Are Coleman Travel Trailers of Good Quality?
Coleman has long been recognized as a camping supply powerhouse. Coleman’s expertise lies in everything outdoor, from coolers and lanterns to tents and grills.
While not the highest quality travel trailers on the market, Coleman travel trailers provide good quality construction at a reasonable price. These travel trailers have a surprising number of features for their class and are popular due to their low price and convenient amenities.
The Coleman name, best known for their pop-up campers, lends credibility to this brand of travel trailers found in RV parks across the country. Customers consistently rate Coleman travel trailers highly, praising the level of quality for the price and ease of use.
The Coleman Company does not manufacture the Coleman travel trailers that you see on the market today that bear the company’s name and logo.
We’ve provided all of the information you need to determine whether or not this brand is right for you. We’ll look into who makes these RVs and whether you can rely on them to last you for years of outdoor adventures.
All About the Company
W.C. Coleman founded the well-known brand Coleman in Kingfisher, Oklahoma in 1900. This company originally sold gasoline lanterns, and the lantern remains the company’s symbol to this day.
Coleman’s product line grew over time to include nearly every aspect of camping and enjoying the great outdoors: sleeping bags, tents, cooktops, and coolers.
Coleman began manufacturing pop-up tent trailers in 1967, and by 1979, their camping trailers were the best-selling brand in North America. However, ten years later, Coleman sold its designs to Fleetwood RV, which then took over production of the trailers.
In today’s world, Dutchmen manufacture Coleman campers. In 2010, Dutchmen began manufacturing the Coleman brand’s travel trailers and fifth wheels.
Dutchmen is a subsidiary of Thor Industries, a market-leading RV company that also owns Airstream, CrossRoads RV, Heartland RV, Jayco, and Keystone RV.
Dutchmen now produce four lines of Coleman RVs: Coleman Lantern, Coleman Lantern LT, Coleman Light, and Coleman Light LX.
The Best Features
Coleman campers are designed to be lightweight and packed with awesome features, demonstrating that families and couples on the road don’t have to sacrifice convenience and amenities when enjoying an outdoor experience.
COLEMAN LANTERN AND LANTERN LT
The Lantern and Lantern LT lines have the following features:
- Variety of lengths, ranging from 24’11” to 37’11”
- Lots of sleeping space, generally accommodating around 8 people
- Eight bunkhouse floor plans and one quad bunkhouse
- Two models of toy haulers
- Interior heights of 82 inches
- Tall, oversized slide rooms
- Large capacity water tanks
- Black diamond plate rock guards
- LED power awnings and outdoor speakers
- Outdoor kitchen
- Interior power command center
COLEMAN LIGHT AND LIGHT LX
The aluminum-framed Light and Light LX models include the following features:
- Lengths ranging from 18’10” to 34’9″
- Six bunkhouse models and two models with expandable pop-out tent sleeping areas
- Power stabilizer jacks
- Residential-style 60 x 80 queen bed
- Fiberglass front cap
- Fully enclosed underbelly
- Interior height of 80 inches
- Pass-thru storage areas
ALL COLEMAN TRAVEL TRAILERS
One of the most significant advantages of purchasing a Coleman travel trailer from Dutchmen is that the company stands behind its products, ensuring that your travel trailer meets the company’s quality standards.
Dutchmen advertise that doing business with them means you’ll get a great warranty, high-quality assurance, and dependable aftermarket support.
Warranty on Coleman Travel Trailers
Dutchmen claim to have the best warranty in the industry and work hard to ensure that their customers understand exactly what is (and is not) covered by the standard three-year limited structural warranty.
Except for items subject to normal wear and tear, Dutchmen’s travel trailer coverage is transferable to a second owner if the RV is sold during that time period.
That’s a huge benefit for customers looking for a used Coleman travel trailer because you won’t be missing out on the coverage you’d normally expect only when purchasing new from the manufacturer.
It’s also good news for prospective buyers who are concerned about the resale value of a Coleman travel trailer if they decide RVing isn’t for them. Allowing buyers to take advantage of the manufacturer’s warranty when purchasing used can be a great selling point later on.
It is important to note that the three-year structural warranty applies only to new Dutchmen RV purchases and that the warranty transfers to a second owner if the RV is sold within the first year of ownership.
Coleman’s Quality Control
The 100% pre-delivery inspection guarantee is another great benefit of purchasing a Coleman travel trailer from Dutchmen RV. This means that every travel trailer produced by Dutchmen is thoroughly inspected before leaving the factory.
Every Coleman travel trailer you enter has undergone a 253-point inspection to ensure that you are getting exactly what is advertised, that everything works properly, and that your unit meets their exacting standards.
Because these RVs are manufactured on an assembly line, this step is critical because it allows the manufacturer to detect any line issues before the RV is delivered to the dealer, thereby avoiding large-scale recalls.
Dutchmen are also concerned about what happens to your Coleman travel trailer after it leaves the lot, and their quality assurance extends to your on-road experience.
They use data from service claims to find ways to improve the travel trailers that roll off the assembly lines, ensuring that each model year is as good (or better) than the last.
Coleman’s Assistance and Support
No RV is intended to perform at peak levels indefinitely. Parts do wear out, and people will occasionally encounter issues with various aspects of any travel trailer.
Customers can easily see trends in customer service and support by viewing service statistics on Dutchmen’s website.
