2024 Coachmen Freedom Express Ultra Lite 292BHDS has a surprising feature

Today’s RV review is of the 2024 Coachmen Freedom Express Ultra Lite 292BHDS. It’s funny to watch how things change in the RV industry. Features and design aspects that were popular at one time give way to something different and new. So there is something I saw in this trailer that I haven’t seen in 7–10 years or so, and I was quite surprised to see it. What’s that? I’ll get to it, I’ll get to it. 

What is the Coachmen Freedom Express Ultra Lite 292BHDS?

What you have here is a relatively long bunkhouse trailer at 33’4” that has a separate bunk room all the way in the back. That room can be completely closed off from the rest of the trailer and has three separate beds, two at 26” X 74” and a third that’s 34” X 74”. 

That room also has a cabinet with hanging storage and even a seat/step in it which facilitates getting to the upper bunks, but can also be a place to sit and put on your shoes or whatever. 

While some trailers nowadays are starting to do different things with their bunk rooms to accommodate home schooling and that sort of thing, this is a bunk room. That’s it. In fact, one of the bunks is nothing more than a mattress on the floor. The kid that gets that one is likely going to also get some teasing from their siblings. Builds character. 

Coachmen 292BHDS 2024

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Main living space in the Coachmen Freedom Express Ultra Lite 292BHDS

The main living space in this trailer is also very traditional: a U-shaped dinette with a free-standing table. This dinette, of course, makes into a bed. 

There’s also a hide-a-bed sofa here. But that sofa is not directly across from a TV. I suspect this is just a floor plan that continues to sell so nobody bothers to make radical changes to it—and they don’t need to. Did I mention it continues to sell? 

Across from the seating is your typical RV kitchen, but I was surprised to learn that this still comes with a propane-electric gas absorption fridge. Those things are becoming rarer than hen’s teeth. Of course, you can get a 12-volt DC fridge here, but you don’t have to. 

There’s also the typical three-burner stove with 17” oven and a large sink in the cabinets. Coachmen uses the clever U-tensil drawer, where the drawer has a cutout so that it can go in around the sink. I like this. 

In the bedroom there’s a proper queen-sized bed. That bed is mounted on two platforms that each have a drawer that faces the outside of the platform. Between the two platforms is just open storage so you could put totes in here or whatever. 

Since the bed is up against a partition wall on the foot of the bed this wouldn’t be a place for dog crates or anything like that, though. 

This bedroom has undergone some changes for 2024, including the fact that the wardrobes on either side of the bed now provide space ahead of them for your digital demons and power to feed those demons, too. When Coachmen redid the wardrobes, they also put drawers beneath them on either side. So this whole front of the RV space is much more useful. 

This does have a windshield, but there’s a snap-in cover for it so you can block out the light.

That vintage feature

Okay, enough teasing. The thing this has that I haven’t seen in a long time is a TV in the divider wall between the bedroom and the main living space. This has the benefit of being a smart TV, too. 

This TV is also on a swivel so that it can face out into the main cabin of the trailer or swivel around and face the bedroom. This used to be common, but it’s not any more. Perhaps that’s because, in the middle of a dividing wall between two rooms, it’s in a less-than-ideal spot if you want to watch the TV from the living room. 

I also found that some people who had challenges rotating this 180° would literally break the stops and/or damage the wiring while trying to force the TV around. 

Yep. This is another case of the sticker on the top step of the ladder. Most of us are smart enough not to go up there—but there’s a sticker for those who aren’t. But it is a legitimate complaint that people in the main living space really don’t get the best viewing angle to the TV. 

Another cool feature

This also has a full outdoor kitchen with a proper sink that has a drain to the holding tanks and everything. It also features a larger bar-style fridge. There’s also an included flat-top griddle that slots into a rail on the side of the trailer. 

Additionally, there’s another U-tensil drawer here around the sink. Two in one trailer. 

This also has a plastic folding table that has a home in the pass-through storage compartment. I really like this. Oh, and the table in the main living space is also freestanding, so now you have two to move around. 

The last thing is that this has a pretty tall ceiling height at 6’9”. This is taller than most, so it also really opens up the interior of this trailer. 

Boondocking and winter camping

I would suspect that if you occupy all the sleeping positions, especially if some of those nappers are teenagers, 50 gallons of fresh water isn’t going to last you very long. I would be surprised to see one of these off the grid, but it could happen. 

This does have a heated and enclosed underbelly with 12-volt tank pad heaters, which is a plus. However, know that the knife valves for black and gray tanks are exposed to the elements. 

As for travel access, that’s almost out of the question. The big super-slide blocks access to the kitchen and bathroom.

What I would change

There’s not a lot wrong with this design and there is a lot right with it—which is why it continues to sell. But I would change exactly what you assume I would change: the small oven and the cheap vent fans.

I do like that the axles are spaced farther apart than in a lot of trailers. I’ve been told that this helps with towing stability, but I’d really like to see greater dampening. However, as KOA states, most campers don’t venture more than 100 miles from home, so this is probably just fine.

Conclusions

This is a perfect example of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Coachmen does make updates like the ones to the bedroom. This also was an early user of Azdel in the sidewall lamination. Overall, a solid design that doesn’t need a bunch of changes. 

My thanks to Josh from Bish’s RV for the photos and video in this story.

More about these RV reviews

These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. They are based on information from a single unit and may not reflect your actual experience. Shop your RV and dealership carefully before making a buying decision. We receive no money or other financial benefits from these reviews. They are intended only as a brief overview of the vehicle, not a comprehensive critique, which would require a thorough inspection and/or test drive.

Tony comes to RVtravel.com having worked at an RV dealership and been a life long RV enthusiast. He also has written the syndicated Curbside column about cars. He also works closely with a number of RV manufacturers to get an inside look at how things are done and is a brand ambassador for Rockwood Mini Lite with his wife, Peggy.

You can also check out his RV podcast with his wife, Peggy. 

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