AROUND-OZ MOTORHOMES

Freeway Review - continued . . .

Storage

This is one of the Freeway's really strong points when compared with the other offerings at this price point. There are six rear overhead lockers with top opening doors. All have twin spring type struts. These work really well, but we would like to see a nylon washer on the bottom pivot, as at present they will eventually abrade the sides. Fiamma have an excellent strut for $3.00 with a much better bottom anchor point. The catches are good quality push to lock type and it's very easy to see if you have forgotten to lock anything.

Cupboard doors have twin brass plated struts

Cupboard showing a shelf we have added plus a divider

Like just about all manufacturers - even in high end models - there are no partitions in any cupboard whatsoever, so items can slide from one end to the other when braking in a panic stop. Rather oddly this omission flows through to the Leisure Seeker range as well, even though you are paying some $40,000.00 more. Without shelves you run the real risk of items falling on someone's head when you open a locker door. This however is very easy to fix and it's probably better that you fit partitions and shelves to suit your own particular requirements. The photos above show you just how easy this is to do, and we have full details in the DIY section.

UPDATE: The 2003 Leisure Seekers now have dividers to stop sliding.

The wardrobe rack as fitted to just about all RVs in Australia - hopeless!

The wardrobe is a good size for two people on short trips

The wardrobe is only just adequate, but you can improve things slightly by installing a small mod detailed further down this page, as the toothed wardrobe rail reduces storage quite markedly. We suspect that the motorhome industry has simply followed the lead of the caravan industry. The rail was developed to stop coat hangers "jumping off" the rail. This simply doesn't happen in motorhomes unless of course you have a 4WD and drive tooooooo fast! We would opt for the extra space every time. A piece of sponge glued to the roof of the wardrobe stops the problem anyway. Many long term motorhomers never use wardrobes and simply put wire draws in the space. They work on the premise if you need to iron it, don't take it! You can increase ready use clothes storage for just $10.00 by installing the fitting as per the photo below on the bathroom wall adjacent to the bed. Very strong, as there is solid wood in this area.

Outside Storage Locker

The outside access locker is fantastic for all those items you need within minutes of stopping, such as tables chairs etc. The photo below shows all the item that fit inside this relatively small area. Here is a list of the contents to give newbies a bit of an idea of what one needs to carry!

	3 folding chairs
	Folding stool
	Folding solid top table
	Axe and wedge (block splitting in State Forests)
	Tomahawk
	3 small buckets
	Pets supplies
	Umbrella
	Folding shovel
	Fiamma wheel levellers
	Fiamma wheel chocks
	Plastic drinking water hose
	Broom
	Hammer for pegs
	Bow saw
	Rope, pegs, clothes line
	Vehicle tools
	Hydraulic jack
	Tow rope and shackles
	Stool - for sitting on to light the fire!
	Dustpan and brush
	Pegs for awning
	10" electric fan in a cover
	Frypan, jaffle iron, hot plate - must be WRAPPED!
	Fiamma awning winder

Note: One reason we can fit in all this gear is that we have made some tiny modifications to make access easier. These are all detailed on the DIY pages of this site. You might notice the small piece of pine right across the top of the locker? This is where we store the folding table. We put the two door mats on top of this. We have used this system before with flat tables as it is an item you need quickly at roadside stops if you cant park the motorhome in the shade. Of course if you have the newer roll up slat table this idea wont work! Our method uses the least space.

It's amazing what can be easily fitted into such a small space