The company maintains a 98% answer rate, which means that phone calls to the company are extremely unlikely to go to voicemail, and more than 90% of their service calls are answered within 20 seconds.
Dutchmen is also proud of their quick shipping of parts to their dealers, so you don’t have to wait weeks for a damaged or malfunctioning part to be replaced.
Customer Feedback
While RV manufacturers and salespeople are constantly touting the features and benefits of their products, it’s important to remember that showroom-new RVs are only new for a short time, and these vehicles are meant to be used.
Checking out RV discussion forums and review websites to see what actual users of the product think can be beneficial because they can provide you with practical, real-world information on how these products stack up.
And RV owners enjoy talking about their vehicles (if you own one, you already know this!). Don’t be afraid to ask the owner if you see an interesting travel trailer or one you’ve been considering.
Those who have used a travel trailer for a while can provide helpful advice and opinions that go far beyond the aesthetic qualities that appear to be so important to salesmen or factual information about weight and water capacity.
THE BENEFITS AND DISADVANTAGES OF COLEMAN TRAVEL TRAILERS
Based on my research into Coleman travel trailers, it appears that the majority of their customers are satisfied with the product overall, but there are some important aspects of these travel trailers to consider if you’re looking to buy.
Cost and quality
To begin, keep in mind that price is frequently (but not always) a reflection of quality. Coleman travel trailers are unquestionably at the low end of the travel trailer price spectrum.
When comparing a Coleman Lantern travel trailer at a price point of $20,000 to a higher-end model like the Grand Design Reflection travel trailer (at a price point of $50,000), there are significant differences in overall construction and material quality. This type of comparison is neither fair nor helpful.
However, when comparing apples to apples, Coleman easily outperforms similar models of travel trailers in its price range.
While the materials used in Coleman’s construction are relatively inexpensive, they appear to hold up reasonably well as long as the travel trailer is subjected to routine maintenance and is thoroughly inspected on a regular basis.
This is simply a responsible ownership habit because it allows you to identify and correct any small issues or potential problems before they become large or unmanageable.
Because Coleman travel trailers are advertised with a plethora of features, keep in mind that more features can also mean more potential malfunctions and problems.
If you’re like my father, who still won’t buy a car with power windows, you might want to skip this line in favor of something more basic with fewer amenities and conveniences.
Durability
Along with potential concerns about cheaper materials, it is also critical to consider how you use (or intend to use) your travel trailer.
If you are looking for a travel trailer to use as a full-time or seasonal residence, durability with repeated use should be your top priority, which may lead you to a higher-end (and more expensive) product.
A Coleman travel trailer, on the other hand, may be ideal for those looking for a low-cost weekend getaway or as an easy drive-up or curbside guest house.
If you have a lot of rambunctious kids who are rough on surfaces (let’s face it, some of our sweet angels are downright destructive), it might be a good idea to test areas like tables, cabinet doors, and drawers to see if they can withstand the kind of beating you expect them to take on a typical camping trip.
The Coleman line can be an inexpensive investment that provides years of functionality for young couples looking for a mobile vacation home or a retired senior who wants to visit kids and grandkids without having to share their living space.
Satisfaction with the warranty
While Dutchmen touts the ease of use and comprehensive coverage of its RV warranties, we all know that big companies don’t always deliver on their promises.
Another issue that some Coleman travel trailer owners are concerned about is the difficulty in getting warranty work approved and completed on time.
After all, a warranty is supposed to provide peace of mind and inspire trust in a company that stands behind its product, not to be another source of frustration when something breaks or malfunctions.
According to some customers who have reviewed Dutchmen’s service and support, it can take a long time for warranty work to be approved, sometimes a month or more, which can cause a trip to be delayed.
Another issue is that warranty work must be completed by an authorized dealer, which can be difficult if you’re on the road and need a fix but are miles away from the nearest dealer, or if the authorized dealer you use goes out of business or relocates.
However, these issues are sometimes less about Dutchmen and its willingness to honor the travel trailer’s warranty and more about the specific dealership you’re dealing with.
It’s well worth your time and effort to research both the product you want to buy and the dealer who will be selling and servicing it to ensure that it’s a good fit. Look for dealerships with a good track record for service and support.
Favorites of Customers
Coleman receives a solid 4 out of 5 stars on most customer review sites. Coleman travel trailers are extremely livable, with functional floor plans and fun features, according to customers.
Some of my favorite features are the efficient indoor kitchens with workable surfaces and the option of having an outdoor kitchen (depending on the model you choose).
People also appreciate how easily these travel trailers tow and make the traveling aspect of RVing so simple because they are so simple to set up and get road-ready.
Coleman travel trailers have plenty of storage space that is both accessible and functional. Customers report that these travel trailers are both sturdy and dependable when in use.
Last Thoughts
Coleman travel trailers have a long history, a loyal following, and a positive reputation. However, it is important to note, especially when purchasing used, that the Coleman brand has been associated with several different manufacturers over the years, some of which are more reliable than others.
When shopping for a travel trailer, keep in mind that you generally get what you pay for. If you pay a low price for a low-quality product, the quality will reflect that price point.
That being said, if you’re looking for a lower-end, less-expensive travel trailer to use for weekend getaways and the associated features and amenities are important to you, Coleman travel trailers are a great line to look into.
Coleman travel trailers are good quality travel trailers at a reasonable price with enough bells and whistles to make you feel like you’ve got a good deal on a fun trailer.
You might also want to read these RV Camping Tips and Guides:
