Anyone have one? What do you like and dislike? Would you buy it again? How do you use it and what do you tow it with?I think we've narrowed it down to this unit...it's big enough for the 2 of us and has a good CCC, 2 axles so it should tow well, the layout and floorplan is pretty smartly done, you can use it with the slide in. It seems to be checking all the boxes as far as we can see.

We purchased a new 2014 Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS in July 2013 and have used it extensively since then. This generation had a short queen bed but I improved that significantly by extending the bed platform. The inexpensive stock mattress was rock hard but adding a 3" gel memory foam topper turned it into a soft pillow top. Mine doesn't have a vent over the main cabin so I instead use a window mounted fan, current models do have a vent in which you could mount a powered vent fan. In later model years (2016 ?) Coachmen changed the profile of the front wall so although the trailer is still 22' 6" coupler to bumper the bed is now an 80" full length queen bed. :BThe bathroom is about as small as it could be and although I'd prefer a bit more space it serves the purpose just fine. I did invent a shower curtain shaper so the shower curtain won't stick to us when showering. The toilet is angled so there's plenty of clearance between it and the bathroom door when sitting on the throne.I love the massive front pass through storage compartment where I have plenty of space for our needs - even carry my spare tire in there rather than under the A frame.Current models have a useless ommi directional OTA antenna, mine came with a Winegard Sensar III which I upgraded to a Sensar IV, adding a Winegard SignalPro as well so performance is about as good as it gets in an RV antenna. The current antenna I'd probably replace, but with what I'm not sure.A trailer this size isn't going to have both a dinette and sofa but our reasoning is we'd be better served with a sofa as we often eat outdoors anyway. The trailer does come with a stand alone table but it's awfully big so we instead use a couple of lightweight TV tables anytime we may want to eat inside. Unlike many trailers this one offers a reasonable amount of kitchen counter work space which can be further improved by placing a cutting board atop the stove. Interior cabinet space is generous and we've never been able to use it all, though I did add a third door to the cabinet next to the entry door.At 22' 6" this trailer is not only easy to tow but can be parked on pretty well any campsite, an important factor for us as we often go camping last minute, without a reservation, which during the busy summer months means we often don't have much choice in which site we get. With a trailer this size I know we'll always fit and I must admit I do enjoy watching those with 30 footers trying to squeeze on to their campsite. :W CCC is far more generous than with many similar models from other manufacturers, in excess of 2000 lbs. I typically run ~ 4800 lbs loaded & ready to camp with an average gross tongue weight of ~ 625 lbs. I do use a trunnion bar Reese WD system but no sway control.This trailer comes stock with off shore Chinese tires (Trail Express in my case) and not surprisingly one them failed earlier this summer - simply split, exposing the steel belt inside. Further inspection showed a large, oval shaped bubble where the interior ply had separated from the rest. I replaced all four with the new US made Goodyear Endurance and expect I won't have any further tire issues. I understand Jayco is now fitting Endurance tires to many of it's new models so if I were buying another Freedom Express I'd want to consider this as well.Mine has an open underbelly, which I prefer, but I believe current models have an enclosed underbelly. That may be a drawback as it would be difficult to ascertain whether new models suffer the same issue as mine did - a sagging fresh water tank. I solved that on my own trailer but I'd bet there are plenty of these trailers running around with the owner not realizing just how poorly these tanks are installed. As far as I know Coachmen has done little to improve this situation so it's one I'd look at carefully myself should I ever want to buy another Freedom Express.The only major failure I've had is the frame cracking on both sides, just aft of the rear tires. Turns out this is a pressed together Lippert frame and although Coachmen was forced to issue a recall for some models to install missing frame stiffeners my particular unit isn't on the list and therefore isn't covered for repair. My dealer is nonetheless going to repair this damage anyway but I'd caution anyone buying a used model to be aware of this issue. Newer models have a different frame and shouldn't have this issue.Coachmen has really stepped up the game by improving the look of the Freedom Express series with a profiled front wall. Personally I don't care for some of the current interior colours and the exterior white trim but others of course may disagree.Overall this trailer serves our needs really well, tows well behind our Silverado, and I have no plans to replace it. Forum member Last Train tows his own 192RBS with a Honda RIDGELINE but I personally wouldn't want to tow any trailer this size with anything less than a 1/2 ton truck. JMO.Anytime we camp with others they have their own camper so accommodating other couples isn't an issue for us. For those for whom this is an issue I'd instead suggest the somewhat larger Coachmen Freedom Express 231RBDS which has an especially large dinette that can be converted to a full size queen bed for night time use by a visiting couple.Further details are illustrated in my gallery. :)

