There's a 1990 Freedom JetStream 200 near me for sale and I'm in love. I've never considered caravanning but my colleagues say how easy it is with kids.
This seems to be a beautiful little van but I suspect I've fallen in love with the Cath Kidston fabrics, bunting and deck chairs.
Can someone talk sense to me and tell me what I really need to consider?
They say it's a fibreglass van so no rot. Would damp still be an issue? It comes with a Riviera awning, porta potti, hookup etc etc.
Thank you!
The little size and the style appeal but we're 2 and a toddler and I really don't think we'd fit would we?
Well I'm going to throw a spanner in the works damp issues aside, we are a family of 5, 2 adults 11, 10, and 18months ( at the time of purchase ) we bought a 4 berth title Elddis and LOVED IT! Since upgraded to a larger caravan for many reasons, none of them that we didn't like the Elddis. If its not too expensive, and you've taken in to account any storage costs and maintainance then what have you got to lose? You may find that you gain a whole new joy in life and meet many new friends along the way, I know we have go for it
Check the interior wall lining of caravan as this does tend to come away on Freedom caravans but damp shouldn't be a problem. Make up bed & check it is long enough for you as it is across caravan but I doubt it would be wide enough for 2 adults & small child.
You can get small Eribas with a double bed & small single for child but these will be much more expensive than a Freedom though. A small 'conventional' caravan will probably more suitable & cost effective for you. 'Cute' & 'user friendly' do not usually go together which is why most caravans are white boxes.
I think we could currently fit a travel cot in it but thats not a long-term solution. I couldn't stick dd in the awning at her age (although I could stick oh there!)
It might also be just me and the toddler quite a bit but then I've never towed, and making it toddler central doesn't quite fit with my idea of glamping bliss.
They've re-lined it with fabric - could this be masking problems?
They're asking about 2k for it - how does that compare with other small vans?
Why not buy it, try it and if you find after a season it is too small you will get back what you paid for it. Think about storage though. I have a Freedom Sport which is a little narrower than the Jetstream and I can get it down the side of my house. As long as you are paying less thank 1000 for a 1990 you will be fine.
Places to check for damp are inside the front and rear lockers and where the grab handles are both easy fixes
Wow 2k? I think you may be paying for cuteness rather than functionality. We bought our 1995 Elddis for £700 including 3004 ALKO hitch and lock, full awning, leccy hook up, water and waste hogs and Awning groundsheet. Although I know we got an amazing bargain, we sold her on for £1000. Lovely van, nice and dry etc, we only sold her on as we really needed to sleep us all in the van due to wanting to use it all throughout the year and couldn't expect kids to sleep in awning in winter there are some bargains to be had if you look around. Take someone who knows what to look for with you if you can. The Elddis we got came from a very good friend so we knew how it had been looked after and we sold it on to friends with a clear conscience.
I think for 2k you could get a really nice little van that would suit you for a few years to come, even if you add to your family.
As far as the towing is concerned, if you passed your driving test after 1st Jan 1997, make sure you can tow legally. I couldn't tow our outfit until I'd passed the b+e test. I actually enjoy towing our van, it was daunting at first with our new van being brand new and 23ft, was petrified of clipping kerbs etc and when we first set off it takes me a few miles to relax in to it but I'm sure that's good nerves.
Hope you get sorted and I can whole heatedly agree with your colleagues, it's wonderful for the kids, I am a relative newbie to touring but spent most of my childhood holidays in caravans and also many of our family holidays have been in caravans both in the uk and in France and holland.
If you put in a search on Ebay for Freedom caravans, there aren't many below £2,000 except really old ones - and many selling for a lot more than that. I'd see if you can get him to drop the price a bit, but I would still go for it!
BTW, don't buy any caravan from Ebay without going to look at it first.
Unfortunately you do pay more for smaller, lightweight caravans.
I bought a little old (vintage!!) kip caravan with a pop top roof, 30 years old but very lightweight and easy to tow - I've never regretted it, although I had to spend a fortune to get it up to scratch and stop it leaking! At least you don't get that so much with a Freedom. If the roof has been relined, I'd say that was a good thing if done properly, as the original linings always seems to come off.
If they told you it can't suffer from rot because it's fibreglass you need to be aware that the floor is not likely to be all fibreglass and that can still rot if there has been water ingress somewhere.
Repairing a caravan floor is no easy task if timber needs replacing.
Post last edited on 29/06/2013 11:11:26
------------- First outing : 6 - 8th June 2011 - Rivington nr Bolton.
27/6/11 - 15/7/11: Cornwall.
2/9/11 - 5/9/11: Tarporley, Cheshire.
08/10/11 - 13/10/11: Naburn Lock nr York.
19/3/12 - 22/3/12: Southport
£2k is too much for a 1990 Freedom, they are trying to jump on the daft price Eriba bandwagon. You will get a smallish 1990 conventional caravan with much more space in good nick for well under a grand on ebay, just check its not damp & it should be ok.
There's a 2 berth for sale in my county for £650. I am naturally suspicious as to its condition - what questions should I ask? And what should I expect to get with it?
Best bet is to take someone who knows caravans along with you. Your friends who tell you it's easy - any of them likely to offer?
Anywhere near Manchester I would take a look with you.
Oh, and I think you are being extremely sensible. Farming means you can't book too far ahead for hols, so with a caravan you can go at the drop of a Barbour cap. Dipping your toes to see if you like it is a very sensible thing to do. Don't spend too much in case you don't take to it, but if you get half as much fun out of caravanning as I do, every penny will have been well spent.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Please tell me to be sensible!
damp issues aside, we are a family of 5, 2 adults 11, 10, and 18months ( at the time of purchase ) we bought a 4 berth title Elddis and LOVED IT! Since upgraded to a larger caravan for many reasons, none of them that we didn't like the Elddis. If its not too expensive, and you've taken in to account any storage costs and maintainance then what have you got to lose? You may find that you gain a whole new joy in life and meet many new friends along the way, I know we have 
go for it 
there are some bargains to be had if you look around. Take someone who knows what to look for with you if you can. The Elddis we got came from a very good friend so we knew how it had been looked after and we sold it on to friends with a clear conscience. 
