2015 Leisure Travel Vans Free Spirit SS FS22SS review: dry-bath space, with a slide-out catch

A research-based buyer guide to the 2015 Free Spirit SS FS22SS, including its dry-bath/slide-bed tradeoff, exact specifications, recall, used asking prices, and unit-level inspection checks.

Oct 31, 2026 - 20:10

Oct 31, 2026 - 20:11

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Generic buyer-check diagram for a used slide-equipped Class B RV, with checks for identity, slide and bed operation, refrigerator recall records, loaded axle weights, and water intrusion.

2015 Leisure Travel Vans Free Spirit SS FS22SS Review

2015 Leisure Travel Vans Free Spirit SS FS22SS review: dry-bath space, with a slide-out catch

The 2015 Leisure Travel Vans Free Spirit SS makes its strongest case to a couple who wants a real dry bathroom and a roomy place to sit without moving up to a wider coach. Its streetside slide turns the front of a Sprinter van into a useful lounge, and the rear bath separates the shower from the toilet and vanity. The catch is just as specific: the slide also carries the only bed. If that mechanism, its seals, or the folding sofa is wrong, both the living room and the night’s sleep suffer.

That trade is worth considering, but only after an exact-unit inspection. This is a discontinued, two-person diesel Class B with a model-specific refrigerator recall, several published specification conflicts, and enough age for condition to matter more than brochure polish. It is not a sensible buy for someone who wants a fixed bed, travels with more than one companion, or treats a slide as needless complexity.

Research disclosure: This is a research-based buyer guide. RVCamping.info did not drive, inspect, rent, own, or sleep in the reviewed RV. Manufacturer specifications, period road-test findings, owner reports, listing observations, and our buyer analysis are identified separately.

Generic buyer-check diagram for a used slide-equipped Class B RV

Original generic buyer-check diagram. It is not a depiction of the Free Spirit SS, an exact floorplan, or any branded vehicle.

Review identity

Field	Reviewed identity
Manufacturer	Leisure Travel Vans, a Triple E Recreational Vehicles brand
Model family	Free Spirit SS
Coach model year	2015
Exact floorplan/model code	FS22SS
Type	Class B diesel motorhome
Chassis	Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 van, dual rear wheels
Seats/sleeps	Two / two
Review method	Document, recall, listing, road-test, and owner-report research
Research snapshot	November 1, 2026 UTC

The identity matters because “Free Spirit” also appeared without the SS suffix and in other floorplans. In the 2015 brochure’s floorplan key, FS22SS maps to Free Spirit SS, and the specifications use a separate FS-SS column.[2] Leisure Travel Vans’ retained page calls the Free Spirit SS a Class B, while its past-model index describes a two-seat, two-sleeper Sprinter 3500 van.[1][3] Some marketplace records call it a B+, but seller taxonomy does not change the manufacturer’s model identity.

A second year may appear on the paperwork. RV manufacturers can build a 2015 coach on a chassis produced or titled in another year. Before treating a listing as an exact match, read the Mercedes VIN and chassis build label, the RV certification label, and the LTV serial/build record. The title, insurance quote, parts order, chassis recall search, and coach recall search need to follow the correct identifier, not whichever year a listing headline happens to use.

Why the floorplan works, and where it asks for compromise

The official 2015 layout puts the convertible power sofa in a streetside slide, the galley opposite it, and a three-piece dry bath at the rear. The brochure specifies a 54-by-76-inch sofa bed, a two-burner cooktop, microwave/convection oven, 6.7-cubic-foot three-way refrigerator, wardrobe, and 19 cubic feet of exterior storage.[2] For two people who would rather shower without soaking the toilet area, that is a meaningful gain over the wet baths common in small vans.

The plan is strongest when parked. Extending the slide opens the front lounge and leaves the rear bath available. The two cab chairs can swivel into the living area, while the removable table handles meals and laptop time. Storage is better than the van’s narrow shell suggests: the brochure assigns the SS 19 cubic feet outside, and a period road test described a shallow, full-width rear compartment that could take tall, slim items.[2][4]

It is less flexible at bedtime. The only bed is the sofa inside the slide, and 54 inches is double-bed width, not queen width. An owner review praised the driving, storage, dry shower, and hot-water setup but found getting into and out of the bed to be the limiting part of living with it.[5] That does not prove every buyer will dislike the bed. It does mean both sleepers should convert it, lie on it, and get in and out before money changes hands.

A period MotorHome Magazine test reported a center dip where its sofa sections failed to meet evenly. Leisure Travel Vans told the magazine that test coach was anomalous.[4] Treat that as a reason to inspect the actual sofa, not as evidence of a model-wide defect. Run the bed through a complete cycle, check that both sections meet level, measure the sleeping surface, and leave it deployed long enough to notice pressure points.

The Sprinter chassis gives this coach a narrower body than many small Class C alternatives, but it is still 23 feet 4 inches long by the brochure and has a 170-inch wheelbase. The road test found it easy to place in ordinary driving and parking, yet recorded a 54.6-foot turning diameter.[4] A buyer moving up from a passenger van should test low-speed turns, rear overhang clearance, mirror coverage, and parking rather than relying on the Class B label.