Tagging in here as this trailer is on our short list of couples campers as well. Great info Soundguy. Just curious, with the sofa, is it comfortable sitting down to eat or do you end up leaning back? My layout choices are down to a murphy bed with dinette or this style where you are using the sofa at meals. PS I'm in your neck of the woods, so if you have any intel on a good dealer it would be appreciated :)

TheHound wrote:Tagging in here as this trailer is on our short list of couples campers as well. Great info Soundguy. Just curious, with the sofa, is it comfortable sitting down to eat or do you end up leaning back? My layout choices are down to a murphy bed with dinette or this style where you are using the sofa at meals. PS I'm in your neck of the woods, so if you have any intel on a good dealer it would be appreciated :)No issues with the sofa, your question has never even crossed our minds. Personally I'd steer clear of any Murphy bed models as you'll lose a significant amount of front pass through cargo compartment space which isn't even close to the space offered by the 192RBS.You'll also have additional storage space under the bed itself, not so with a Murphy bed.FWIW, my dealer is the second largest Coachmen dealer by volume and the 192RBS is his most popular model. For sure, larger models still sell but there's a definite trend toward the 19' - 23' class, at least in this neck of the woods. I'll PM you with dealer details.

SoundGuy wrote:TheHound wrote:Tagging in here as this trailer is on our short list of couples campers as well. Great info Soundguy. Just curious, with the sofa, is it comfortable sitting down to eat or do you end up leaning back? My layout choices are down to a murphy bed with dinette or this style where you are using the sofa at meals. PS I'm in your neck of the woods, so if you have any intel on a good dealer it would be appreciated :)No issues with the sofa, your question has never even crossed our minds. Personally I'd steer clear of any Murphy bed models as you'll lose a significant amount of front pass through cargo compartment space which isn't even close to the space offered by the 192RBS.You'll also have additional storage space under the bed itself, not so with a Murphy bed.FWIW, my dealer is the second largest Coachmen dealer by volume and the 192RBS is his most popular model. For sure, larger models still sell but there's a definite trend toward the 19' - 23' class, at least in this neck of the woods. I'll PM you with dealer details.Very helpful. Thanks!

SoundGuy is an awesome person to answer for those of us with this model. If you decide to get one, visit his site and look through the many mods he has made.I absolutely love mine. It is easy to tow, easy to set up, and very spacious for a couple. I am usually by myself, but my wife joins me occasionally and we are very comfortable in it.I like that it is high off the ground, so speed bumps and hilly ramps into gas stations, etc. aren't a threat. Like SoundGuy said, the bathroom is small. But, it does what it is supposed to. I can close the door when sitting on the pot. The shower is tight for a big guy, but I manage.I was trying to think of something I don't like about the trailer. I can't think of anything.

coachmen freedom express 192rbs | Good Sam Community

TheHound
Explorer
Nov 30, 2017
mountainkowboy wrote:
Thanks for the heads-up on the water tank issues, I will have to remove the underbelly cover and see if they have addressed that.

Would really like to know this as well. If you do check it out, can you post an update? Thanks!
mountainkowboy
Explorer
Nov 30, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:
mountainkowboy wrote:
I also like that it can be towed by our Ranger, 5,900lb tow capacity, with a moderate load out for local and weekend play too.

Maybe, I guess it depends on your expectations. I know forum member Last Train tows his own 192RBS with a Honda Pilot but I personally wouldn't be comfortable towing it with anything less than a V8 1/2 ton gasser, such as my Silverado.

It's well within the capabilities of the Ranger, but thanks.
mountainkowboy
Explorer
Nov 30, 2017
TheHound wrote:
mountainkowboy wrote:
Thanks for the heads-up on the water tank issues, I will have to remove the underbelly cover and see if they have addressed that.

Would really like to know this as well. If you do check it out, can you post an update? Thanks!

We haven't bought a unit yet, still in the research phase, but we're pretty sure that this will be the unit we buy.
jjjandrbaker
Explorer
Dec 01, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:
Annoyingly, Coachmen still mounts the tank monitor / water heater control panel where it's blocked by the slide when in the travel position.

