Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > MOTORHOME FORUMS > Class A Motorhome Discussions
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 12-30-2017, 04:09 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Rancho Murieta, CA
Posts: 130
Safari Trek/Workhorse

We are seriously considering purchasing a 2004 Trek in good condition with 50k miles. We have a Class C now and my wife does not really fit in the co-pilot seat (6’ not heavy).

Questions

Any experience with the Trek?
8.1, not familiar since have the Ford 6.9. Any problems or positives?
Any experience with 5 star on the motor?
Any issues with the bed?

Thanks
__________________
2010 Newmar Bay Star 2901
Jeep Grand Cherokee in tow
NorCal27 is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 12-30-2017, 05:04 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
edgray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Madison, MS
Posts: 10,560
Do you know if the Workhorse chassis is a W series or is it the P32? The W series will have an Allison 5 speed tranny, whereas the P32 will have a GM 4 speed and most likely will also have a J71 AAPB, both of which would cause me to look elsewhere.
edgray is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2017, 05:10 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
George Schweikle's Avatar


 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,000
We have put 189,000 miles on our two Safari Treks, and would buy a newer one in a heartbeat. These were fairly high-end units in their day and have more features and better construction than an entry level anything. Trek owners are extremely loyal, the Trek forum is the best place for all sorts of related information, and plenty of prospective buyers visit Login

1. The Chevrolet 8.1 is a great engine. Lower revving, so quieter than a Ford and the Trek you are considering may have an Allison transmission
2. I think the 5-Star tune is for Fords only?. There are other tuning upgrades for the 8.1
3. The only issue with the retractable bed is whether you can accept the (very) slight inconvenience in return for the increased floor space
4. Also, a while back there was a brake recall on some Workhorse chassis. Do your diligence to see if this affected the Trek you are considering

Edit, Determine if the unit you are considering has the "Autopark" parking brake system. While this has been vigorously maligned, the system can be trouble free if you take the time to learn about and maintain it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by NorCal27 View Post
We are seriously considering purchasing a 2004 Trek in good condition with 50k miles. We have a Class C now and my wife does not really fit in the co-pilot seat (6’ not heavy).

Questions

Any experience with the Trek?
8.1, not familiar since have the Ford 6.9. Any problems or positives?
Any experience with 5 star on the motor?
Any issues with the bed?

Thanks
__________________
George Schweikle Lexington, KY
2005 Safari (Monaco)Trek 28RB2, Workhorse W20, 8.1, Allison 1000 5 spd, UltraPower engine & tranny, Track bars & sway bars, KONI FSD, FMCA 190830, Safari Int'l. chapter. 1999 Safari Trek 2830, 1995 Safari Trek 2430, 1983 Winnebago Chieftain, 1976 Midas Mini
George Schweikle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-30-2017, 05:12 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
vsheetz's Avatar


 
Fleetwood Owners Club
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
We had a 95' 28' Safari Trek for several years.

Different chassis drivetrain that what you are looking at - ours was GM diesel on a Chevy P30 chassis. The GM engine / WH chassis in yours is very good - reliable and plenty of power. The 5 Star Tune is typically not needed. Its most often applied to Ford v10 chassis and improves shifting.

The sleeping arrangement is not for everyone, but if it works for you it actually works out very well. The goodness is a very large bath and the living area of a much larger coach in a compact package. Quality cabinets, construction , etc. Treks were not inexpensive coaches to buy new.

One of the best assets to any Trek owner is the Trektracks forum. A huge repository of tribal knowledge from a very helpful group of Trek owners.

