The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Times News Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Other
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Themes
  • Communities
  • Shopping
    • Stores
    • Coupons
    • Daily Double
    • Promotion
    • How It Works
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
    • Joe Giganti
    • Video Game Minute
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • Politics

    Ads add heat to health care debate

  • National

    At the Mall of America, it's big business as usual

  • World

    Drug lords finding safe haven in Bolivia

  • Business

    Health, climate bills seen to stifle hiring

  • Local

    Mayor Fenty's approval in D.C. divided by race

  • Sports

    Terps' Friedgen faces tough road ahead

  • National

    VERSACE: Follow the shopping bags

Home » Culture » Automotive

Friday, November 14, 2008

RV makers striving for efficiency, economy

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen
  • Videos
Please stand by, images loading!
  • Freelander interior
  • Coachmen Freelander 2100 is built on the Sprinter chassis.

More Automotive Stories

  • Attitude surrounds the 2009 Scion xD
  • Ford Super Duty delivers on job as tough work truck
  • Chevrolet Malibu a top safety pick in midsize sedans
  • Ford developing Police Interceptor vehicle for 2011

By Jeff Johnston MOTOR MATTERS

RV manufacturers continue their efforts to design and build products better suited for today -- and tomorrow's -- economic climates.

The new Freelander 2100 CB Class C motorhome from Coachmen RV and the Lance 1880 travel trailer are the newest examples of this genre of RVs.

Dodge Sprinter-based motor homes are all the rage today and the Freelander is a good example of the kind of small, efficient coach that can be built upon the Sprinter cab and chassis.

According to the company, the Freelander can achieve an estimated 17 to 19 miles per gallon due to its fuel-efficient 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6 engine.

These mpg figures seem pretty optimistic, but in the real world this rig should hit pretty close to, but not exactly, those numbers.

The Freelander measures about 25 feet long and features a typical Class C floor plan with a cab over bed an integral part of the rig. It includes one modest-size slideout curbside, which contains the unusual U-shaped dinette/lounge with removable pedestal table.

The galley is aft of the driver seat, streetside, and there's a master bed in the aft curbside corner and a compact dry bath in the opposite corner.

Functionality is key to the Freelander 2100's success. Features such as 78 cubic feet of exterior storage, sleeping for six, plus 50/37/22-gallon fresh/gray/black water capacities, respectively, enhance its camping practicality.

Its body is the standard 8 feet wide and a 7-foot ceiling height adds to the roomy interior ambiance. The usual array of self-containment features is standard or optionally available.

Given its 11,030-pound Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, the 2100 CB is built to lightweight standards in order to avoid overloading the Sprinter chassis. The lightweight theme also contributes towards the vehicle's potential fuel efficiency.

[Get Copyright Permissions] Click here for reprint permissions!
Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC

12Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Please login or register to post a comment

Ask a Question

You Report

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

Top Stories

Most Read

  1. EDITORIAL: Hiding evidence of global cooling
  2. Climate 'czar' says hacked e-mails don't change anything
  3. Top Republican lawmakers not attending State Dinner
  4. Grade-schooler unearths fossil at dinosaur park
  5. D.C. sports icon, Wizards owner Pollin dies
More Top Stories »
  1. EDITORIAL: The global-cooling cover-up
  2. List of W.H. state dinner guests
  3. Climate czar rejects doctored data claims
  4. EDITORIAL: Obama's sacked inspector general
  5. Conservatives seek test for RNC funds

Most Shared

  1. EDITORIAL: Hiding evidence of global cooling
  2. EDITORIAL: The duty of a nation to obey God
  3. EDITORIAL: The global-cooling cover-up
  4. Grade-schooler unearths fossil at dinosaur park
  5. Climate czar rejects doctored data claims
More Top Stories »
  1. VAN CLEAVE: A Thanksgiving message from Russia's spy agency
  2. The United Socialist States of America
  3. EDITORIAL: A call to prayer and repentance
  4. Climate 'czar' says hacked e-mails don't change anything
  5. White House logs point to donor access

Most Commented

  1. EDITORIAL: Hiding evidence of global cooling
  2. Climate 'czar' says hacked e-mails don't change anything
  3. Climate czar rejects doctored data claims
  4. Obama to attend Denmark climate summit
  5. Ky. hanging, ruled a suicide, leaves bloggers at loss for words
More Top Stories »
  1. A-listers, fundraisers at W.H. state dinner
  2. EDITORIAL: The duty of a nation to obey God
  3. Obama taking emissions goal to summit
  4. EDITORIAL: Kennedy vs. Catholicism
  5. 9/11 families sharply split on civilian court trials

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin and Melanie Morgan

Question of the day

Did you travel out of town to see relatives this Thanksgiving?

Blogs & Columns

  • Hot Button Blog

    RNC: Breast cancer recommendations may lead to 'rationing'

  • Belief Blog

    Evangelicals OK civil disobedience

  • Out of Context

    Foods that might kill libido

  • On the Fly

    United lifts some 'award' blocking

  • Technology

    Facebook wins round against phishing spammer

  • Redskins 360

    Redskins matchup

  • SNOBlog

    Beyond 'Woody'

Videos

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.