Like I said earlier, SoundGuy is a good spokesman for us. Now, I remembered one thing I really don't like. Like SoundMan, I have memorized the buttons for the panel, but shame on Coachmen for not just putting it a few inches to the left in the first place!
mountainkowboy
Explorer
Dec 01, 2017
I just looked a the 2018's and they also have the controls mounted in the same place. If I get one that would be one of the first things that I would change.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Dec 01, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:
Annoyingly, Coachmen still mounts the tank monitor / water heater control panel where it's blocked by the slide when in the travel position.

jjjandrbaker wrote:
Like I said earlier, SoundGuy is a good spokesman for us. Now, I remembered one thing I really don't like. Like SoundMan, I have memorized the buttons for the panel, but shame on Coachmen for not just putting it a few inches to the left in the first place!

While Coachmen IMO got the general design of the 192RBS right there's certainly more than "one thing" about it that can only make one wonder if those who design these trailers actually ever use them. :M Yes, kudos to Coachmen for extending the bed to a full 80" length and providing a vent over the main cabin (both of which are lacking in my 2014) but surely if one gave this any thought at all both these details shouldn't have been missed in the first place. Mounting the tank monitor / control panel where it can't be seen is just one of the continuing flaws - several others come to mind as well.

The 192RBS is one model that cries out for cabinet doors on the end of the bed platform, so one doesn't have to lift the heavy bed platform & mattress in order to gain access. I solved that myself by identifying the cabinet door above the galley as the correct size, ordering 2 along with all the hardware, and installing them myself on the end of the bed platform. Hard to imagine it would cost all that much for Coachmen to just make this part of the design. :R

The tall pantry to the left of the fridge, next to the entry door, still comes with 2 doors, the lowest section is simply paneled over even though there's nothing behind that panel but open space occupied by a couple of tail light wires. Again, I identified the correct door size from another Freedom Express of the same model year, cut out the panel, and installed the door. We've used that space for storing shoes, last season I carried odds 'm ends of hoses, cables, etc. Current 192RBS models still don't have a door. :R

A pet peeve of mine - the orientation of the slide and awning switches makes no sense at all. After all, when I want to pull the slide in surely I'd want to press the 2-way switch in at the end nearest to me ... instead it pushes in at the end facing toward the outside of the slide wall. Really? :S

The 192RBS's stock fridge is 6 cu ft. After seeing our camper a few years ago friends of ours decided to finally upgrade from their beloved Jayco popup and replaced it with a Starcraft Launch 21FBS which is virtually a clone of our 192RBS. Their trailer came stock with an 8 cu ft fridge ... so if Starcraft can fit this larger fridge into this design why can't Coachmen? :R

Outside the trailer the large entry door handle makes no sense at all. It's there simply because it's a generic item that's used across the entire lineup, in fact on probably all Coachmen models. The problem with the 192RBS is that handle, when folded to the rear to clear the door, sits across the rear awning support arm. Close the awning without thinking about this and that entry door handle will be crushed, just as my wife did on our second trip out when a sudden storm came up and she retracted the awning. I got lucky - only the handle was damaged, the awning hardware was fine so I ordered a new handle but cut it down in size before installing it so this design flaw would no longer be an issue.

Coachmen wisely chose to not mount the spare tire in the conventional manner by hanging it off the bumper where the weight would only unload the tongue. Instead it hangs under the A-frame - good for maintaining proper tongue weight but IMO a lousy solution considering that over time that spare wheel will be exposed to all manner of road debris and rust accordingly. I removed the crank assembly hardware and moved the spare to the front pass through cargo compartment ... tongue weight is still maintained but the wheel isn't exposed to the elements.

I really like how the external grill pulls out from the side of the trailer even though it was an "option" in my model year but disagree completely that it's a grill and not a stove. A grill will only introduce greasy cooking smells into the camper so I instead park a Weber Q on the campsite picnic table for grilling well away from the camper and replaced the stock grill with a Coleman 2-burner stove which remains free of any cooking smells. I use it every time we camp but only wish Coachmen had instead plumbed in their own permanently connected stove.

And finally there's that sagging fresh water tank which AFAIK hasn't been corrected at all on current models. Fill it with water and it will sag noticeably ...

