Thank you for making these videos showing the mods in process. I have a 17FD, same floorplan as your FS, and I can see a lot of things that I need to address, like the air gaps. Watching you dismantle the trailer is actually really, really helpful! Quite a few people have had problems with leaks, both interior and from outside in, as well as the AC drainage issues, and have had mixed results with warranty work, so many are tackling them on their own. Your videos and ideas for mods are really going to come in handy, whether to repair or redesign. Thanks!

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

Glad the videos have helped. Unfortunately just about any travel trailer you research in this price range has the same list of small issues. Our previous one was an R-pod that was more expensive and had way more issues. We are currently getting the camper ready for a trip next week and I just found some more air gaps. The good thing is they are all fairly easy to get to and cheap to fix. That video should be up in a few weeks.

great Vid.. Looking forward to your future vids!

Great video! Very informative.

Thank you for showing videos of your free solo. Keep them coming! I'm interested to see how you tweak it. As simple as it may seem it's genius the clip-on fan.

@JustSimplifying

2 жыл бұрын

We are in the process of doing round 1 of upgrades at the moment. Should have the video up in a few weeks. We are glad you enjoyed!

I’m going to pick up my DIN Thursday. I’m looking forward to your experiments.

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

Awesome. We love ours. We are working on our first round of changes now. We can't wait for more people to get them and see all the ideas they come up with to upgrade them.

Very helpful review. That being said, Id expect a camper that costs $15,000, to not need so many basic repairs/re-design. We're considering getting one but now having second thoughts. The open gaps around the bed plywood should have gap seals from the manufacturer. Shoddy workmanship.

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

I'd disagree actually with having second thoughts.. I would still definitely recommend the FreeSolo to people. We have looked at so many campers that were way more expensive and have just as many issues if not more. Our R-pod was about 10k more expensive and had way bigger issues. If you get in the Grand Design and Jayco forums you see tons of people with 50-60k campers and tons of warranty work. We watched one of the Mini-Max reviews and those had an issue where the interior would get flooded. The RV industry in general just has suspect building practices (especially anything built during the pandemic). So you have to know what you are looking for or in our case get a cheaper platform and take care of those minor touches. As long as the big things like window seals and framing our solid, you are good to go and just customize.

You've had your FreeSolo DIN about a month or two longer than we've had our FreeSolo FAM. Totally agreed about the AC not being up to the task. Our summers here in Missouri are similar to yours there in Georgia. I just "upgraded" our puny 5000 BTU AC unit that came with the camper to a GE 6000 BTU unit from Home Depot. WOW! What a difference! We originally thought of trying a 8000 BTU unit, but the size difference would have required a major rework of the space where the AC resides. So, we compromised with the 6000 BTU unit, and we couldn't be happier. It actually cools the space now! Plus, the 6000 BTU unit was *almost* a direct drop-in, with minimal customization needed. The "stock" AC that came with the camper was always struggling -- and usually failing -- to cool the space. Keep up with the great videos!

@JustSimplifying

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the note Paul. I was actually just going through specs on the Home Depot site and saw that all the 8000 BTU ones were too big. I was looking at a 6000 BTU Windmill brand unit. Which GE did you go with?

@andrewbrown5902

Жыл бұрын

Paul Arnote - I also have the FAM. Is this the AC model you got Model# AHTE06AA?

@paularnote3215

Жыл бұрын

@@andrewbrown5902 YES, that is the one we got. Fits exceptionally well, with VERY minor alterations ... nearly a drop in replacement. The only alteration is there is a slim trim piece on the inside at the top of the unit's cabinet that has to be removed. It does a really good job of cooling the space.

Our last camper had the one step deal outside, I built a wooden step covered in indoor/outdoor carpet that is roughly 18" x 24". It works great for my wife and our overweight Dachshund. The last thing we did breaking it down was sit the step in the camper before shutting the door.

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

Yeah we were talking about doing something similar. Unfortunately, just after thanksgiving we had to have Eko put to sleep. He made it to 14 though so for a lab that was pretty good. So for now it will be just the two of us in the camper until our son goes to college and we inherit his dog.

Don't worry Shanna, we'll find Jeff sneaking an outdoor shower in his birthday suit at a crowded state park. We'll blast a fog horn before pulling down the curtain to start the show. I know someone who trains chipmunks. Jeff running naked down a dirt road being chased by bloodthirsty gang of chipmunks makes for a good thumbnail.

Squeeky door is good, it scares any animals away that might be out front, id keep it, make it louder actually!! Yea bud, definitely leave the cook top, just build a shelf on top of it with storage a few inches under the shelf ,also get a gun safe bolted to the frame of the trailer for when you leave the gun and are not there

@JustSimplifying

10 ай бұрын

We got rid of the cooktop. Haven't missed it. We do all of our cooking outside anyways. So the storage solution we came up with has helped a lot.

I have the 2021 model of the free solo din. I have a smaller refrigerator so the overhead area was shifted more to the left with the AC was over the refrigerator then the microwave and then an upper storage cabinet. I ended up pulling out the microwave to create more pantry storage being that I never use the microwave anyway so it was the best thing I did for that.

