Jayco Freedom

I too have heard 2nd hand the same thing. Apparently the shock absorber mountings breaks off due to severe corrugations. But I believe that the factory now reinforces the shock mountings. Is also relativley easily fixed when it does occur (weld some brackets I believe).

I am not aware of any other "major" problems - but I don't particularly follow issues with the Jayco's so there could be other issues I haven't heard of.

Cheers

Captain

Looked into off road trailers but the good ones that we liked had an equally impressive price tag.

After most of the responses on this thread we are considering the Freedom for the areas we can (which is quite a sizable lump of Aus) and then short trips in the tent for the more remote aeas. This way we can also design our packing for out back travel and we would prefer to do these areas with a fellow traveller and figure short trips would be better under these circumstances.

My Freedom has a positive air pressure vent which I have been assured by another Freedom owner (with an off road version) keeps the van dust free.

I would never take a non off road van off road for very long. I assume the extra cost difference between on and off road might have something to do with extra built in things to withstand the battering off road.

Regards

Russell

Positive air pressure, really. Well as I said nothing keeps the dust, (I used the positive air pressure on my van) and I mean real dust, the type like talcum powder, out of the van.

It enters through the poorly sealed holes in the deck for drain pipes, etc. Also take a good look under your van where the fridge is and see the vast area of cut away floor for the fridge to breathe. You can't deal it up and dust will get in.

I'm talking from experience. I have looked at the Off Road package. All it consists of is upgraded suspension, some fake checker plate and a heavier draw bar. The van its self (I mean the interior) is not built any better or stronger than a normal Freedom. If I buy an off rtoad van it will be something purpose built for that use, not an on road van with some add ons.

Suggest you go to a Jayco dealer, push and pull the cupboards, etc, have a look how they're put together on a normal van, then have a look at an "off road pack". I did and there a stronger built other on roaders on the market.

If we upgrade to a real off road van it will be something like a Kedron, Bushtracker, etc, not a Jayco.

Don't believe the bull told to you by sales men, all they want to do is sell a van.

But don't believe me...........

Hi Muzzgit,

Murray may do a lot of shockie repairs, but that simply means they are working hard!!! I think his diagnosis of the problem may be flawed?

If they were NOT breaking, then maybe they were not doing anything. But since they are breaking, they are working overtime and either need stronger shocks or better mounts (depends on whats breaking).

Imagine driving your vehicle without shocks, it would be like a pogo stick ride and every corrugation would be magnified. The same with your van. No shocks going over corrugations will simply magnify the effect and increase the damaging vibrations in the van.

You can get away without shocks on a leaf sprung van for blacktop driving, but I would still recommend shocks even for this.

Cheers

Captain