Safari Condo Promaster MX

[Bud]

". I'm not happy with the ecological aspect of disposing of them, but they last a really long time, so I'm OK with it."

You can refill them.

Bud

[bobojay]

What Bud said. It's easy....

[ToniK]

Thanks! We will order our Promasater this week, deliver to SC late summer, then pickup our condo November 5. The MX is the only van conversion we've seen that makes a good replacement for our 1997 VW Eurovan. Quick question related to the van purchase. We're basically following the SC "recipe." Rear defroster is an $199 add-on option. Did you get it? If not, do you miss it?

[michaelingp]

Funny you mention that. I talked to Dominique and she recommended against it, saying that her Dad ordered it and never used it. I thought maybe the weather was different in Canada and I've always had it (and used it often) on my mini-vans, so I did order it on the Promaster. Now, almost 2 years (and 16,000 miles) later, I have to say we have never once used it. On the other hand $199 is not much as a percentage of the total cost, so maybe it'll be useful one day!

Another reason to save the $199 is that the view out the back, while useful, is not great. First, you've got the closet on the driver side. Then, the ProMaster windows leave a big gap right in the middle which is annoying. Fortunately, the side mirrors are great, so if the back windows ever fog up, you've got the mirrors to rely on. Also, for backing up, I strongly recommend the radio upgrade with the rear view camera.

[ToniK]

Thanks for the quick answer. Out with the defroster! As for the back-up camera, it's standard for 2018.

[michaelingp]

Were you able to get any safety features like blind spot avoidance, etc.? I would have gladly paid for any and all of the modern automobile safety features like lane departure warning, adaptive speed control, etc, but none were available in 2016. Since my car is only a 2004, I covet the features of all my friends with newer cars.

By the way, your mention of the Eurovan reminds me of one of the best features of our MX, which I didn't totally expect. That is that it's a great second vehicle. We had a Roadtrek 190 which in theory shouldn't have been that different from the ProMaster, but while it was OK for camping, I hated driving it around town (and when I did, I got into two accidents). The Promaster is really light on its feet, the visibility is great and it parks easily. That has really eased up the scheduling issues in our family since we only have one car.

[35603]

I will second what michaelingp wrote,, in three years I have never used the rear window defroster on my Promaster, but I live in Alabama....
I also find that the 18 foot Promaster drives like a nimble SUV, I use it as an every day car.

[mumkin]

Originally Posted by ToniK

Thanks for the quick answer. Out with the defroster! As for the back-up camera, it's standard for 2018.

Good decision. I never use the rear window when driving or backing up. The side mirrors and back-up cameras are so much better.

When I bought my Libero... that had zero visibility out the rear of the rig, I went to my neighbor, a retired big rig driver, and asked him to come over and teach me how to use the side mirrors properly. Well worth the half hour we spent backing around the area. LOL

The reality is that I rarely even open the curtains in the back of my Roadtrek.

[bobojay]

Originally Posted by mumkin

Good decision. I never use the rear window when driving or backing up. The side mirrors and back-up cameras are so much better.

When I bought my Libero... that had zero visibility out the rear of the rig, I went to my neighbor, a retired big rig driver, and asked him to come over and teach me how to use the side mirrors properly. Well worth the half hour we spent backing around the area. LOL

The reality is that I rarely even open the curtains in the back of my Roadtrek.

LOL, yep me too. Our windows are always covered up in our ERA.

I went to truck driving school back in late 1989. The instructors, to a man said they felt that the center windshield mounted rear view mirror was one of the worst "safety" features ever installed on vehicles.

[ToniK]

The backup camera is a new standard safety feature. I believe parking assist is an add-on option Would also love the bells and whistles of newer cars, and they are not yet available on the Promaster.

[ToniK]

Wednesday Mary and I drove down to Wickenburg to order our 2018 Ram Promaster. The SC "recipe" was working well until we got to the fixed glass in the sliding door. Salesguy Sean- "Not an available option." Me- "It was on the Ram website yesterday." Hours later we're camped off Vulture Mine Road and get at text from Sean. Ram is switching glass vendors. Fixed glass is on hold until they do. Hoping Safari Condo can add the sliding door glass at their factory. Waiting on that answer. Being enlightened Canadians, they're all off until January 8.

[nebulight]

Originally Posted by ToniK

Wednesday Mary and I drove down to Wickenburg to order our 2018 Ram Promaster. The SC "recipe" was working well until we got to the fixed glass in the sliding door. Salesguy Sean- "Not an available option." Me- "It was on the Ram website yesterday." Hours later we're camped off Vulture Mine Road and get at text from Sean. Ram is switching glass vendors. Fixed glass is on hold until they do. Hoping Safari Condo can add the sliding door glass at their factory. Waiting on that answer. Being enlightened Canadians, they're all off until January 8.

Maybe they can add a double pane acrylic window instead. They do a much better job at insulation and you can open them up for some cross breeze with the on on the other side.

[ToniK]

Intriguing idea. Thanks!

[michaelingp]

I could ask Safari Condo, but does anybody know where the isolator (van battery vs house batteries) is located in the ProMaster, and what type?

[MsNomer]

The isolator would be a SC add-on. The PM itself doesn't come with one.

I have a self-build on the 136" PM. Similarities to the SC, except mine is even more open. It is indeed a joy.

[michaelingp]

Our insurance company (GEICO) has cancelled our insurance policy for the Safari Condo. In their words “it’s a conversion van and they don’t insure them”. So, i’d like to hear who the other U.S. Safari Condo owners are using for insurance and how has the cost and experience been.

[nebulight]

There are several options. My DIY van is insured with a fixed value policy (might be called something different). You tell them what it is, how it's used and the amount you want it insured for and they write up the policy.

And it's MUCH better to do it this way than you were doing it. If the van was insured as just a van, they would not have covered the conversion contents (stolen or wrecked, they'd probably cut you a check for the value of a promaster of whatever year you have).

[Mat Mobile]

Originally Posted by michaelingp

Our insurance company (GEICO) has cancelled our insurance policy for the Safari Condo. In their words “it’s a conversion van and they don’t insure them”. So, i’d like to hear who the other U.S. Safari Condo owners are using for insurance and how has the cost and experience been.

Maybe it's just wording. Stay away from conversion van (which implies DIY) and go with RV. Because really, Safari Condos are RVs. Especially since it's "certified" by the Canadian RV Association (link).

[35603]

I insured my Safari Condo Promaster MC with Foremost insurance.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by michaelingp

Our insurance company (GEICO) has cancelled our insurance policy for the Safari Condo. In their words “it’s a conversion van and they don’t insure them”. So, i’d like to hear who the other U.S. Safari Condo owners are using for insurance and how has the cost and experience been.

Inform them that it is an RV. They insure RVs.
https://www.geico.com/information/aboutinsurance/rv/


- - Mike
2012 Sprinter 3500 Extended converted B-Van by Airstream