If a Trek works for you, go for it.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
vsheetz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2017, 09:52 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Rancho Murieta, CA
Posts: 130
Thanks everyone it is very helpful. I have admit that I’m more confused then when I started. Reading specs in Trek of that year it could have a w or p chassis and most likely the Allison tranny on the 29 rbs. However, the seller thinks it is a 4 speed. Is there an easy way to check visually? There is a lot of tail out there, but our Class C 31’ also had it. Yep the bed might be a challenge.
__________________
2010 Newmar Bay Star 2901
Jeep Grand Cherokee in tow
NorCal27 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2017, 10:35 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
edgray's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Madison, MS
Posts: 10,560
Quote:
Originally Posted by NorCal27 View Post
Thanks everyone it is very helpful. I have admit that I’m more confused then when I started. Reading specs in Trek of that year it could have a w or p chassis and most likely the Allison tranny on the 29 rbs. However, the seller thinks it is a 4 speed. Is there an easy way to check visually? There is a lot of tail out there, but our Class C 31’ also had it. Yep the bed might be a challenge.
YES. Look at the front axle. If it is a "solid" or "I beam" straight axle then it is a W series chassis. If you see an "independent" front with coil springs and airbags inside the coils, then you have a P32.

Also, if the sixth character of the chassis vin # is a "3" OR a "5", then it is a P32 chassis. If the sixth character is a "6", then you have a W series with the Allison tranny.
edgray is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2017, 11:23 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Forkyfork's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,975
Make sure realistically the bed set up is going to work for you. Coming from a class C you might be familiar with making and unmaking the bed daily to be able to use the rig. I know on my class C to be able to have any place to sit I had to get up and take down the bed.

I had considered the floor plan you are looking at outside of the daily bed shuffle there is the getting up at least once in the night to go to the bathroom. Being 6' tall how fun will climbing under the bed or over the other person is that going to be. Im only 5' tall and wasn't feeling up to the challenge. lol The safari setup works for a lot of people. Just make sure its right for you.

I didn't realize this until on a longer trip in our rig that at 5' short there is not enough legroom in the passenger seat. The dash goes almost to the floor and not really able to stretch out. I don't remember what the dash looks like on the gas safaris. I had more room in our class C.
__________________
2004 Winnebago Adventurer 38R
Proud Navy Mom
Forkyfork is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2017, 11:36 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
George Schweikle's Avatar


 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,000
Our 1999 2830 has a long overhang and had some side-to-side sway, but the addition of a Track bar (Panhard bar) reduced this considerably. Your previous 31 ft. class C may have been more affected by side wind and passing trucks than the Trek.

Suggest you have the seller lower the bed so you can "practice" entry and exit. For us, the benefits of the retractable bed far outweigh any negatives, but you need to verify this for yourself.

And, don't forget to visit the trektraxs forum Login

Quote:
Originally Posted by NorCal27 View Post
Thanks everyone it is very helpful. I have admit that I’m more confused then when I started. Reading specs in Trek of that year it could have a w or p chassis and most likely the Allison tranny on the 29 rbs. However, the seller thinks it is a 4 speed. Is there an easy way to check visually? There is a lot of tail out there, but our Class C 31’ also had it. Yep the bed might be a challenge.
__________________
George Schweikle Lexington, KY
2005 Safari (Monaco)Trek 28RB2, Workhorse W20, 8.1, Allison 1000 5 spd, UltraPower engine & tranny, Track bars & sway bars, KONI FSD, FMCA 190830, Safari Int'l. chapter. 1999 Safari Trek 2830, 1995 Safari Trek 2430, 1983 Winnebago Chieftain, 1976 Midas Mini
George Schweikle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-31-2017, 11:57 AM   #9
Senior Member/RVM #90
 
MSHappyCampers's Avatar


 
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 56,012
Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Can't help with the question but wanted to say hello! Keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!


Happy New Year!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
MSHappyCampers is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
workhorse



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Safari Trek 2830 :: 2002 Safari Trek 2830 Isaac-1 iRV2 Owners Registry 3 06-02-2021 01:53 AM
New Owners of 2001 Safari Trek 2830 with P-32 Workhorse Chassis Langeloro New Member Check-In 6 12-03-2015 04:13 PM
Ignition issue Safari Trek 8.1L, P-32 Workhorse Chassis Langeloro Workhorse and Chevrolet Chassis Motorhome Forum 6 11-28-2015 04:10 PM
Safari Trek/Workhorse rally at Brazel's RV Ultra RV Products Workhorse and Chevrolet Chassis Motorhome Forum 1 10-02-2008 10:42 AM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:10 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.