Official 2015 FS22SS specifications

These figures come from the FS-SS column in the manufacturer’s 2015 brochure, retrieved November 1, 2026.[2]

Item	Official 2015 FS22SS figure
Chassis	Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 van, dual rear wheels
Engine / transmission	3.0L V6 BlueTEC turbodiesel, 188 hp / 325 lb-ft; 5-speed automatic
GVWR	11,030 lb
Wheelbase	170 in
Overall length	23 ft 4 in
Exterior width	6 ft 9 in
Exterior height with A/C	9 ft 9 in
Interior height	6 ft 3 in
Fresh / gray / black water	36.5 / 42 / 19.5 US gal
Fuel / propane	26.4 / 9.9 US gal
Exterior storage	19 cu ft
Bed	54 x 76 in
Receiver rating	500-lb tongue / 5,000-lb trailer rating

The brochure also lists an 11,000-BTU roof air conditioner, 16,000-BTU furnace, dual 6-volt coach batteries, 600-watt entertainment-system inverter, tankless water heater, and optional 2.5-kW LP generator and 95-watt solar panel.[2] Those are build-sheet claims, not a promise about what remains installed or functional eleven years later.

The official and period records do not line up perfectly

Leisure Travel Vans’ 2015 brochure and current archive agree on a 23-foot-4-inch length and 54-by-76-inch bed.[2][3] The earlier road-test table gives 23 feet 3 inches, while its test coach’s bed is described as 54 by 80 inches.[4] Tank and LP figures differ slightly as well. More consequentially, the 2015 brochure and manufacturer archive specify a 6.7-cubic-foot refrigerator, while the earlier test coach had a 3.8-cubic-foot unit.[2][3][4]

This is not a contest to pick the tidiest number. The road test predates the reviewed model year, and LTV says specifications could change. A seller’s “2015” coach may also have options or replacements. For the unit under consideration, obtain the window sticker and LTV build sheet, photograph appliance data plates, measure the bed, and read the tank labels. If a dimension affects storage or sleeping, use a tape measure.

Payload deserves the same unit-by-unit treatment. The road test calculated 1,648 pounds of realistic occupant and cargo capacity on its wet test vehicle.[4] That number belongs to that coach and its equipment. Use the candidate unit’s weight labels, then weigh it with fuel, water, passengers, and normal trip gear. Compare each axle to its GAWR as well as total weight to the 11,030-pound GVWR. A 5,000-pound receiver rating does not erase hitch weight, axle, or gross-combination limits.

What the independent record says

The period road test liked the Sprinter’s road manners, visibility, braking, storage, and dry-bath usability. It also documented the test sofa’s poor alignment, limited galley counter area, and a turning circle that required planning.[4] That mix fits the floorplan: the SS spends mechanical complexity and bed width to create a larger parked living area and separate shower.

Owner evidence is thin and anecdotal, which is common for a discontinued low-volume floorplan. One year-specific reviewer reported good driving behavior, storage, shower usability, and hot water, but eventually found bed access difficult.[5] A separate owner discussion described a working slide and valued the expanded living area, large opening, dry bath, and storage.[6] Neither account establishes a reliability rate. Together they point to the parts of an in-person trial that deserve the most time: slide operation, bed access, bathroom movement, and storage fit.

The refrigerator recall belongs near the top of the inspection

NHTSA recall 21V-820, also identified by Leisure Travel Vans as CA#8721-1, includes certain 2015 Free Spirit FS22SS coaches equipped with a Dometic RMD8555 refrigerator. The recall report says missing heat deflectors could let prolonged LP operation overheat or discolor the surrounding wood and, in some circumstances, lead to fire. The remedy is installation of two metal heat deflectors.[12]

Do not infer completion from the model year, a clean-looking cabinet, or a seller’s general statement that recalls are done. Use the full 17-digit chassis VIN and coach identity in Leisure Travel Vans’ recall lookup, ask for the paid repair order or completion record, and have the exact refrigerator model, serial number, venting, cabinet surfaces, and deflectors inspected.[11][12] The listed TrueRVs VIN, for example, identifies one advertised coach; it does not tell us from the public listing whether the remedy is open or complete.[7]

A qualified RV technician should test LP operation and inspect for heat damage. If the data plate shows a different refrigerator, document what was installed and why rather than assuming the recall no longer matters.

Asking-price snapshot and ways to buy

The Free Spirit SS is discontinued, so there is no current factory order route or current manufacturer MSRP. Period pricing is also inconsistent: MotorHome Magazine reported a $119,470 base and $125,098 as tested, excluding freight, for its earlier test coach.[4] The 2015 brochure prints no MSRP.[2] Those figures provide historical context, not a current valuation.

The table below records asking prices observed or retained in indexed pages on November 1, 2026 UTC. These are not sale prices, appraisals, or confirmation that a unit remains available.

