upgrading many things in the future this summer and get prepared for the end of the year to start traveling again.
I really feel I made a great choice in doing this because It was kinda hard with the three of us in the 19'.Now my 3 year old can run around and be free to do more things.I am happy.

Silvertwinkie · 02-11-2006, 03:48 PM

Sounds oddly familar.

If you got the SS version, it's nice cause you get a simialr feel to the Bambi, yet wider, add a sofa and also have a dinette....along with lots more storage....one of my favs though, is the larger fridge/seperate freezer.

Be careful towing that Safari with the T-Rex. The 25 is a whole different beast.

FiveGreers · 02-11-2006, 03:56 PM

Congrats! Where do you get it from? We saw a 25' at Bates that we fell in love with! Would have fit our family of 5 perfect! You should enjoy the 25'!!

Devoman · 02-11-2006, 05:26 PM

That is where I am getting it from.Bates RV.I went through Don Harkins.He a great guy and is willing to help out in anything.He also sold the Bambi to me as well.

Silver....
You are right about pulling the bigger one.It is gonna be a huge change but I can not wait to get it though.I know my vehicle can pull it with no problem.It tows 7700 lbs and I will have a 1000 lb equalizer hitch.(I have to upgrade from the one I have.)Also it is a V8.
I expect to start off slower than normal but I will be sleeping better now that I have 2 axles instead of one.Plus it will be more user friendly than the bambi.My baby girl can play with a bit more room when those rainy days come.

Devoman · 02-11-2006, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

one of my favs though, is the larger fridge/seperate freezer.

That is something I also liked as well plus the double sink.It was hard using one all the time.
Another bonus is we can nuke some food for a quick fix in the microwave.
All in all this is what I really needed.A few feet in size really does make a huge differance when you go to a bigger Airstream.

Silvertwinkie · 02-11-2006, 05:37 PM

It is a night an day difference. I know exactly what you must be feeling right about now. If you liked the Bambi, you're gonna love the Safari.....keep in mind that the Safari now has a 7300lb GVWR meaning it can be really loaded up. Even if you don't load it, with passengers, cargo, based on my exp with our 25' Safari and a similar powered vehicle, you'll pass 90% of the T-Rex's rating pretty quick. I upgraded to a K2500 Suburban and for the most part I don't even know it's back there.

2airishuman · 02-11-2006, 05:52 PM

devoman

congrats on the new trailer and what sounds like a great deal.

i know you have done the math and feel you will stay within the t rex capacity....realistically once the family starts to move stuff into the a/s it will take some watching to keep the weight down...luckily 3 year olds don't need a lot of gear...

i'm not clear about your hitch.....the 1000# equalizer?
does that mean an equal-i-zer brand with 1000# bars?

since the receiver on the vdub bolts on differently than most (u have oem receiver?) it's not a great idea to exert too much w/d forces through it....

seems it would be better to use the 600 or 800 lb bars and keep the tongue weight down...to 600-700lbs max....

of course if you limit most trips to florida.....and with a minumum of water/lpg....you should be ok.

cheers and enjoy that new unit!
2air'

lewster · 02-11-2006, 05:59 PM

Devoman,

I guess that Don Harkins is becoming the 'go-to-guy' at Bates. I bought my '06 Bambi from him as well. Great guy willing to go the extra mile to make you happy! Good luck on your new TT.

Devoman · 02-11-2006, 06:28 PM

I am moving up to the stronger hitch bacause I feel it will not be able to handle the tongue weight with the equalizer reciever I have.Another thing is I am really only using the equalizer hitch for the anti-sway part as I have the air suspension on my vehicle.Then again if you or anyone else feels I can use the hitch I have please tell me or help me out with what I could do to make it easier on myself.
One thing I do know though is when this vehicles warrenty is finally up I will be looking at the Nissan Armada.It is a great vehicle and a great upgrade for pulling something such as what I am getting.Thanks

Lewster...You are right about that.He is so cool.The reason I like that place so much is because no matter who you go to he will guarantee that he will have the lowest price.Also when he helped me out he knew exactly what I wanted.He even helped me out on what I can do myself instead of spending money and getting them to do the job.

