Jayco Freedom Pop Top "Outback"

Can't help you with your question, but what do you want for your current rig?
Regards
Mike

Hi Peter,
we upgraded to the outback freedom you are looking from an outback hawk wouldnt go back the only thing we found was that was a bit squashy but we have a fifteen year old daughter to accommodate so we sold that one and bought a 16 ft outback with bunks. we have done a trip to the snowys at christmas and stayed at heaps of sites in the national park, did the darling run in it as well as bush camping in heaps of places the set up and pack up times are so good by the time my husband has the caravan un hooked we have the legs down the top popped and the awning out the fridge on it is fantastic if you do a bit of bush camping see if you can get an external shower and hot water system that isnt from me rather my husband who just finds it so much easier than heating the water and setting the shower up and a solar panel is good i know these are luxuries but we tow ours with a straight diesal and that is not my thing so cant comment on that part your wife will love you if you go for this option i love my van looking forward to when all my kids are settled so we can travel and use ourmore hope this helps barb

There was a thread a couple of months ago on Jayco,s breaking the lower monting bracket on the shock absorber . Impression given was that the bracket was a section of angle iron that flexed , work hardened and propogated a crack . The flexing may occur while cornering on a smooth road when heavy . Simple fix would be to weld a couple of gussets [webs] to strengthen the bracket .Apart from the broken brackets there seemed to be few problems .

Peter,
have a Freedom 16 ft Poptop. It was a standard van, but we had a suspension height increase and shocks fitted. The thiing we found with the van, and "outback" versions aren't built any better inside, is the top cupboards start to loosen and come away from the frame. So you may have to "bullet" proof the interior cabinetry.

I've looked at the Outback versions, all they have is heavier sub-frame, suspension and fake checkerplate. They have no additional underbody protection for watertanks, fittings, etc.

We returned form the Oodnadatta Track and fitted extra bash plates to the water tank. I consider this track a major road and not truly off road.

I also tow with a Prado and found until I raised the van, it bottomed out alot at standard ride height.

When I win the big one we get a Kedron or Bushtrakker.

Wizard
Gold Coast