Any Safari Trek owners?

[Jev88]

My attention is caught whenever I see one of these unusually short American RV's with their 'magic bed' system.

Any owners or former owners amongst us? Year 2000 apparently has the engine cooling upgrades that were a problem on the earlier 6500 Diesel lumps?

 

[TinaLes]

Is the "magic bed" to which you infer also know as a "Murphy Bed"?
I think this Murphy Bed idea is a great one, and I really cannot understand why it has not been adopted by any European manufacturers, or if it has its not common enough yet at the shows.
I have seen a few Mercedes Sprinter US conversions that have the Murphy Bed configuration, and it just works so well providing a sofa during the day, then a slide out bed at night.
PS: I like the RV in the picture, a much more sensible size for EU travelling.
LES

 

[funflair]

I wondered what a "magic bed" was and also how short an "unusually short RV" was so googled and came up with, https://www.motorhomedepot.com/vehicle/safari-trek-rv

This has the bed dropping out of the lounge ceiling which I have seen on a few European vans and it is a neat system, Jev might come back and tell me I am wrong though.

 

[Jim]

That Magic Bed was truly unique in its day, it worked really well.

Lots of makers do it now. The new Adria twin I'm lusting after does the same.

 

[phil1946]

We used to have a TREK and the bed does indeed drop down from the ceiling thus 'shortening' the overall length by not having the end bedroom. They have a full width bathroom across the back with a wardrobe that enabled us to leave all clothing necessary for any length trip at any time of year. Ours also had a magnificent (Daime) mural of a tiger and gave us several happy years until we had to downsize (change to a caravan actually) because of my Pancreatic Cancer and subsequent operation and licence conditions in 2019.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Flairy]

Almost bought one the drive was dreadfull seats wobbly engine very noisey what a shame I like everything when it’s parked!

 

[Flairy]

This was 20 years ago

 

[TinaLes]

I can see now what was meant by a "magic bed" its a ceiling drop down which proved so useful its now incorporated in many Euro vans.
I still think The Murphy Bed side dropdown is my favourite set up for a non fixed bed layout, forgive me for posting this as I think some may have seen it already, but this Merc Unity van is just full of ingenious well though out surprises, the Murphy bed demo is at 9.48 onwards, but the detail beforehand may also grab you.
Before you ask, the suggested retail average price in The US was arround $180, 000 so like many vans the price has rocketed in the last 3 years, but I do love some of the ideas on this van, even though it is a C Class, which may put some A Class owners off, but not me.
Enjoy Watching, but you may need to hold up that bottom jaw in awe
LES

 

[Jev88]

I wondered what a "magic bed" was and also how short an "unusually short RV" was so googled and came up with, https://www.motorhomedepot.com/vehicle/safari-trek-rv

This has the bed dropping out of the lounge ceiling which I have seen on a few European vans and it is a neat system, Jev might come back and tell me I am wrong though.

I looked at one a few years ago at a dealer and was told "all ready to go"....... It was a long drive but was en route to a wedding..... Well I put my hand through rotten timber in some lockers and noted the tyres were 16 years old. Obviously asked to see magic bed descend and he was so enthusiastic about the design and ........
"Pop, fizz" was all we got as the switch shorted .... Didn't bother to drive it and wished I had just to know how they handle.

 

[funflair]

How many times does he say "Beautiful" looks nicely built but doesn't quite float my boat, I don't like the lounge area for entertaining particularly, I know it's about a metre shorter than ours but I think I will stick with what we have for now, no garage would be a biggy for me.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Flairy]

Interesting !

 

[GrahamnSue]

Seriously thought about a Safari Trek as our first motorhome, but decided on a 28ft. Winnebago Brave (4ft. longer but with a fixed bed).
Same engine, same narrow front track etc. It could get very interesting on a windy day trying to stay in your own lane.

Didn't keep it very long as we made the mistake of going to the Peterborough Show and viewing a Monaco motorhome with slide outs.

 

[TinaLes]

I still love that Murphy bed idea, comfy chairs with slide out foot rests, and armrests during the day, fantastically designed fold out table also in the middle, then it all folds away at night, and pulls out into a massive double bed. Yet to be seen by myself on a Euro Van, cant understand why, unless its because you need a slide out to get the additional width required.
LES

 

[GarryP]

I can see now what was meant by a "magic bed" its a ceiling drop down which proved so useful its now incorporated in many Euro vans.
I still think The Murphy Bed side dropdown is my favourite set up for a non fixed bed layout, forgive me for posting this as I think some may have seen it already, but this Merc Unity van is just full of ingenious well though out surprises, the Murphy bed demo is at 9.48 onwards, but the detail beforehand may also grab you.
Before you ask, the suggested retail average price in The US was arround $180, 000 so like many vans the price has rocketed in the last 3 years, but I do love some of the ideas on this van, even though it is a C Class, which may put some A Class owners off, but not me.
Enjoy Watching, but you may need to hold up that bottom jaw in awe
LES

These are now more than 200K in the US for the 2023 model. We travel to Scottsdale, Arizona in May where we will rent one for two weeks just to see how we feel about the layout.

 

[GarryP]

How many times does he say "Beautiful" looks nicely built but doesn't quite float my boat, I don't like the lounge area for entertaining particularly, I know it's about a metre shorter than ours but I think I will stick with what we have for now, no garage would be a biggy for me.

Yes, Dean's overuse of beautiful is a bit much after the first five minutes of one of his video walk throughs. Every Leisure Travel Van video (and there are many) "stars" Dean. The interesting thing is we had occasion to visit the factory when we visited Winnipeg last summer and he is exactly the same in real life. That said, the product is really very, very good.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TinaLes]

These are now more than 200K in the US for the 2023 model. We travel to Scottsdale, Arizona in May where we will rent one for two weeks just to see how we feel about the layout.

I am sure It will be as quoted.... "Beautiful"
Keep us posted when you do go, sounds expensive, but exciting.
Happy Travels.
LES