2013 BAV: Roadstar Safari Tamer

A complete overhaul has brought Roadstar’s signature Safari Tamer offroad van out of the past and into the spotlight.

ROADSTAR SAFARI TAMER RATING CARD

VALUE FOR MONEY

This is a very well-equipped and solid van for the price.

TOWABILITY

Despite this van’s size and weight, it was a remarkably smooth tower, even in windy conditions.

SETTING UP AND HITCHING UP

The Pride Platinum is very straight forward to set-up and there are no surprises.

SUITABILITY FOR INTENDED TOURING

This van has clearly been built for some rough and tough touring and it has just about everything you need for self-contained travel. It has the heavy-duty luxury offroad angle/s covered really well. Except for a grey water tank, which is an unfortunate rarity in new caravans, this Safari Tamer is fully self-contained and ready for remote travel.

LAYOUT

There are several layouts available for the Safari Tamer but the one we tested had a well-proportioned front bedroom/rear bathroom layout.

QUALITY OF FINISH

The Safari Tamer’s finish is five out of five. It has received very careful attention to detail such as brushed stainless ply and soft-closing doors which are just a couple of highlights in a beautifully-finished caravan with a high level of craftsmanship.

BUILD QUALITY

The overhead lockers provide clues to the general build quality of the van – they are all strong and neatly aligned. A new sealant has been developed specifically for Roadstar’s caravans and that is employed here as well. Roadstar director Ken Nizam has worked hard to improve the design elements, like reducing the van’s weight while retaining the necessary build strength.

CREATURE COMFORTS

There are very few elements lacking in this van. Overall, it is very well-specified and, like any good caravan, there are plenty of external features to make both travel and al fresco living so much better.

INNOVATION

There are a number of innovations in this van. Some are hidden, like the sealant, while others are more obvious. The sealant in particular is a subtle but important improvement.

X-FACTOR

From the outside, the Safari Tamer looks like many other vans but, on the inside, it’s a world apart and has incredible X-factor. It really impresses, particularly with its high-class interior.

THE CARAVAN WORLD VERDICT

The latest generation Safari Tamer is something completely different – it bears no resemblance to the 2012 model. The Roadstar team has dragged the model – and its wider range – kicking and screaming into the 21st century. The results are obvious and commendable.

To discover the Roadstar Safari Tamer final score be sure to check out Caravan World Issue 521. Why not subscribe today!