CamperResearchFind your rig →

Coachmen Freedom Express 257BHS

Travel trailerbuilt 2016–23Mixed build tierCommon on the used market
WHAT ONE COSTS
$30,500est. used (2023, 3 yr old)

Sticker was $49,191 in 2023. Out of production since 2023, so the used market is the only way to buy one. Estimate assumes a 2023 unit.

WHAT IT WEIGHS BEHIND YOUR TRUCK
~6,977 lbestimated as towed, for 2 people

dry weight 5,760 lb + fresh water (50 gal, full) 417 lb + propane + battery 200 lb + gear for 2 600 lb. Brochure dry weight omits water, propane, batteries and your gear; this estimate doesn't.

You want a tow rating around7,755 lb (10% margin)
GVWR (the sticker maximum)7,600 lb
Tongue weight, loaded~804 lb (12%)
Cargo capacity1,840 lb
WHICH TOW VEHICLES IT FITS: 62 OF 95

Judged the way the app judges: estimated loaded weight against each vehicle's rating less a 10% margin, per model year, because the 257BHS's published weights changed mid-run.

VEHICLETOW RATINGVERDICT
Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.7 Turbo HO, tow pkg) '23-267,700 lb2016–19 model years fit
Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon (2.8 Duramax) '15-227,700 lb2016–19 model years fit
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 1500 (6.2 V8, max tow) '19-2613,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax, max tow) '24-2622,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax) '20-2318,510 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 2500HD (Duramax) '11-1918,100 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 3500HD (Duramax DRW, gooseneck) '20-2636,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra 3500HD (Duramax DRW, gooseneck) '11-1923,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (max tow) '14-1812,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Silverado EV (4WT) '24-2612,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Suburban (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-268,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Chevrolet Tahoe (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-268,400 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Dodge Durango (5.7 / 6.4 Hemi, tow pkg) '14-268,700 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '25-269,600 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Expedition (3.5 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '18-249,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '24-2613,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '15-2013,200 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '21-2314,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 (3.5 EcoBoost, max tow) '11-1411,300 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-150 Lightning (max trailer tow) '22-2610,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel, gooseneck) '20-2222,800 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel, tow pkg) '17-1918,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 diesel) '11-1616,600 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-250 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel, gooseneck) '23-2623,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '17-1932,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '20-2237,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 diesel DRW, gooseneck) '11-1621,600 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-350 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel DRW, gooseneck) '23-2638,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford F-450 Super Duty (6.7 HO diesel DRW, gooseneck) '23-2640,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ford Ranger (2.3 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '19-237,500 lb2016–19 model years fit
Ford Ranger (2.7 EcoBoost, tow pkg) '24-267,500 lb2016–19 model years fit
GMC Hummer EV Pickup '22-267,500 lb2016–19 model years fit
GMC Sierra EV '24-2612,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
GMC Yukon / Yukon XL (5.3 V8, max tow) '21-268,400 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Jeep Gladiator (3.6 V6, max tow) '20-267,700 lb2016–19 model years fit
Jeep Grand Cherokee (5.7 Hemi) '11-217,200 lb2016–19 model years fit
Jeep Grand Cherokee L (5.7 Hemi) '21-267,200 lb2016–19 model years fit
Jeep Grand Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-269,850 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Jeep Wagoneer (Hurricane, max tow) '22-2610,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Land Rover Defender '20-268,201 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Land Rover Discovery '17-268,201 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Lexus GX 550 (tow pkg) '24-269,096 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Lexus LX 600 '22-268,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter '19-267,500 lb2016–19 model years fit
Nissan Armada (3.5 twin-turbo, tow pkg) '25-268,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Armada (tow pkg) '17-248,500 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Titan (5.6 V8, tow pkg) '17-249,760 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Nissan Titan XD (Cummins diesel) '16-1912,710 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 1500 (3.0 Hurricane, max tow) '25-2611,610 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 1500 (5.7 Hemi eTorque, max tow) '19-2412,750 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 1500 (5.7 Hemi, max tow) '11-1810,620 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 2500 (6.7 Cummins HO) '19-2620,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 2500 (6.7 Cummins) '11-1817,980 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins DRW, gooseneck) '13-1831,210 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins HO DRW, gooseneck) '25-2636,610 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Ram 3500 (6.7 Cummins HO DRW, gooseneck) '19-2437,090 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Rivian R1S '22-267,700 lb2016–19 model years fit
Rivian R1T '22-2611,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Tesla Cybertruck '24-2611,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Sequoia (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '23-269,520 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Tundra (5.7 V8, tow pkg) '11-2110,200 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
Toyota Tundra (i-Force Max, tow pkg) '22-2612,000 lbfits, loaded, with 10% margin
The 33it doesn't fit

