Coachmen Freedom Express Travel Trailers

[Atlee]

Are these trailers good, okay, or to be run from?

I found a floor plan that I really like, a used 2018 204RD or a new 2021 20SE which is the same as the 204RD except it has some items stripped out in order to lower the price point.

[BarabooBob]

I noticed a little bit of rust under my TT after 1 year. I sanded the area down and repainted. I inspect my frame at least twice a year and sand/repaint any spots of rust that I find. I crawl under the entire TT looking for problem areas. So far, the rust that I have found has been very small spots.

[lwbfl]

It's actually not. I personally know two people with lippert frames that had serious rust issues, and both also were missing welds. One is Coachman, the other Grand Design. The Grand Design trailer was considered by a different dealer, scrap material. Both were repaired by Lippert.

In one year? We build farm trailer frames from scrap, never paint them and they last longer than that! That's insane that it's even possible to rust through in a year without exposure to some caustic substance. I'm amazed!

[philh]

lwbfl wrote:

psdx wrote:

lwbfl wrote:

psdx wrote:
I had a 2017 279RLDS Liberty Edition for 2 years. The frame rusted enough after one year so that when I prepped it for restoration, there were a number of areas where thin layers of metal peeled away. That was year one. Six months later the springs on the slide side failed and the tires were rubbing on the underside of the wheel well when traveling. Forest River acted real interested, but they never did anything. The gutter on the curb side had a persistent leak, and I had two screws pop up on the roof. The rest of it was great, but that was enough to make me vote with my feet. I traded it out immediately after I replaced the springs.

Was the frame exposed to salt (coast or snow areas)?

Can’t say about delivery from the factory, but not while I owned it.

How very odd then!

It's actually not. I personally know two people with lippert frames that had serious rust issues, and both also were missing welds. One is Coachman, the other Grand Design. The Grand Design trailer was considered by a different dealer, scrap material. Both were repaired by Lippert.

[gmbetz]

We just sold a 2018 Freedom Express 24RKS. It for three years. In that time traveled within a triangle out of KY to Wisconsin to Atlanta to New Mexico. No problems. Would have bought another Freedom Express but they did not have the right floorplan. 30 amps so just about every time we put something in the microwave with the TV, AC, toaster and or electric griddle going it threw a breaker.

[lwbfl]

psdx wrote:

lwbfl wrote:

psdx wrote:
I had a 2017 279RLDS Liberty Edition for 2 years. The frame rusted enough after one year so that when I prepped it for restoration, there were a number of areas where thin layers of metal peeled away. That was year one. Six months later the springs on the slide side failed and the tires were rubbing on the underside of the wheel well when traveling. Forest River acted real interested, but they never did anything. The gutter on the curb side had a persistent leak, and I had two screws pop up on the roof. The rest of it was great, but that was enough to make me vote with my feet. I traded it out immediately after I replaced the springs.

Was the frame exposed to salt (coast or snow areas)?

Can’t say about delivery from the factory, but not while I owned it.

How very odd then!

[psdx]

lwbfl wrote:

psdx wrote:
I had a 2017 279RLDS Liberty Edition for 2 years. The frame rusted enough after one year so that when I prepped it for restoration, there were a number of areas where thin layers of metal peeled away. That was year one. Six months later the springs on the slide side failed and the tires were rubbing on the underside of the wheel well when traveling. Forest River acted real interested, but they never did anything. The gutter on the curb side had a persistent leak, and I had two screws pop up on the roof. The rest of it was great, but that was enough to make me vote with my feet. I traded it out immediately after I replaced the springs.

Was the frame exposed to salt (coast or snow areas)?

Can’t say about delivery from the factory, but not while I owned it.

[lwbfl]

psdx wrote:
I had a 2017 279RLDS Liberty Edition for 2 years. The frame rusted enough after one year so that when I prepped it for restoration, there were a number of areas where thin layers of metal peeled away. That was year one. Six months later the springs on the slide side failed and the tires were rubbing on the underside of the wheel well when traveling. Forest River acted real interested, but they never did anything. The gutter on the curb side had a persistent leak, and I had two screws pop up on the roof. The rest of it was great, but that was enough to make me vote with my feet. I traded it out immediately after I replaced the springs.

Was the frame exposed to salt (coast or snow areas)?

[psdx]

I had a 2017 279RLDS Liberty Edition for 2 years. The frame rusted enough after one year so that when I prepped it for restoration, there were a number of areas where thin layers of metal peeled away. That was year one. Six months later the springs on the slide side failed and the tires were rubbing on the underside of the wheel well when traveling. Forest River acted real interested, but they never did anything. The gutter on the curb side had a persistent leak, and I had two screws pop up on the roof. The rest of it was great, but that was enough to make me vote with my feet. I traded it out immediately after I replaced the springs.

[Draggo]

I have a 2018 279RLDS and have been very happy with it. We were looking at several trailers when we bought it and kept coming back to it because of the fit and finish on it. Any issues I've had have been minor and similar to any other brand of trailer. When the time comes I would definitely buy another FE if it fit what we were looking for.

[Atlee]

What are the irritating items?

philh wrote:
It's an Elkhart built trailer. I have a 2018 FE. Haven't run into any major issues, but several irritating items requiring repair.

Biggest one criticism I have, china bomb tires, and I just put GY Endurance on mine... only to be sold this summer/fall

[philh]

It's an Elkhart built trailer. I have a 2018 FE. Haven't run into any major issues, but several irritating items requiring repair.

Biggest one criticism I have, china bomb tires, and I just put GY Endurance on mine... only to be sold this summer/fall

[BC4277]

Our 2017 had Castle Rocks (China Bombs), but they were 75mph rated. We put over 10,000 miles on them without any problems. This included our trip to Fairbanks, AK.

[Atlee]

Well, I guess that will just be another negotiating point. I want GY Endurance tires. At least Coachmen puts D rated tired on their Freedom Express trailers, rather than C rated ones.

[Director_Marc]

Atlee wrote:
What tires is Coachmen putting on its trailers now? Goodyear Endurance?

lwbfl wrote:
I researched all the manufactures and decided on a Coachmen because of the aluminum framing, Azdel and construction methods. I then looked at the different models until I found one that met my weight, length and price requirements. Everyone I know that owns a Coachmen is satisfied with the quality of the construction. Of course there are issues with various other things but at least I'll be able to replace those things. Its hard to replace the actual structure!

Castle Rock