Purchasing a Safari Condo Alto F2414
In the second half of 2020, Vic and I decided that we needed a new camper. I was planning on retiring in 2021, and we knew we were going to do a lot more traveling once I was free from full-time work. We wanted a new Cabin on Wheels that would last until we were done with RV travel – 20 years or more.
Our must-haves: Lightweight, two axles (for smoother towing), dry bath, all aluminum or fiberglass shell (no rubber roofs), a no-climb over bed arrangement, entry door not near the bed, plenty of inside and outside storage options, low maintenance and made to last. The floor plan requirement was mine alone. I just don’t like opening the door and seeing the bed.
Our nice to haves: Solar capability, pleasing interior décor, and functional counter space for meal prep – we love to cook!
First we focused on fiberglass shell campers but didn’t find a model with our must-haves that had a floor plan we liked. A friend (who was also looking for a new camper) forwarded me the link to Safari Condo, and we liked what we saw.
We kept looking (even considered Airstreams for about five minutes) but didn’t find anything that measured up to the Alto F2414. We read reviews and joined the Altoists Facebook group to learn more about the camper. We were convinced.
In early April of 2021, an owner of a different Alto model showed us hers so we could see the build quality in person. Later that month, without ever seeing an F2414, we selected our options and put a deposit down on our camper.
We’re sharing how we purchased our Alto. Others may have other experiences.
Ordering Process
For us, the entire ordering process was easy and straightforward. Safari Condo sent us a document listing their standard and upgraded options. They asked us to highlight our choices and send it back, so they have a baseline on which to build our order.
Once we sent in our option list, we had a phone meeting with our sales rep Daniel Perron. We went over this first pass and made a few changes. Soon thereafter, we received our contract (including a pick-up date in November 2022), instructions on wiring the deposit ($7,000 in U.S dollars), and modification and cancellation documents.
Pay attention to the modification document! Changes can be made at no cost up to four months before your delivery date, when SC states your trailer will go into production. You get one free change after the modification deadline, and then you’ll have to pay extra for changes.
Before the modification deadline, we scheduled a call with Daniel to make changes to our original option list. We asked him if there were any new options since we put our deposit down. There was! We upgraded to a Truma Aventa roof-mounted air conditioner, which offered more BTUs and quieter operation than the original.
We received our final invoice and contract, which we signed and returned. After that, all we had to do was wait.
Flexibility is key
We read in the forums that some customers were experiencing delays in the delivery of their campers. At the end of September – two months before our delivery date – we asked Daniel for a status update. He replied that he looked at the schedule, and everything seemed to be on track for our November 2022 delivery, but our camper was not yet on the line for production.
We did some math. Two months from our original delivery date. Four months of production. We didn’t think we’d see our camper in November. Or December, given the holidays and Canadian winters. In our minds, we’d be picking up in 2023.
Surprise! Two weeks later, we received an email from Daniel saying our Alto was ready to be picked up — on our original pick-up date.
The email listed several pick-up appointments – the earliest two weeks from the date of the email. Once we picked our appointment, SC requested our driver’s licenses, passports, and other documents for the preparation of the title and border crossing paperwork. The final payment was also due at least a week before our pickup date.
Fortunately, with both of us retired, we had the time and flexibility to quickly plan a trip, get cash together and wire it to Safari Condo.
I don’t know if our experience was typical, but my advice to anyone considering purchasing an Alto, to be ready for the “camper is ready” email within two months of your delivery date. Also, be ready to travel to Canada on short notice.
Orientation and Delivery
On our appointment time and date, Safari Condo was ready for us for our orientation. We walked into the showroom and got our first look at “Mosey.”
Over two hours, Bernard showed us how everything worked – inside and out – and then installed the hitch on our receiver. We were also provided with an owner’s manual, prepared by SC, and warranty cards and manuals for the components installed in the camper.
At the end of the camper orientation, we were presented with a folder of documents: Our title, a 10-day temporary tag, and the documents we needed to bring our new camper into the US.After orientation was over, we went to a local hardware store to fill up our propane tanks in preparation for our first night in the camper – in the SC parking lot.
Night 1
The overnight low was in the teens, and with the Truma Combi Eco (standard on the F2414) on propane mode, we were warm and cozy. We were up early, unplugged and on our way home.
Buying an Alto is not like going to an RV dealership and buying a camper off of the lot. There are a lot of steps, and you have to pay attention to each one. But it was all worth it! Mosey is home in our driveway — registered, inspected and insured — as we get her ready for our first extended trip at the end of this month.
Look for our next post about challenges buying a Canadian-made camper and the process of crossing the border back into the U.S.
