"Retractable" 2025 R-Series Are Overgrown Teardrops With Interiors Worth Every Darn Penny!

Folks, the name Safari Condo is bound to sound familiar. Heck, just this year, they unveiled what could be considered one of the most aerodynamic travel trailers on the market, the A-Series, with the "A" signifying "aerodynamic."

As for the R-Series, that "R" stands for nothing more than "retractable," which describes half of the Alto lineup's story. Actually, this is as good a place as any to start our discovery into the R-Series, and what the "retractable" is all about has to do with the way Safari Condo built this lineup with a retractable roof.

However, the two floorplans you see in the image gallery are based on the traditional teardrop shape, and adding a mobile roof to something like this takes a tad of ingenuity. The way this magic happens is with a roof that lifts into place, revealing side walls that extend the camper's height well beyond the average human height. Yes, you can stand up in these teardrops.

Now, two floorplans are available for the 2025 year, but to make things easier to understand, I'll be sticking to just one of them; both, however, are showcased in the image gallery. As for the unit I've chosen to describe, the R1713 is the beauty for this job. It's also the largest of the two models, with 60 cubic feet of space, but also the lightest, weighing just 1,949 lbs (884 kg). Oh, and just so we're on the same page here, prices start at $51,209 Canadian, which is roughly $37,600 American (at current exchange rates). Sounds like I need to take a trip up to the border or just find one in some dealership in my area.

Overall, the shells of these babies are crafted using good old and timeless aluminum, hence the rather lightweight design. Driving along, Safari Condo claims that these puppies spit out a drag coefficient of 75% less than that encountered with "traditional 16' travel trailers." We can thank the built-into-frame holding tanks for part of this magic.

However, it's once we finally make it to that X on our map or campgrounds that we'll be able to really see the full extent of Safari Condo's magic. After you've stabilized your unit, unhitched your vehicle, and taken in the sights and sounds of the world around, it's time to pop the proverbial top and enter our habitat.

Once we do, we'll find ourselves in the middle of a home on wheels that has everything you could ask for indoors. Since this overgrown teardrop-like unit has walls that move, the outdoor galley we're typically used to in a camper of this style is inexistent.

Yet, the interior does offer a kitchen block that has everything you'd need to whip up three-course meals. There's a two-burner top, fridge, and even a sink with a faucet, too. Did you happen to spot the microwave or all the pull-out drawers? This is also the space you'll see straight away as you enter the R1713.

To the right of that galley, Safari Condo adds a dinette, and if we consider that this unit can accommodate up to four guests, we can take a wild guess and say that this feature is modular. Be sure to picture yourself having breakfast, lunch, or dinner, in this space, all with a view of the world outside.

At the opposite end of the R1713, future owners will have access to a large beam-to-beam bed, but the real neat trick here is that this space, too, is modular. If needed, it can easily be transformed into a day lounge or just two single beds.

Now, I encounter campers on a daily basis, and if there's one thing you don't see in a teardrop every day, a friggin bathroom! Well, the R1713 and its brethren all include this feature, and this creature's comfort simply can't be beat in a park full of people or when the weather is just downright wild. The wet bath sits on the left of the entrance; it's that cubicle you see in the images.

As for some of the magic we can't see, there's an ultra-quiet heating system and water heater, an auxiliary battery, a monitor, 100 l (26 gals) of fresh water, and countless options and extra features to choose from. Up to 440 W of solar panel power can be brought along, bike racks, too.

For the remainder of our time together or as you scroll through the image gallery, place yourself in the middle of what you see and feel the breeze running through the unit, hear the sound of the birds chirping in the trees outside, or leaves brushing against each other in the breeze. Better yet, find a dealership with one of these babies in stock and see it in the flesh.