On current models you just can't see it because the underbelly is now enclosed, unlike my 2014 which has an open underbelly. Lucky me, I saw this flaw right away and was able to correct it before the tank fell off the trailer. How could Coachmen possibly continue ignore such an obvious flaw? :h

Bottom line - over 5 seasons of use we've really grown to enjoy our Coachmen Freedom Express 192RBS immensely and would recommend it to anyone looking for an easy to tow, easy to park couple's model of this size. However, it's not perfect, the shame being these issues are details Coachmen could easily address to bring this model just that much closer to being "perfect". ;)
jjjandrbaker
Explorer
Dec 01, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:

The 192RBS is one model that cries out for cabinet doors on the end of the bed platform, so one doesn't have to lift the heavy bed platform & mattress in order to gain access.

A pet peeve of mine - the orientation of the slide and awning switches makes no sense at all. After all, when I want to pull the slide in surely I'd want to press the 2-way switch in at the end nearest to me ... instead it pushes in at the end facing toward the outside of the slide wall. Really? :S

I really like how the external grill pulls out from the side of the trailer even though it was an "option" in my model year...

Okay... SoundGuy reminded me of a few more things that I find a little annoying.

That underbed storage is a very important place for me. I wish they had put in the things that make it easy to lift and hold it up. I keep thinking about doing it myself, but just haven't gotten around to it. I like the door idea, but I keep large things like my multi cooker and ice machine in there. Easy access from the top would be best for me.

I noticed the slide control thing. Seems like you should push the button closest to the direction you are going. But, the awning one is worse. It is so low that it is awkward to see the buttons. I would have put it up higher.

The grill, I like. However, I obsessively cover it in foil before use and clean it to the point that it is like new after every use. Doing that is a HASSLE. But, I grill so rarely, that I haven't given much thought for another approach.
SoundGuy
Explorer
Dec 01, 2017
SoundGuy wrote:
The 192RBS is one model that cries out for cabinet doors on the end of the bed platform, so one doesn't have to lift the heavy bed platform & mattress in order to gain access.

I really like how the external grill pulls out from the side of the trailer even though it was an "option" in my model year...

jjjandrbaker wrote:
That underbed storage is a very important place for me. I wish they had put in the things that make it easy to lift and hold it up. I keep thinking about doing it myself, but just haven't gotten around to it. I like the door idea, but I keep large things like my multi cooker and ice machine in there. Easy access from the top would be best for me.

It would be rather simple to add a couple of gas shocks to the bed platform which would ease lifting all that weight. Before installing the cabinet doors I did make a notched platform support with a piece of 2" x 4" cut to length, as illustrated in a previous post. That said, the openings I cut in the bed end are large enough to easily pass a clothes hamper through so I'd imagine a multi cooker & ice machine would as well.

jjjandrbaker wrote:
The grill, I like. However, I obsessively cover it in foil before use and clean it to the point that it is like new after every use. Doing that is a HASSLE. But, I grill so rarely, that I haven't given much thought for another approach.

The grill supplied with my own 192RBS is still brand new, never been used. Certainly it's smaller than a Weber Q so I'm tempted to try it out but concerned it just can't grill as well as a Q I've avoided messing it up. Perhaps I should try your foil idea but when I've done that in the past with my Q220 we have on the deck the results have been disappointing. Hard to find something better than a Q for camp grilling! :p
SoundGuy
Explorer
Dec 01, 2017
mountainkowboy wrote:
I just looked a the 2018's and they also have the controls mounted in the same place. If I get one that would be one of the first things that I would change.

Easy to say, tough to do without opening the entire wall. Not only is there a large bundle of wires running to the tank monitor panel which also has controls for the water heater and water pump but there's also a metal stud running up inside the wall just to the left of the monitor panel location. If you want to move the monitor left to where it can be seen when the slide is in the travel position you'd somehow have to get this bundle of wires past this metal stud. That's why when I replaced the stock bi-metal thermostat with a digital version I ended up running the wires along the outside of the wall, not inside ... easy when we're talking just 2 wires but not practical when it's a large bundle of wires. The real solution to this is for Coachmen to wake up and install the monitor panel & furnace thermostat where they both can be seen and operated with the slide in the travel position.
Hornnumb2
Explorer
Dec 01, 2017
I have the 233 but with the only outside accessible storage being the front pass through, it can get tongue heavy real quick. Just something to keep in mind if tow vehicle is marginal.