I attempted to post this earlier, but it somehow seemlngly disappeared in hyperspace. My apologies if anyone finds the other (less complete) version and realizes the potential duplication.
I bought at 20013 Leisure Travel Free Spirit (FS 22) a couple of months ago and have now after a few short trips have a basis for comparing and contrasting it with my 2006 LTV Free Spirit that I traded away. The positives are many, but many are subtle and not really important enough to bad mouth the old rig – it was great, I loved it and that’s why I wanted a new and improved version.
Improvements:
1. The 3500 chassis instead of the 2500 obviously provides increased weight capacity and longer length. That length is detectable in a) increased space behind the driver’s seat and b) increased space between the rear couch and the rear doors when the couch is in the upright (sitting) position. Both of these provide useful storage space.
2. LED lighting is a great improvement both in terms of energy conservation, an over abundance of light, and cooler operation. I’d almost say they provided more lights than I need in the main cabin area (midline, and sides), and the dimmer switch is nice. Dual reading lights over the sides of the rear couch are handy as well.
3. Contoured bottoms on the overhead cabinets and flush cabinet knobs when locked are pluses in terms of reducing head knocks. I never had an overhead cabinet open in transit, but these certainly won’t if knobs are pushed in as designed.
4. The flush surface of the cook top that also functions as a grease shield is nice.
5. The round counter sink is larger than its predecessor.
6. The rounded corner cabinet at the front of the kitchen and near the slider door is more spacious and probably much more likely to stay closed in a full out stop.
7. LEDs in closet and refrigerator are nice, but not essential.
8. Having two 6 volt deep cycle house batteries in the rear where they are balanced on both sides of the car is an improvement over the weird under seat battery paired with 1 mismatched rear battery of the previous model. I opted for a solar panel, and charger control system and hence envision easier dry camping and some freedom from shore power.
9. Miscellaneous storage has changed and largely increased with the over the slide door storage gone but replaced by a narrow gutter like storage area at the bottom of each of the side windows (above kitchen counter, and along the sides of the seating area wherever there are windows).
10. The added window over the counter greatly opens up the feeling of the coach. The older model had no window over the counter.
11. The added space behind the DS seat allows it to swivel like the PAX seat so the front area can be a bit more useful especially teamed with the smaller sized front table (computer work area, extra couple of eating areas when there’s a crowd or whatever).
12. It’s a Mercedes change but the large shelf above each of the front visors and the depressions in the dash provide great storage for the front cockpit area.
13. The insect screen built in to the slider door area is a great feature for the bug season.
14. The side windows have a different operating mechanism and probably open a bit further than the predecessors.
15. The replacement of carpeting with woodlike vinyl floor is a great improvement, even if we do add removable rugs to soften the floor and control tracked dirt. Carpeted floors take too much abuse in RVs.
16. The tankless water heater is as yet untested but likely to be appreciated in terms of speed of operation on startup and in providing access to all water on board instead of having 6 gallons of unavailable water stored in a hot water heater.
17. The removable freezer compartment in the refrigerator allowing more refrig space is probably a feature I’ll never use.
18. The external utility access points are more or less comparable, but redesigned with a removable power cord that can be stored wherever (not necessarily an advantage).
19. My instinct says the bed is a bit bigger, but it may be that it has a bit more space at each end providing a bit more stretch room for the occupant.
20. The storage area under the bed has an access door for the middle region instead of the totally open access of the older model which should keep things from sliding forward but which does limit access to the side areas except through the rear doors.
21. The added narrow shelf with sliding doors over the rear doors (across the entire width of the van) is somewhat useful storage.
22. The medicine cabinet in the bathroom is a more practical size than previously.
23. The preinstalled connection facilitating winterizing the plumbing system with anti-freeze is a convenient feature.
24. My impression is that I have increased interior headroom over the older vehicle, something that will be appreciated by anyone over 6’1”.
25. The rear table top is definitely lighter in weight relative to the older one and this is important in that that table is assembled 1-3 times per day depending on how the vehicle is used for eating and sleeping configurations.
Disadvantages: All deemed relatively minor but cause for attention when first encountered.
1. The dual wheels take up additional space from the interior storage in the wheel wells.
2. The wheel well on the driver’s side is nearly totally occupied by the inverter and water pump, whereas the older vehicle had decent wine storage capacity there.
3. Narrow storage areas above the slider door, in the bathroom wall, in the rear door, and in the slider door are all gone, as mentioned earlier they are compensated for by below window storage channels and above the rear doors.
4. One storage cabinet bin on at floor level on the driver’s side is gone.
5. Cabinet storage drawer are slightly reduced in size or depth, but still adequate.
Neutral comments:
Gone is my macerator (an installed option), and the airlift suspension (to date the suspension of the 2013 Sprinter is satisfactory. Gravity flow is fine so far for black and grey water disposal.
Okay, let’s mention the ever present miles per gallon question. The new rig has been averaging close to 19 mpg in its first 2000 miles with its 4 cylinder turbo engine whereas the older one with the 5 cylinder turbo was a bit better with mileages close to 22 and occasionally higher (we thought we got 16 mpg for sometime). Both had/have adequate power for my style of driving.
