cwmoser wrote:
That $17.9K price did not include the built in Grill, nor did it include a Ladder on the rear. I'm thinking I would like to have those options. Also a Bike Rack.
Dealer wanted $800 for a Weight Distribution/Sway Control hitch - that price includes installation.
Many dealers order models without the exterior grill but personally I'd prefer to have it than to not even though a grill will introduce greasy cooking smells into the camper instead of a stove that won't. The upside is you can easily swap that grill out for a standard 2-burner Coleman stove just as I did. Keep in mind though that this grill (or stove) is not connected to the trailer's propane gas system so you still have to connect a canister or tank to it. However, just pulling the stove out of the side of the camper for use is much more convenient than digging a stand alone stove out of storage and setting it up each time for use.
Personally I wouldn't have a ladder on the back of the trailer and in fact have never seen one on any Freedom Express, I guess because dealers here just don't order these trailers with a ladder, viewing them as a costly option that in reality is used little. However, if you're convinced you want one you'd want to order the trailer with the ladder factory installed and not after the fact by the dealer as any model without a ladder won't have the proper backing inside the rear wall to support the ladder mounts.
Bike rack? - terrible idea if you're talking about something hanging off the rear of the trailer, even if secured to the trailer frame, as that will only serve to unduly unload trailer tongue weight and potentially cause handling issues, especially on such a short trailer as this. If you want a bike rack mount one over the trailer's A-frame, such as this Canadian built
Arvika Bike Rack System.
There are weight distribution systems and weight distribution systems so naturally the question is - just which WD system is the dealer quoting? You can purchase a basic round bar or trunnion bar system that requires the use of a separate sway bar for a few hundred $$$ OR a premium system such as an Equal-i-zer, Blue Ox Sway Pro, etc, that features sway control as a function of it's design and does not require the use of a separate sway bar. Remember also that the installation of a separate friction sway bar will require that holes be drilled in the trailer frame but with WD systems such as an EQ or Sway Pro no holes are required.
Now that you're down to pricing you really need to understand exactly what it is you're getting for your $17,900 - not just
"Weight Distribution/Sway Control hitch" which in and of itself means little. So this quote includes dealer WD installation but what about a brake controller? ... what kind and is it included as well, as you're going to need one, as well as having an active charge line wired to the vehicle's 7-pin Bargman connector.
JMO but I think you're overestimating the ease with which a 7' wide trailer would tow compared to a similarly sized 8' wide but I can guarantee you'd continually appreciate the greater interior space offered by an 8 footer.
