Sightings

[LivingtheDream]

For the first time we saw another Freedom II Serenity. It was parked in front of a house in Rockaway, OR. My wife thinks she saw a 'for sale' sign on it.

It was badged Mercedes and looked to be a few years old, but was none the worse for wear. I dont know when LTV started making this model but this could have been one of the early ones.

I have seen at least one LTV previously, a Free Flight I believe....

Do you see other Freedom II's? ....

There dont seem to be many out there...

LivingtheDream
Turn the Key and Smile
2009 LTV Freedom II Serenity 3500 Freightliner

[mackconsult]

Got to love the Oregon coast. My sprinter van goes down to Hammond area, Tillamook area, and every know and then to Lincoln city area .....

Wife, kids, and I are planning on multiple road trips to coast destinations this winter. Its the only place to be during the winter seeing as I gave up snow boarding a few years ago :thumbup:.

[LivingtheDream]

Ah the Oregon Coast. Years ago, I flew it often (front seat gunner in A3 Cobra gunship) from Ft. Lewis on regular trips down the coast ... and had a good army buddy who's family lived in Seaside. We spent weekends there 3 times a month.

Last week we cruised down the 101 from outside Raymond, WA ... down to Newport for crab... overnight at KOA in Waldport (oh yes, we stopped to get Tillamook cheese! :clapping:). Then down the 101 to Klamath, CA ... where we stayed at Mystic Forest RV park... and picked wild blackberries until our hands were blue. I think we had near 20 quarts by the time we finished (about 1.5 hours) ... the picking was great!

The Coast is great! ... we love Shingletown and the Sierra's too! (US 395)...

LivingtheDream
Turn the Key and Smile

[cedarsanctum]

Nehalem Bay State Park, near Manzanita, is our preferred winter camping destination. Always nearly empty and all camping spots have 110V plug in power for the heater and teakettle. Other campgrounds have similar setups, but this one is closest to Portland.

[israndy]

For the first time we saw another Freedom II Serenity. It was parked in front of a house in Rockaway, OR. My wife thinks she saw a 'for sale' sign on it.

It was badged Mercedes and looked to be a few years old, but was none the worse for wear. I dont know when LTV started making this model but this could have been one of the early ones.


Started in 2007, using the 2006 Dodge Sprinter body style. Such a waste doing all that design work only to have MBz redesign the whole van the next year. Personally I like the old design better. Same power, less engine. Like all you get in the 3.0L for the less MPG is more emissions controls. Just waiting for someone with a 2007 to want to sell for much less than they got it for. In the short run I have a Vista Cruiser MB and after your noise description in the Freedom II I am kind of happy with my RV in a van that is QUIET when I close the windows and drive down the road.

Of course I am heading to the Pomona RV show to see the new LTV Unity in person. That might be worth getting the 3.0L, to get a media room on wheels with a full sized bed at night. Schweet:thumbup:

http://www.lakeregionrvs.com/uploads/SiteImages/unity_pass_side_full.jpg http://www.rvbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Leisure-Travel-Vans-Murphy-bed1.jpg http://www.rvbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Unitys-Murphy-bed-300x200.jpg

-Randy

[LivingtheDream]

Ah... the Unity looks to be a great unit. It was not available when we got ours. It might have been our choice had it been in production at that point. The Murphy Bed is genius!

Though I harp about the noise in my Freedom II, its less than any other unit we looked at or heard about.

Oh, we bought at last year's Pomona show....... the Pomona show is the best! Had 1,200 coaches there last year!

Would love to go again, but I might buy something and that is not in the cards at this point....:drool:

I have already decided that in about 10 years the next RV is Dynamax.... Real Freightliner/Real Cummins and then I start towing a vehicle behind the bus... but I plan to run my Sprinter based "magic bus" for a half-million miles before I let it go :clapping:

LivingtheDream
Turn the Key and Smile

[israndy]

What a week. Drove up the Oregon coast to Tillamook for the cheese. Did not see the Serenity but I did not know where to look. Right week to do it. Roasting back at home.

Now I am at the Pomona RV show drooling over the LTV Unity as my upgrade path but that Ubergutsy Freightliner truck was quite nice. The Dynamax does look like it can tow a garbage truck behind it if needed. The Dynamax was OK but the Jayco was really sexy. 10 MPG is tough to swallow though after putting 100's and 100's and 100's of miles on the Gulf Stream this week. Love my reliable 22 MPG.

-Randy

[DKB2GO]

What a week. Drove up the Oregon coast to Tillamook for the cheese. Did not see the Serenity but I did not know where to look. Right week to do it. Roasting back at home.

Now I am at the Pomona RV show drooling over the LTV Unity as my upgrade path but that Ubergutsy Freightliner truck was quite nice. The Dynamax does look like it can tow a garbage truck behind it if needed. The Dynamax was OK but the Jayco was really sexy. 10 MPG is tough to swallow though after putting 100's and 100's and 100's of miles on the Gulf Stream this week. Love my reliable 22 MPG.

-Randy


The Unity Murphy Bed looks pretty amazing and is unlike anything else on the market. Having not yet seen it in person, I'm concerned about all the moving parts necessary to lower and raise the bed. Murphy's law will prevail, at some point, probably while dry camping, and I'll be the owner with the bed stuck at a 45 degree angle. Don't get me wrong, I really like the coach. I'm just concerned about the mechanics of that most critical function.

Also, it appears one must have the slideout in the out position to lower the bed; sort of forces you to be "that guy" if ever doing Walmart camping.

[israndy]

For the first time we saw another Freedom II Serenity.

[...]

Do you see other Freedom II's? ....

There dont seem to be many out there...

LivingtheDream
2009 LTV Freedom II Serenity 3500 Freightliner

OK, interesting how prescient this thread was, I did end up getting the 2007 Freedom II Serenity this week and on the drive home on 40 to 58 I actually saw my first Serenity on the road, looked identical to my new one, only not with the full body paint. It was coming up the Tehachapi pass while I was going down to Bakersfield.

I have not see one outside of RV shows ever and you know how long I have been looking. I have seen more Airstream Westfalias. Someone said that LTV only makes about 50 of their vans a year. From what I see on the road that could be about right...

-Randy