Asking price	Source and location	Mileage	Status at snapshot
$95,995	TrueRVs, Royse City, Texas	29,899	Dealer page/indexed record; stock 972686, VIN WD3PF4CC8F5972686; indexed as listed two months earlier.[7]
$97,900	SmartRVGuide, Fort Myers, Florida	Not shown in retained evidence	Recently archived/indexed; posted over one month.[8]
$109,000	SmartRVGuide, Fort Myers, Florida	Not shown in retained evidence	Recently archived/indexed; posted over one month; may be a duplicate or repricing of the other Fort Myers record.[8]
$115,900	SmartRVGuide, Nokomis, Florida	Not shown in retained evidence	Recently archived/indexed; posted over one month.[9]

The $97,900 and $109,000 Fort Myers entries should not be counted as two independent coaches unless a seller supplies distinct VINs. SmartRVGuide pages can also remain indexed after a unit is stale or sold. The useful reading is a wide, small-sample asking-price band, with a duplicate warning, not a four-sale market model.

Practical purchase paths are used-RV dealers, general RV marketplaces, private-party listings, and LTV owner communities. The TrueRVs page was a priced lead at the snapshot.[7] Fretz RV also exposed a unit-specific page for a 2015 Free Spirit SS with 19,019 miles, VIN WD3PF4CC9F5983423, and stock U22531, but our retained evidence did not show a price.[10] Recheck availability, price, VIN, mileage, title status, fees, and equipment directly. Leisure Travel Vans’ past-model page is useful for identity research, while its dealer and service network may help locate service or records; it is not new inventory for this discontinued coach.[1]

A remote purchase should remain conditional on an independent RV inspection, a Sprinter-focused mechanical inspection, fluid and diagnostic checks, recall verification, title/history review, and a loaded road test. A polished listing cannot answer whether the slide leaks or the bed suits two people.

The exact-unit inspection route

Start with identity. Match the 17-digit Mercedes VIN on the chassis, title, dashboard, and door label. Separately record the coach serial number, RV certification label, LTV model code, coach model year, and chassis build date. Ask LTV or the seller for the build sheet and original window sticker. A listing that says only “Free Spirit” has not established FS22SS identity.

Then test the parts that define this floorplan:

Slide and sofa bed: Operate the slide several full cycles on level ground. Listen for uneven movement, inspect rack-and-pinion hardware, seals, corners, floor, and wall for damage or staining, and test the driver-seat interlock. Convert the sofa, check that sections meet flat, measure it, and have both intended sleepers get in and out.
Refrigerator recall area: Verify recall 21V-820/CA#8721-1 against the exact VIN and coach record. Record the refrigerator model and serial, locate the two remedy deflectors when applicable, and inspect vents and cabinet wood for discoloration or scorching. Leave LP testing to a qualified technician.[11][12]
Water and weather: Pressure-test the plumbing and tankless heater, fill and drain each tank, use the shower, and inspect the rear bath, slide perimeter, roof openings, windows, awning mounts, and floor with a moisture meter. Look underneath for tank, line, and corrosion damage.
Chassis, weight, and records: Obtain Mercedes service and emissions history, scan all modules, cold-start the diesel, road-test under load, and check tires by DOT date and correct load rating. Weigh the travel-ready coach by axle. Verify that title and odometer records follow the chassis VIN and that the coach year is documented separately.
House systems: Load-test coach and chassis batteries; check shore power, converter, inverter, generator output and hours if fitted, solar equipment, roof air, furnace, detectors, appliances, steps, awning, and every 12-volt and 120-volt circuit. Have the propane system leak- and pressure-tested.

The result should be an evidence packet, not a seller’s checklist: label photos, build sheet, recall printout, inspection report, diagnostic scan, repair estimates, fluid/service records, tire dates, measured bed, and scale tickets. Those records also make the official-versus-road-test conflicts harmless because the purchase decision rests on the coach in front of you.

Verdict

For two travelers who rank a dry bath, sitting room, and narrow van body above a fixed bed, the 2015 Free Spirit SS FS22SS remains an unusually focused design. Its best feature is not a long equipment list. It is the comfortable parked space created by putting the sofa and bed in a slide while preserving a separate rear shower.

That same choice sets the buying threshold. Pass if the bed feels too narrow, either sleeper struggles with access, the slide shows leakage or poor alignment, recall evidence is missing, or the seller cannot reconcile VIN, coach label, and year. Buy only the exact coach that clears those checks at a price supported by its condition and records. There are too few clean, current comps to let a listing headline do that work.

Methodology, limitations, and disclosure

This review compares Leisure Travel Vans’ retained model page, 2015 brochure, and past-model archive with a period independent road test, owner reports, recall documents, and a time-stamped sample of used listings. No hands-on evaluation was performed. Owner reports are anecdotes, and listing prices can be stale, duplicated, changed, or withdrawn. The article contains no affiliate links or paid placement. The official 2015 walkthrough can be watched on YouTube without downloading or republishing its thumbnail.[13]