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

Yeah we agree. The storage space is way more important than the microwave.

I make $1750 a week from perdiem alone, I’m thinking about buying one of these so I can save big!

@JustSimplifying

9 ай бұрын

We have been enjoying the full time travel life so far but with two of us and a dog will need more space. So may be trading ours in soon. But we love the camper and if it was even just the two of us with. I dog, we’d probably keep with this.

For a firearm. You can buy a digital lock box that will mount to a wall for fingerprint access but locked

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

Yeah I've thought about that. The problem is finding the space that you won't hit your head on it or be bumping into it. And I'm not as concerned about it locking. It travels with me anyway. I may make a small wood cavity to tuck away somewhere.

@Frenchy5117

Жыл бұрын

@@JustSimplifying might consider inside a cabinet or but I completely understand, I drive a truck otr and carried for years

@J4Julz

Жыл бұрын

When I changed out my mattress to a 10" memory foam, it left me with about a 5" gap side to side, either on the curved wall side of the bed, or the bathroom wall side. I think it could be a good location for pistol storage at night, easy to reach, and you wouldn't easily bump into it.

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

Well that's good to know. Hadn't measured the mattress in there to verify dimensions yet. Once we get our mattress figured out I'll see what kind of room we have. Does the 10" mattress seem too thick for the camper? We were curious if that would make it too tall and even tighter in the back.

do you live full time in this?

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

Not yet. Our kid graduates high school in May. After that we are selling the house and full timing until we figure out where we want to end up.

Don't understand why the shower hose is on the top and not bottom. Probably could reverse the faucet.

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

I wish the shower hose and faucet were mounted about the toilet. I think Airstream is one of the few that does that right. If it was over the toilet there would be more standing room and it would be much more usable. Overall we love the camper. Shanna is short so the she is fine with the bathroom. I'm by no means tall but the tall enough that the bathroom is my main issue. But for the money, I think this was definitely the right decision.

I just watched a video on replacing the AC. It has a bit to do with the angle of the drip pan to the outside. Check out Brian's video on that here: kzread.info/dash/bejne/gaRq08idisKtmrA.html Looking forward to seeing the upgrades you do with this one. I am going to get a Free Solo Flav. Hopefully I don't have as many upgrades as you are talking about doing with this one. Good luck, Pat

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

You'll enjoy the camper. We've said we probably make things look worse than they are on it. We are choosing to do the upgrades rather than being a necessity. That's part of why we chose this camper. It was in our budget and then we can do what we want to customize it to us.

Use plastic chain wrap to reduce noise

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

Definitely will have to look into that. It's a very very minor issue but one of those things that once it annoys you the first time, you can't un-hear it.

Why are these models not even on their website?

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I've never understood that. Braxton Creek shows the Bushwhacker Series on the website but not these. Our dealer said since they are a smaller company this was meant to be a regional line to develop. I'd still think you'd promote them to build brand awareness.

Was downsizing worth it? From all the complaints I would guess the answer is no. It you were downsizing from a Rpod then you are really downsizing. But does it improve your boondocking?

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

Actually we are much happier with our Freesolo than the R-pod and have no regrets. We didn't mean to come off as having a lot of complaints. Just being honest about what you get with this price point of a camper. And honestly when we were looking we saw much more expensive campers that had just as many issues. It's just part of the industry and what they are. Compared to the R-pod, boon docking would be better with this camper. Since it's smaller, it is easier to get into more places. And the smaller size is less to heat and cool. We want to add a lithium battery and some flexible solar panels down the road and that should open up a lot more boon docking opportunities. The only thing on the camper I would change if I could would be the height that the toilet is mounted. But do to the axle location, not much we can do on that.

Listen I understand the RPod had issues. Yet a nice TT; You made a change to a really cheap tear drop. I would had waited until your budget was able to afford a better Trailer. Yes I get the idea simplicity. But come on guys ... First time watching. I had a Forest River TT and ours turned out real well. Avoid anything made 2021... We have a Grand Design couples coach. Good luck ..

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

It’s not just the budget of the trailer. To get a bigger trailer we also need a bigger tow vehicle. We just ordered that but still have 6-9 months til it gets built. In the meantime we would have had a trailer with leaks, water damage bubbles in the side panels, a mildew smell, and Forest River not wanting to fix it. The Freesolo has been great, had no major issues, and is easy to tow. The layout of the Freesolo is also more hang out friendly at the campground than our R-pod. The only complaint I have is the wet bath.

@jesserevilla992

6 ай бұрын

@@JustSimplifying OK lol understand... I was a bit harsh...Best wishes!

Lol

Your never going to be happy with the A/C. The way its in it can't breath the back has to have intake and output seperate on the back side

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

Never say never!!

I have no idea how you guys are about to be empty nesters. You look so young. You must have been 18 when you started with kids.

@JustSimplifying

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. But actually we are both in our early 40's.

@nickjunes

Жыл бұрын

@@JustSimplifying That's awesome!