A couple of the brands of motorhome we’re interested in are Safari and Beaver from the late 1990’s. Both are built on Magnum chassis.I’ve seen enough references to poor handling of Safaris (due mostly to weight distribution issues, apparently). Gives me pause in buying a Safari. I have not heard the same reports about Beaver motorhomes. Beaver floor plans seem very similar to Safari floor plans for the late 1990’s. I’m not sure how similar the other engineering may be.Do Beaver motorhomes on Magnum chassis for model years 1995 to 1999 have the same issues with handling and ride as their sister Safari motorhomes?Thanks!Wayne

Beaver M/H of that period were high quality coaches. After Monaco took control of the company, not so much. I wish I could have found a Contessa with in our budget when we were in the market.

Wayne,Just like Freightliner and Spartan, Magnum made a variety of chassis that were used on a variety of different weight and length coaches. So generalizations really are not helpful.Their leaf spring sprung coaches did/do very well. Shorter length Torsilastic suspension coaches with their short wheelbase and lightly loaded front axles not so well. A 30' DP is very hard to "do right"!They also had air suspension chassis.

We had a 99 Safari Continental with 8 air bag chassis. 155k miles of great rides. The air chassis was available on both Beaver and Safari in that time period. Best choice (IMHO) of those years would be a Beaver Patriot Thunder. Air chassis and a bigger CAT engine. Kind of like a Corvette motorhome. :) :) First year for slides was 97, maybe look at 98 and up.

I have a 2001 Beaver Contessa with the 8 air bag chassis and have no concerns with it at all.....drives well with no bad habits for me.

You ask this same question last week on the 22ndSafari chassisAnd got the same answersThere should be no suspension problems with model you are looking atIt is not the short wheelbase with problem sway barsSafari friend's on Yahoo groupsCould give you more detailed answers

Magnum Chassis | Good Sam Community

Ivylog
Explorer III
May 30, 2014
Previous MH was a 40' 98 Beaver Patriot on a 8 air bag suspension. Handled well although I probably should have put new shocks on the front as it would bounce a little after hitting a good bump. Some years had a brake recall for the Bosch disk brakes. Nice MH all the way around with a 330Cat/6 spd Allison and the exhaust brake worked really well.
Empty_Nest__Soo
Explorer
May 30, 2014
wolfe10 wrote:
Being a big fan of KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). . . Basement storage generous and with its simple leaf spring suspension, very little maintenance.

. . . and light weight (under 21,000 loaded) make for good performance and MPG.

The idea of Simple appeals to me as well. I wish I could find somewhere a credible list of which Safaris had the leaf-spring suspension.

The lighter weight of an aluminum skin appeals to me also.

Wayne
wolfe10
Explorer
May 30, 2014
Wayne,

Just ask what suspension it has when you inquire about a coach.

Really only three choices:

Leaf spring-- clearly identifiable-- yup, you can see the leaf springs.

Torsilastic, also known as Velvet Ride (my personal opinion, the lesser of the three choices as it has been out of production for over a decade).

Air suspension (most early ones were 4 air bag). Monaco higher end Safaris 8 air bag.

If a seller can't tell you that much about his coach, "Run Forest, Run"!
Empty_Nest__Soo
Explorer
May 31, 2014
Brett,

Okay, thanks! I had no idea that the suspension types were so distinct and easily identifiable in practice.

Wayne
davegvg
Explorer
Jun 06, 2014
Empty Nest, Soon wrote:
A couple of the brands of motorhome we’re interested in are Safari and Beaver from the late 1990’s. Both are built on Magnum chassis.

I’ve seen enough references to poor handling of Safaris (due mostly to weight distribution issues, apparently). Gives me pause in buying a Safari. I have not heard the same reports about Beaver motorhomes. Beaver floor plans seem very similar to Safari floor plans for the late 1990’s. I’m not sure how similar the other engineering may be.

Do Beaver motorhomes on Magnum chassis for model years 1995 to 1999 have the same issues with handling and ride as their sister Safari motorhomes?

Thanks!
Wayne

Have a 98 beaver monterey on a magnum chassis - rides and handles like a dream.
As good or better than any rig of comparable size and weight and light years beyond a gasser

Ive towed 7K with it - no bad manners Ive picked up.

Its good enough that I invested a bunch of dough into it already with zero chassis concerns.
Ive only got 24K on her, but have already repainted it, and dropped in a diesel genny in place of the propane unit.

Uncle Dave

Forum Discussion

Magnum Chassis

About Motorhome Group

Related Content

air bags on Magnum chassis

Magnum Inverter/Converter Question

magnum ME 2012

mercedes sprinter chassis

Chassis