2018 Coachmen Freelander 26RS Review
The 2018 Coachmen Freelander can haul and sleep a crew of eight, making it a great road trip vehicle for those who like to travel with friends and family.
With several different chassis to pick from and eight floorplans, you are not short on choice. We’re taking a close look at the Freelander 26RS, which is available on a Chevy 4500 or a 350 Ford chassis.
The Freelander 26RS has a gross vehicle weight rating of 12,500 lbs and a gross combined weight rating of 18,500 lbs. It measures 27’5” long, 10’11” tall, and 102” wide. It can carry 50 gallons of fresh water and 31 gallons each of gray and black water.
It has laminated 2” aluminum high-gloss fiberglass sidewalls and a lightweight crowned laminated TPO roof membrane. The motorhome comes standard with a rear ladder. There are a few outdoor storage spaces, including two large sections, one of which has drainage, making it easy to wash out.
COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2017 Coachmen Leprechaun 311FS
Outdoor living space is maximized with the large 18’ power awning with built-in LED lighting. There’s an optional exterior entertainment center with LCD television/stereo/DVD, and speakers.
Step up into the motorhome’s coach area using the integrated entry step. A touchscreen radio back-up monitor kicks in as soon as you put the vehicle into reverse, showing you what the color back-up camera is picking up.
Above the coach area, there’s a large 57” x 95” overhead bunk. A ladder hooks on the side for easy access and Velcro restraints to prevent falls while sleeping. If you prefer, you can opt for a safety net that clips in with safety belt mechanisms instead. The bunk has a 350-pound weigh capacity. A small window gives bunk residents a way to look outside and lets in some natural light.
COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2018 Dynamax Isata 4 31DS
A television is tucked against the front corner wall of the overhead bunk. It’s on a swing arm, which makes it easy to see from anywhere in the motorhome. A DVD player is mounted under the cabinet above the dinette.
Along the passenger side of the motorhome, there’s a ‘J-shaped dinette. The front end of has a slide-out seat with a cushion which can be tucked away, creating more space to walk around. The pedestal table drops down to create sleeping space. This is where you’ll eat, play card games, and get any work done – the electrical outlet gives you somewhere to plug in. There are also three seatbelts for riders on the road. A nice large window extends along the entire side of the dinette, giving you a great view of your campsite. Above the window, three cabinet doors access one long, tall storage space that also spans the width of the dinette.
COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2018 Jayco Greyhawk 29MV
A jackknife sofa creates a natural conversation area with the dinette, and has seatbelt seating for three more people. At night, it easily converts into more sleeping space, with spacious storage underneath, perhaps for bed linens and pillows. Mirroring the other side, there is another large window and bank of overhead cabinets above the sofa.
In the kitchen area, there’s a three-burner cooktop, oven, residential microwave, range hood with light and fan, and deep double-bowl sink with high rise faucet. The two-door refrigerator/freezer runs off both propane and electricity.
Take a small step up into the bedroom area and there’s a large wardrobe right as you enter. Just past the wardrobe is the bathroom. Right above the foot-flush toilet, there’s a tall corner linen closet with plenty of built-in shelves for towels and toiletries. There is more storage under the sink. The glass-doored shower is a generous size, with built-in shelving and a hand wand.
In the bedroom, the bed is in a slide and has a fold-up mattress in order to fit in the space. However, because it’s nice and thick and has a unified pillow-top layer, it’s as comfortable as a one-piece mattress. Along the one side, there’s a built-in nightstand with electrical outlets and USB ports, as well as a shelf that runs along the top half of the bed. A window at the head of the bed lets in air and natural light, and overhead cabinets run the width of the bed. There’s another window along the back wall.
The 2018 Coachmen Freelander 26RS starts at around $60,000. For more information, visit http://www.coachmenrv.com/.
