OUR TIMBERLAND FIVE YEARS ON

Don Madge

Thanks to veteran motorhomer and MMM Travel Consultant, Don Madge, who wrote the following useful notes for other motorhomers thinking about downsizing, particularly those moving from above to below the magic limit of 3.5 tons. Here, Don describes his and Maureen's happy experience with a 3.5 ton Timberland, seen in the image below. 

The image on the left shows Don and Maureen's Timberland next to our Four Winds motorhome waiting in Brindisi to board the ferry for Greece. On the right, we are in  Igoumenitsa, having just landed in Greece at the beginning of 2006. The Madges were again heading for Turkey.

Don writes:

Our Timberland Freedom 11 is five years old on the 1st June 2008.

We have had no major problems with the base vehicle or on the habitation side. Minor faults were fixed at the factory as we live just over the Humber.

Base Vehicle

Fiat Ducato LWB 2.8 jtd

Only one problem: front off-side wheel bearing had to be replaced at 44,600 miles. New tyres fitted at 47,000 miles. Brake pads still have plenty of life left in them. Cam belt, tensioners and alternator belt replaced at 47,500 miles.

Other than that it was just routine servicing. No oil used between services.

We had a Van Aaken Smart Box fitted that increased the BHP from 128 to 147.

Van Bitz Battery Master allows the solar panel to charge engine and leisure batteries.

We had the van uprated from 3,300 kg to 3,500 kg. This was a paper exercise carried out by SV Tech. It cost us £200 for the certification; no mods were needed on the vehicle. We did not change the axle weights, as they were adequate for our needs, but when fully loaded for our long winter trips we were very close to the 3,300 kg limit. It was done really for peace of mind.

Habitation Side

Timberland Freedom 11 Twin-Bedded Version

No major problems but a minor inconvenience is that the fridge has to be removed to be serviced, as there is no lower fridge vent due to the fridge fitting over the wheel arch.

The waste pipe from the tip-up basin split and had to be replaced.

Facia on the control unit had to be replaced as we were unable to read the symbols.

The shower compartment tray had to be replaced due to too much flexing in the floor.

We removed the swinging arm table system, as for us it was about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike. Just our opinion of course. We use a tripod and pedestal leg (two sizes) and we use the bed board as a table and we also have a small circular table for drinks etc. The system can be used inside and out. We don't carry any other table tops at all. The bed board/table is secured in the shower compartment against the gas locker wall.

We had to make a trap door in the bottom of the wardrobe so we could get the gas bottle (13 kg) into the gas locker.

Extras Added After Purchase

Remis cab blinds. Silver Screens Solar View. Sun Blocker side & front for use with roller blind/awning. Full length aluminium back box. 60 watt solar panel. Refillable gas bottle with an external filling point. Two 100 AH Elecsol batteries, replacing the 85 AH batteries fitted.

We did have problems in the shower compartment - the tray had to be replaced due to cracks around the plug hole.

The other problem was self-inflicted, where we used tensioners over the sink unit to hold towels.

This caused the sealant to come away in places. We have now done a couple of mods and the factory resealed the compartment for us.

All in all we are very pleased with the van. We did not have too many problems downsizing from a Laika A Class Ecovip 400i at 4,200 kg.