Every now and again it’s nice to take a look at a new van that’s just been delivered to the owners. Not only is the van being set up the way the owners want it, but the excitement felt by those owners rubs off. It becomes a ‘real’ van, not just a showroom rig.
Rick and Marcia Exten picked up their new Free Spirit 19-footer a couple of days before we got together. They were in the process of planning for the big trip up north and were adding bits and pieces into their new rig, the Free Spirit 19-footer.
The Free Spirit crew have been building custom off road caravans for quite a while now, as well as off road remote area dental vans for outback service. Over that time they have continued to introduce innovative engineering solutions to enhance their line of solid yet lightweight off-roaders.
The basis for the weight saving on the Free Spirits is their use of aluminium in the chassis. The heavy gauge aluminium chassis rails are cold rolled into the A frame rather than welded, eliminating any weak points that may come from temper change from the welds. A 20mm lightweight honeycomb floor panel is fixed to the alloy chassis, and with composite wall panels with a fibreglass exterior there is definitely an overall weight saving built into the rig.
Underneath, the suspension is independent with air bags and twin shock absorbers, and two 95-litre armoured poly water tanks are fitted. On the A frame is a DO35 hitch, with a stone shield protecting a pair of 4.5kg gas bottles and a pair of jerry can holders. A big chequerplate tool box is fitted behind the gas bottles.
A strip of chequerplate cladding is fixed along the sides and across the cutaway at the rear to protect against scratches (though it’s more of a cosmetic fix), and at the rear is an alloy bumper with provision for two spare wheels. Between the spares is a ladder to provide access to the roof, where a pair of 150w solar panels sits alongside an Aircommand Air conditioner.
A forward storage boot has a slide out shelf and genset fitted to the driver’s side, while a Dometic awning is fitted on the kerb side. A panel above the axles reveals air compressor controls, 12v outlet and a pair of 240v power points.
This Free Spirit has an entry forward of the axles, with the bedroom up the front, lounge/dinette in the centre with the kitchen opposite, and the bathroom at the rear.
The bedroom features a queen sized island bed configured north/south, with storage drawers underneath. Tall bedside cupboards are fitted above a narrow shelf, with drawers beneath. A pair of lockers is positioned above the bedhead, with reading lights beneath. A large window on the driver’s side lets in plenty of light, with a smaller window opposite.
The lounge/dinette is fitted alongside the entry on the kerb side, with wide, padded L-shaped lounges with leather finish on either side of a tri-fold table. Footrests fold up at the end of each lounge. Under the rear seat is the battery and electrics space, with three 120 a/h batteries and associated electronics. A Webasto hot water system is fitted under the forward seat.
Three storage lockers are fitted in an overhead console, with reading lights beneath. The dinette is backed by a large window and has loads of room for four to dine comfortably or play cards or board games.
Just to the rear of the dinette is a tall wardrobe with a Lemair washing machine on a slide out tray with a cupboard beneath.
The kitchen is positioned opposite the lounge/dinette, with a benchtop fitted with a stainless steel sink and a gas cooktop with grill and oven beneath. The Extens opted to go without a microwave or a rangehood. There are plenty of drawers and cupboards beneath the bench, with a nest of overhead lockers fitted above the window.
Alongside the bench is a fridge console with a 150-litre fridge with a cupboard beneath and a switchboard above. Alongside the fridge is a full height slide out pantry. This is a handy set up, with each pantry drawer sliding out individually, rather than the usual full sliding pantry. There is stacks of space in these drawers.
The bathroom spreads across the rear of the Free Spirit, with the shower console fitted on the kerb side. The Thetford loo is positioned opposite the shower, with a vanity console in the centre. A set of drawers and a cupboard are fitted beneath the vanity bench, with a basin with flickmixer tap beneath a large mirror on the wall. The benchtop extends to the driver’s side wall alongside the loo, with a towel rack fitted above. A set of overhead lockers completes the bathroom storage.
Inside and out, the finish in the Free Spirit is very tidy indeed. The interior finishes are gloss white, which opens up the van and makes it easy to clean, and the build quality overall is top shelf. And if you want to see what good alloy welding is all about, crawl underneath. They do a very tidy job.
The Exten’s 19-foot Free Spirit has been modified somewhat from the standard to suit their requirements, and that’s really what custom vans are all about. They have a long range, long duration touring caravan that suits them to a tee.
Specifications
Manufacturer: Free Spirit Caravans
Model: Free Spirit 19-foot Off-road
Length cabin: 5.790m
Width overall: 2.250m
Tare weight: 2300kg
Priced from $95,500
Find Out More
Free Spirit Caravans
34 Enterprise St
Caloundra Qld 4551
07 5438 9898
Elaine Foster
sales@freespiritcaravans.com.au