2airishuman · 02-11-2006, 07:29 PM

devoman

what model hitch do you currently have and what is the rating on the hitch?

while the vdub has an air suspension...you certainly can use w/d bars...and i think you should be....just not over 800lb bars.

inland andy here, suggests not using w/d bars with air bags.....
and he may be correct in some situations....

but your vw doesn't have simple add/on airbags....
and the suspension is approved for use with w/d bars.....
using w/d bars will put 2-300lbs back onto the front wheels and that would greatly improve towing, handling and stress on the suspension.

really this is all speculation....
unless you take the trailer/tv to a scale for some real numbers.....

but if your hitch weight is over 500lbs....and approaching 700lbs
using the w/d bars to reload the front wheels is useful for safety....
and helps with sway control, braking, and most handling issues....

now if you really do plan to buy a new hitch....
you really should consider the hensley....yes i use one....

the t rex has a short rear over hang....and thats good for towing because the rear axle has less leverage on it from the trailer....but using a hensley hitch moves the trailer pivot point forward nearly 4 feet....so your touareg towing point would move way forward....almost in front of the rear axle....so it takes on some of the handling traits of a 5th wheel....and that's a good thing.

i know the hensley is expensive....but it is really worth it for someone with a shorter wheelbase t.v.....

as for the armada....it has 10-12 inch longer wheel base than the vdub....and that's a good thing.....but the tow rating is actually about THE SAME as the touareg.......

the key number to look for on either vehicle is the gcwr (gross combined weight rating).....that is the max weight for EVERYTHING (tv, fluids, people, cargo, accessories, hitch, trailer, lpg, water, cargo....)

for the vw it is ~14000....i think.....7700 for trailer and 6500? for t.v.

for the armada it is 14800....so only a little higher....and depending on the model/add ons the armada itself weights more than the vw....

the tow rating for the armada (9100) goes DOWN as it is loaded with people, fuel, gear) while the vw rating doesn't change.....as it is loaded... so the actual towing capacity is about the same.....once the armada has stuff in it....does that make sense?

again the armada has a longer wheel base....which is good,

but vw is coming out with a model that is 10-12 inches longer soon.....

most here will suggest you should look for a beefier t.v. than either the vw or nissan....
and i have a sd ford diesel....and love it for towing,

like twink suggests... big truck is good.
but i suspect you have no interest in gm, ford, or dodge...

so you might want to look at the 2007 toyota tundra which will have a true towing rating of 10,000lbs.

cheers
2air'

dmac · 02-11-2006, 07:36 PM

If you have the smaller Equal-i-zer hitch, it is only rated to tow 6,000 lbs and a 600 lb hitch weight. You will need to replace it with the 10,000/1,000 model. See http://www.equalizerhitch.com/produc...tech_specs.php

Devoman · 02-11-2006, 07:54 PM

Yes I am going to go with the 1000 lb hitch from equalizer.

Thanks 2Air for the info.I am being very careful with what I am doing.even though I hear second and third opinions from people I really like to double check again to make sure I did not hear anything wrong.You are right about getting a stronger vehicle though.In time I will be getting something in the future but right now I have the Touareg and I feel confident It will have no problems whatsoever.Just in case though I always have a plan B cause you never know.

When I use the hitch I have now.(600 lb W/D Hitch)It is pretty much at the lowest setting except that I have it set to where it will control the sway.On my previous Touareg I had the setting up a bit more because I did not have the Airsuspension on that vehicle.I know that Westfalia uses a 1000 lb equalizer hitch for his Bambi and has the setting pretty much where I have them.He says it does well for what he has.

2airishuman · 02-11-2006, 08:57 PM

guess that brings us back to my first post....no w/d bars....

with a ball weight that could be up to 800-900lbs....
it sure seems like w/d bars are in order.

some folks with single axle trailer just jack up the nose to lower pin weight and you can surely do that with the air suspension....

but with 2 axles that isn't a great idea (really it's not smart on any trailer) the goal is get the trailer level and the t.v. level, and avoid the bobbing/heaving that can occur over roads and with braking....

the vw is rated at 770? on the pin.....
if your trailer is close/over this loaded....
you will have to move stuff around inside to reduce the number......
not raise the front....

using w/d bars to reload the front axle and create a more rigid section at the hitch....is a good thing. just use lower rated bars (6-800) on the v.w.

you are moving to a much larger and heavier trailer and towing will be a little different....so stay safe and have fun.

sounds like you've got this all worked out....so happy camping....
and i'll butt out now.
i'm sure your dealer will work out all of your towing issues....

cheers
2air'

Devoman · 02-11-2006, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

sounds like you've got this all worked out....so happy camping....
and i'll butt out now.
cheers
2air'

Thanks for the help with everything.As for the butting out.I dont think you are doing anything wrong with what you are saying.I appreciate everything that you as well as others say.It lets me know everyone who does this is thinking of others.I like hearing other opinions bacause I can learn from that and figure out what works for me with the help of others.Plus I can never learn to much.There is so much I do not know.
I will be posting as soon as I can when I get near a computer to show what I got and how it pulled but,for right now I have 3 sleepless nights of anticipation before I get this thing on Tuesday