These verdicts assume 2 people aboard with typical gear. See the margin for your truck and your crew →

THE SPECS
Length28.5 ft
Height (incl. A/C)11.1 ft
Width8.0 ft
GVWR7,600 lb
Dry weight5,760 lb
Dry tongue weight664 lb
Cargo capacity1,840 lb
Sleeps8
Fresh water50 gal
Grey water35 gal
Black water35 gal
Awning20 ft

A missing row means the maker never published that figure: unknown, not zero.

WHERE PEOPLE SLEEP
  • 1× Front bedroom bed(Permanent)—
  • 2× Rear bunks(Permanent)—
  • 1× U-shaped dinette converts(Convertible)—
HOW IT'S BUILT: 5/5
WallsAzdel composite
FrameAluminum
RoofWalk-on
UnderbellyEnclosed

Coachmen (Mixed tier): Vacuum-bonded Azdel walls, a gel-coat fiberglass cap and a heated enclosed underbelly make for a genuinely good spec sheet at the price; Coachmen build consistency is only average, so mixed rather than better.

YEAR BY YEAR: WHAT CHANGED
YEARSGVWRDRYMSRP
2016–197,500 lb5,263 lb$49,191
2020–237,600 lb5,760 lb$49,191
  • 2016Introduced as 257-BHS
  • 2017Re-released as 257BHS; Coachmen sheet shows 7,500 lb GVWR / 5,263 lb UVW / 671 lb hitch
  • 2023Final model year at 7,600 lb GVWR / 5,760 lb UVW
FINDING ONE

Common: usually several for sale within a day’s drive. Why: Coachmen is a volume manufacturer; 8-year production run. Estimated from build volume and production span, not a count of live listings.

OUR TAKE

Eight-berth bunkhouse under 7,600 lb GVWR with a light 664 lb tongue - the long-running family Freedom Express.

OTHER FREEDOM EXPRESS FLOORPLANS
192RBS · 6,094 lb · sleeps 3204RD · 6,000 lb · sleeps 422MLS · 7,600 lb · sleeps 4231RBDS · 7,500 lb · sleeps 4238BHS · 7,600 lb · sleeps 8245RKS · 7,500 lb · sleeps 4246RKS · 7,000 lb · sleeps 6248RBS · 7,600 lb · sleeps 6252RBS · 7,600 lb · sleeps 4258BHS · 7,600 lb · sleeps 8259FKDS · 9,000 lb · sleeps 4271BHE · 9,000 lb · sleeps 4274RKS · 9,000 lb · sleeps 4275BHS · 7,600 lb · sleeps 10the whole line →
Find one for sale

Live listings for the 257BHS on the big marketplaces. Each search opens pre-filled with this exact floorplan:

RV Trader ↗Camping World ↗FB Marketplace ↗Google ↗

Inventory varies by site and day. Slim pickings? search the whole Freedom Express line ↗

Is the 257BHS your #1, or just a spec sheet?

These are the facts. Whether it beats the other six thousand rigs for you depends on what you care about. Set your priorities as sliders, switch on your hard limits, and watch the whole market re-rank around them. Every exclusion explained, every margin shown.

See where it ranks for you →

Data compiled from dealer and aggregator listings, retrieved 2026-07.