Well the new hauler is home now... 17' American Freedom..... Theres some things that Im going to change to my likeing.... But overall its a good hauler.
13.039 OTD with full tow package. Man I wish I would of known to get mirror extensions before I started my Journey homeward bound.... I couldnt see nothing past the sides of the trailer....

Now one question for Katstoy. What do you have your brake gizmo set at? He told me to have it at 4.5 but it jerks tooo much... so I set it to 3.2 and it feels good..... If I turn it off I can feel the diffrence of the weight back there but it seems to feel good at 3.2. Just curious what you have it set at?

 

250 ex hey , [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img] welcome to the American Freedom club, I turned Katstoy on to her's, I have the 21 ft front corner bed. I enjoy the hell out of it. Had a few normal problems in the beginning. As far as the break controller ,you just have to keep fine tuning it to your liking.It took like 2 trips till mine was totally dialed in.It sounds like your close though, you don't want it to be earky jerky.Trust me there is a happy medium.Myself and Katstoy would like to get an all American Freedom trip together. I go to Ocotillo,Hungry Valley, and Johnson valley.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

Good deal and congratulations! I set my controller anywhere from 2.8 to 3.1 depending on the load. With 2 quads, and little to no water, it's at 2.8 otherwise it's way too jerky. With full water I set it to about 3. The highest I've gone is 3.2, with two quads, one dirt bike and full water. I've never gone higher than 3.2. The tech said to start it at about 2.7 and raise it a point or two at a time until I get the right feel. He also said that over time you will need to increase the numbers as the trailer brake pads wear down.

I get to take mine in again next week to fix the bed again, pulled out from the wall. They said bring it on in anytime. If this hot weather continues, no more desert riding until next fall. We are doing a Pismo trip in July. Let's all keep this thread going with any issues that arise with our AF's and so that we can do an AF run for next fall. Who knows, by then maybe more folks will have one.

 

I just saw an American Freedom 33 FW and would love some details so that I can contact a dealer in California.

Any information to share?

It looked to be an awesome toyhauler and we're looking to go to a FW and something bigger . . . we've got 6 quads -> one for each of us. Yes, size is important! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Richard & Lori

 

Looks like another potential AF club member!

I have the 17' and I love it. My needs were to get a full featured toy hauler that weighed under 4000 and costs less than 20k. My 17' is perfect. I can't wait for it to cool down so we can go out again!

Start at www.usabankrepos.com that'll give you the phone numbers for the locations. I bought mine at the Riverside location. The factory is also in Riverside. That number is 951-276-1501. The owner's name is Doug. I have had two warranty repairs with no problem. It was fixed within 24 hours. I also live about 20 minutes away from the factory which is an added bonus.

Happy shopping!

 

Katstoy,

Does your hauler have reverse lights? I just realized this weekend that my 17' footer American Freedom doesnt have any.
Also my stove doesnt light up by itself. I have to use a match.

 

Hey 250 - how's the trailer treating you?

The stove needs to be match lit. I just keep one of those long handled lighers in the drawer. You need one to light the hot water heater anyway so lighting the stove is no issue.

As for back up lights, I don't know. I try not to back the thing up! If I cant' pull it through then I ain't goin there! I know my flatbed trailer does not have backup lights, only red brake lights and signal lights. I really haven't checked the toy hauler. As I can't see beihind iit anyway it doesn't matter, does it?

I can't wait for it to cool down to go riding again. We tried to get to Pismo last month but it didn't work out, and this month's too busy already. I'm hoping to give her a good cleaning in mid September to get her ready for the cooler weather. I'm also contemplating bringing it back to the factory to have one of the side couches replaced with the dinette set. I like that set up much better. What mods have you made to yours?

 

Well then I wont worry about the stove.

As for backing up.... I dont have a problem backing this thing up anymore. Man this weekend I even paralled park it was awesome... lol
I have since yanked the stock radio and speakers and installed my own stereo system.
Removed all the phone numbers for american Freedom and ordered my own decals.
Installed a cabinet behind the toilet for towells and the wifes lotions and creams...
I bought a $300 generator brand new that works like a charm and is very quiet. Makes less noise than my friends onboard. He has a 21' attitude.
Im making my own awning since the one they offer is really small. So i have designed one that is going to be from one end to the other.


Also going to Pismo with the jeep might be something to reconsider. I just got back from there this weekend and there are plenty of hills that my truck was grunting and doing 45mph.... on the way back on one hill I was doing 40mph. This is with no water. I have a 98 ford Expedition with the 5.4 engine. Going to dumont I can go up those hills on the 15 like nothing... But these hills over here left a bad taste on my mought. Next time I go over to Pismo we are taking my brothers 2500 HD.

Other than that I love my hauler Im going to be redoing my floors with checkered floors. And some cabinets are going to get redone to accomidate my kids TV and playstaion and DirecTV. Oh yeah that reminds me I also installed my DirecTV antenna on the roof so I have Channel selection out in the dunes. Mainly for the kids.

Do you have any pics of your hauler?

 

WOW, can I bring mine over for some custom work? I thought that installing a paper towel holder was hot sh*t! LOL

I like the cabinet in the bathroom idea. What kind, how big, how heavy is it? How did you install it? So far we haven't done much radio/cd listening so I'm leaving the stock. Although outside speakers would be nice . . . .

Are you custom building the awning or just installing another brand? We've been toting around an e-z up which has worked well. I can move it where ever I need it. I've been eyeing one of those 15" lcd tv's at Costco to wall mount in the hauler so we don't have to keep bringing our 13' tv/dvd. Costco has a really neat 400 watt battery powered charger thingy (400 watt inverter to power tv etc. that charges up at home and puts out power. It has a 250psi compressor and can jumpt start vehicles) that costs less than $100. I may buy that so I don't have to start the genny for the kid to watch tv. Right now I have a 3000 watt generator that works pretty good, not too loud but not as quiet as I'd like. For this next season I may break down and get a Honda eu or Yamaha with remote electric start.

As for the Jeep, I can haul over Cajon fully loaded no problem, and have hauled up the grade by Whitewater on the I-10, with no problem when it's cold out, but the tranny fluid started to get hot on my last trip when it was ove 100 degrees out. I need to keep the hill climbing to cool weather. So if I go to Pismo it's gotta be in teh early am. I'm eyeing an F-250 for next summer though . . . .

I have no pics yet. Once I do the fall cleaning/redecorating I'll snap some. You have any pics?

 

I dont know where the wife picked up the gismo that I installed in the restroom. Its made out of plastic and you just extend it and then swist to tighten it up. Works great for puting things down.

I just start my gen when the kid wants to watch TV and let it run. It runs for 12 hours on 4 gallons of gas. I filled it up this weekend and my son was in and out... I even showed him how to start it. It starts first pull every time.

I made a speaker box that fits nice next to the vent on the rear... you know the little doors that are on each side... Well I just lift it up and im listening to some tunes.... gotta party at night... and during lunch. its great.