Info on 2008 20' Safari/SE with corner galley

[MarciaJ]

Hi all,

Just joined the forum. We are looking at a 2008 20' Safari/SE with a corner galley. Does anyone have any comments, suggestions, etc.?

Would love to hear from you. We are thinking of going to look at one next week.

[BDandTTs]

Floorplan and decor preferences are about as varied as are Airstream models ... and owners. I think the 20' Safari (or Flying Cloud) offers a lot of options in a small package.
If you're looking for the most spacious galley area of all, the 20' will fill the bill. On the other hand, if your camping style is to return to the Airsteam only to reheat restaurant food and turn in for the night, the 20' might not be the best choice.
Allow enough time for a complete inspection. Sit at the dinette and imagine your daily activities. Don't forget to also try out the bed as many are satisfied with the dimensions and access and others are not. If the bed is too small, will the dinette bed work? Don't forget to enter the bath and close the door -- just pretending.
The 20' Safari has only one axle, and some feel that double axles are easier to handle and backup. On the other hand it costs half as much to replace 2 tires instead of 4.

Good luck with your search. Look at several models and make comparisons. You might need to make a concession in one area to make sure that you get what you really require in another. You will recognize the right Airstream when you see it.

[MarciaJ]

Hi Dianne, Thanks so much for your quick reply. In one morning ,I have surpassed my husbands internet usage for the week. I've never been so excited about the computer(the forum)or the prospects of owning an Airstream. Yes, I do like to cook , but will keep in mind the beds and the door. What is a three rivet member? Have you owned a 20' Airstream, if so have you traveled with a medium size dog? Blessings to you on this beautiful day. Marcia

[Garfield]

Originally Posted by MarciaJ

Hi all,

Just joined the forum. We are looking at a 2008 20' Safari/SE with a corner galley. Does anyone have any comments, suggestions, etc.?

Would love to hear from you. We are thinking of going to look at one next week.

Hi Marcia;

Keeping in mind that layouts are a highly personal thing, and that every layout has trade-off's in one way or another, our experience is that few trailer's less than 30 feet long have sufficient galley space for preparing even the most basic of meals (although that 20 footer is better than many). That's the reason we'll always want a dinette in ours, and want it close to the galley to serve as an extended counter top for preparing meals in addition to a kitchen table.

So the corner-galley arrangement wouldn't work for us, but it really just boils down to personal choice.

Cheers!
Gary

[Wayne&Sam]

One of the main things that attracted us t our '07 20' Safari was the galley. It has more counter space that many larger units.

[uluwene]

We have spent two seasons traveling on extended trips in our 2008 20' Safari SE. We LOVE it. We also have a young Golden Retriever that travels with us.

The Galley is wonderful. We cook almost all of our meals and bake too, and do not need to spread out to the dinette because there is so much counter space. The engineers have managed to design an amazing amount of storage space in the 20'. It is amazing how much more space than there is in the 19'. With the SE package you have the vista windows over the bed where you can watch the stars at night and wake up to the trees over your head. It is very comfortable.

Can you tell I love our trailer?

We have taken two six week long trips to the western states and quite a number of trips around Michigan. We camp in National Forest Campgrounds as much as possible and try to AVOID RV parks.

We had the solar package added to the unit and have been very pleased with the success when we were camping in western states. Western states give us more open camping sites with less shade. My husband just got back from a three week hunting trip from late September to early October, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It rained a lot and the full awning package allowed him to keep windows open for ventilation and moisture management.

Other advantages of the small trailer are that you can get into places a larger trailer will not fit. Also we can easily tow the 20' with a 1/2 ton truck, even up very steep mountain slopes.

[BDandTTs]

"Have you owned a 20' Airstream, if so have you traveled with a medium size dog?"

Marcia,
Concerning our experience, we got the Airstream bug two years ago and seriously considered the 20' Safari because of the large kitchen area and relatively short overall length. However, when we stumbled upon the 22' CCD, we knew that we'd found the right model for us. The interior is bright and open and we've started modifications to personalize it to our needs. The 22' galley is smaller than a 20', but still has more counter-top space than a 25', and we can get by with the small under-counter refrigerator since we don't need to keep beverages cold -- I think I mentioned that you might need to consider some tradeoffs. The 22' CCD has been discontinued, but you might want to look also look at a 23' CCD or even a Bambi. The more comparisons you make, the more confident you'll be with your choice of the Safari.

We had 2 older Tibetan Terriers when we purchased the Airstream, and now have a wire fox terrier. We have no problems with pets in a small trailer. There is always space for a dog bed.

You will love your Airstream!

[MarciaJ]

Thanks everybody for taking the time to write , all of the suggestions have been so so helpful. We went to another dealer yesterday and looked at a Bambi 19' SE and a Safari ~SE with FB 22', that was a great experience to actually sit in them, open the drawers, etc. Talk about needing a drool cloth!!!! We have been talking to Gene at Airstream of Arkansas, we'll be going to Searcy on Monday and hopefully finding what we want. Until our "oil money " comes in, we will definitely have to go with the smaller models.

[purman]

Not sure if anyone answered you 3 rivet question .. It goes up to rivet master and beyond with the more you post....

Good luck with you purchase we have a 28' that I am redoing. With 2 small kids and a lab I am making my own floor plan...