It seems that every freedom caravan over a certain age has problems with the lining coming away from the fibre glass hull. Is'nt this classed as inbuilt obsolescence. Doesnt seem to happen with other vans. Ours has been well looked after and we find that the lining is coming away and the foam disintergrating and is possibly a fault with the glue. To replace the lining for the roof only not including pop up is £275.00 for the material only. What a good way of making money. How on earth can a piece of material approx 6ft by 8ft not including pop up cost that much? Rip of Britain. Surely Freedom should be looking at ways of producing a lining that doesnt disintigrate or charging a great deal less for replacement. any comments please?
Runneymead,
the roof lining felt does seem to be vunerable to say the least. I agree with your comments. If you are pretty handy at DIY., you can buy good quality lining felt (much better and heavier quality than the Freedom original material) .There has been a posting on this site showing a fantastic re-felting job. If and when I do the roof lining on our Microlite, I will make the roof felt panel up in sections. Must be easier to fix smaller sections at a time. A good campervan convertor may be willing to do this for you?
------------- cramming for my finals in the twilight zone
rip off dealers, in the hot weather we open the pop up in an attempt to slow the lining coming away, as I believe it's the heat of the sun that help the glue softening off,
just my 2d worth.
G & W
I have the exact same problem, and i dont think its a problem with the glue. I would say its the foam backing perishing with age. Mines over 20 years old so personally, i would expect some wear and tear over that time.
I have recently upgraded to a sunseeker and it has this problem pretty bad. I unhooked one end of the lining and then shook out the foam. It had all crumbled and come away from both sides.
I discovered the cost of the Freedom replacement roof lining £275.00 from the freedom website in this country.
Many thanks all for helpful comments and Dinkum re helpful ideas on felting. Will do some research.
I fixed my own freedom. Stripped all lining and redid whole job . Took me a week cost about £200 for the lot.(see other posting re roof lining sagging)
It's not just Freedoms. Our 1990 Holdsworth campervan had all the lining coming away from the fibreglass hi-top roof when we had it (about 15 years after it had been manufactured).
OK folks. Have faith. If you are reasonably fit and handy you can do the whole job yourself. Walls and ceiling, and you end up with a new caravan that will last many more years. Yes it is a big job. But its worth it.
I wish I could include photos of my job but I cant find a way of enclosing them in this message.
My headlining in my Freedom caravan which we purchased new just four years ago while being assured they had solved the headlining problem has already come away? Freedoms answer to this "We can send you some glue?"
I am about to take legal action against them.
If you need any details you can contact me through my website
Hi dotcom2000, we bought our sunseeker, new, last year. They assured us too, that the lining should be fine. Will be interesting to hear how you get on! Good luck!
------------- Enjoy life while you can, none of us know what's round the corner!
Hi Carole,
Thanks for your post, will be keeping my fingers crossed for you. Mind you if all they said was "Should be fine" it does not inspire much confidence does it? Suggest you keep an eye on this post? OK
You need to get your annual service done at Freedom as they told me they? and you are going to love this! "an inspection is made during annual service and any looseness rectified" suggest you now go in your caravan and please tell me how on earth are they going to do that? In my view the only way to do so is to replace the whole headlining? Can you see any other way? Again in my view to do that you have to take out a number of the caravans fittings? what do think?
Hi Cliff, haven't had our annual service yet. I am actually wondering if it is worth having! I did notice a few weeks ago a small piece of the lining wasn't stuck down. Hubby got some Evo glue, and re-stuck it. I'm constantly looking now for any signs of sagging!
The ongoing problem we have at the moment is the wardrobe door. When towing it keeps coming open, even when empty. We put a couple of small wooden blocks along the seam where the catch is, to try and stop it flexing, but is still happening. Hubby is now thinking of taking the inside catch off and putting some card behind it, then ptting it back on. Fingers crossed this will work. If not will be a couple of turn locks!
I can see what you mean about rectifying the sagging. Unless its right on the edge, probably would have to redo the whole ceiling!
------------- Enjoy life while you can, none of us know what's round the corner!
Carole,
You need to email me ASAP I will send you the emails I have had from Freedom etc etc! Never had that door issue but not keen on the catch I must admit, ours is a silver push type?
You can email me at dotcom2000atbtinternet.com change the at for at ok or you can contact me on my website
www.rame-cornwall.co.uk