All in all I love the LTV Free Spirit FS22, and it has several advantages in my eyes over the other Free Spirit configurations and the Pleasure Way Plateau models. Check it out if you are tempted. Tom
I bought at 20013 Leisure Travel Free Spirit (FS 22) a couple of months ago and have now after a few short trips have a basis for comparing and contrasting it with my 2006 LTV Free Spirit that I traded away. The positives are many, but many are subtle and not really important enough to bad mouth the old rig – it was great, I loved it and that’s why I wanted a new and improved version.
Improvements:
1. The 3500 chassis instead of the 2500 obviously provides increased weight capacity and longer length. That length is detectable in a) increased space behind the driver’s seat and b) increased space between the rear couch and the rear doors when the couch is in the upright (sitting) position. Both of these provide useful storage space.
2. LED lighting is a great improvement both in terms of energy conservation, an over abundance of light, and cooler operation. I’d almost say they provided more lights than I need in the main cabin area (midline, and sides), and the dimmer switch is nice. Dual reading lights over the sides of the rear couch are handy as well.
3. Contoured bottoms on the overhead cabinets and flush cabinet knobs when locked are pluses in terms of reducing head knocks. I never had an overhead cabinet open in transit, but these certainly won’t if knobs are pushed in as designed.
4. The flush surface of the cook top that also functions as a grease shield is nice.
5. The round counter sink is larger than its predecessor.
6. The rounded corner cabinet at the front of the kitchen and near the slider door is more spacious and probably much more likely to stay closed in a full out stop.
7. LEDs in closet and refrigerator are nice, but not essential.
8. Having two 6 volt deep cycle house batteries in the rear where they are balanced on both sides of the car is an improvement over the weird under seat battery paired with 1 mismatched rear battery of the previous model. I opted for a solar panel, and charger control system and hence envision easier dry camping and some freedom from shore power.
9. Miscellaneous storage has changed and largely increased with the over the slide door storage gone but replaced by a narrow gutter like storage area at the bottom of each of the side windows (above kitchen counter, and along the sides of the seating area wherever there are windows).
10. The added window over the counter greatly opens up the feeling of the coach. The older model had no window over the counter.
11. The added space behind the DS seat allows it to swivel like the PAX seat so the front area can be a bit more useful especially teamed with the smaller sized front table (computer work area, extra couple of eating areas when there’s a crowd or whatever).
12. It’s a Mercedes change but the large shelf above each of the front visors and the depressions in the dash provide great storage for the front cockpit area.
13. The insect screen built in to the slider door area is a great feature for the bug season.
14. The side windows have a different operating mechanism and probably open a bit further than the predecessors.
15. The replacement of carpeting with woodlike vinyl floor is a great improvement, even if we do add removable rugs to soften the floor and control tracked dirt. Carpeted floors take too much abuse in RVs.
16. The tankless water heater is as yet untested but likely to be appreciated in terms of speed of operation on startup and in providing access to all water on board instead of having 6 gallons of unavailable water stored in a hot water heater.
17. The removable freezer compartment in the refrigerator allowing more refrig space is probably a feature I’ll never use.
18. The external utility access points are more or less comparable, but redesigned with a removable power cord that can be stored wherever (not necessarily an advantage).
19. My instinct says the bed is a bit bigger, but it may be that it has a bit more space at each end providing a bit more stretch room for the occupant.
20. The storage area under the bed has an access door for the middle region instead of the totally open access of the older model which should keep things from sliding forward but which does limit access to the side areas except through the rear doors.
21. The added narrow shelf with sliding doors over the rear doors (across the entire width of the van) is somewhat useful storage.
22. The medicine cabinet in the bathroom is a more practical size than previously.
23. The preinstalled connection facilitating winterizing the plumbing system with anti-freeze is a convenient feature.
24. My impression is that I have increased interior headroom over the older vehicle, something that will be appreciated by anyone over 6’1”.
25. The rear table top is definitely lighter in weight relative to the older one and this is important in that that table is assembled 1-3 times per day depending on how the vehicle is used for eating and sleeping configurations.
Disadvantages: All deemed relatively minor but cause for attention when first encountered.
1. The dual wheels take up additional space from the interior storage in the wheel wells.
2. The wheel well on the driver’s side is nearly totally occupied by the inverter and water pump, whereas the older vehicle had decent wine storage capacity there.
3. Narrow storage areas above the slider door, in the bathroom wall, in the rear door, and in the slider door are all gone, as mentioned earlier they are compensated for by below window storage channels and above the rear doors.
4. One storage cabinet bin on at floor level on the driver’s side is gone.
5. Cabinet storage drawer are slightly reduced in size or depth, but still adequate.
Neutral comments:
Gone is my macerator (an installed option), and the airlift suspension (to date the suspension of the 2013 Sprinter is satisfactory. Gravity flow is fine so far for black and grey water disposal.
Okay, let’s mention the ever present miles per gallon question. The new rig has been averaging close to 19 mpg in its first 2000 miles with its 4 cylinder turbo engine whereas the older one with the 5 cylinder turbo was a bit better with mileages close to 22 and occasionally higher (we thought we got 16 mpg for sometime). Both had/have adequate power for my style of driving.
All in all I love the LTV Free Spirit FS22, and it has several advantages in my eyes over the other Free Spirit configurations and the Pleasure Way Plateau models. Check it out if you are tempted. Tom