RE: Coleman Columbia... Anyone know it?

[MommaMia]

 
There is one for sale locally.  It s an  89.  Tell me what you know about this model.

[tlhdoc]

 MommaMia
The Columbia is one of the smaller trailers Coleman made.
 Here are some of the specifications.  
 Road Height 44 inches
 Length open 17 feet 6 inches, closed 11 feet 3 inches
 5 gal. water tank
 weight is 990 pounds
 cargo capacity 340 pounds
 
 Hope this helps.
 
 

[YellowXterra]

 MommaMia
Great little starter campers. This was the first camper we bought for $1200 on EBay pulled it 4500 miles and enjoyed it so much we traded it in for our new Coleman. We got $1800 on trade. []

[Lablover]

 MommaMia
Our first popup was a 1984 Coleman Columbia and we loved it. It was very basic but in excellant condition when we bought it in 1993. At that time it was just my husband and myself and dog and our priority was to be off the ground and dry. The table is in the middle of the camper with seats on either side and we always took the table outside which really opens up the camper. Now we have 2 girls and 2 dogs so we upgraded to a larger Coleman. They still make this same model today but call it the Taos. Good luck.

[campalot]

 MommaMia
We had the same trailer of about the same year.
 
 We had no problems with it.  Sound construction.  Good trailer still when we traded it in  93.
 
 Experience teaches me to look at a few factors, in addition to general condition:
 1.  Condition of bearings and wheels.  Being little, they take a beating.
 2.  Tires are small.  At interstate speeds they spin fast and can get hot in summer; so how old are the tires?  Should not be more than five years (Read messages on message boards about tires.  Don t go by appearance only).  They are not terribly expensive.
 4.  Condition of floor--any soft spots?
 5.  It is really small, including the beds.  Try sleeping on a fake bed of the same size.  Can you?
 6.  Unless the foam has been replaced recently, there is a good chance that it collapses with constant pressure (the hips hit the wood by 3:00 a.m.).   You can purchase replacement foam for cushions and bed from your local futon shop (expensive).  Some substitute air mattresses for beds.  
 7.  Was it stored inside in the winter or outside in the weather?  In either case, but especially if stored outside, check the frame thoroughly for rust-caused weakness.
 8.  Is the frame newly painted?  Paint can hide rust for a while.
 
 For the right people, a well-maintained Columbia would be a low-cost pop up.  I have fond memories of ours.

[DBGCAMP]

 MommaMia
We looked at one last year (same vintage), while we were looking for our first PU ...
 Would have purchased it, but the owner would not come down in price.
 
 While we were dickering with the owner, we found a Coleman ALTA. The ALTA is nearly the same size as the Columbia, and has the same unique sectional bunkend(must remove part of the bunk to stow the bed)  These campers are not as wide as many of the newer ones, if you are tall, you might find the bunkends to be too narrow. Both the DW and I are 6  and are comfortable, but sleeping bags do come up against the tenting material.
 
 One thing that you need to look at carfully is the tenting ... Coleman used a material called Evolution III until  93. The E3 material has been know to break down quickly with excessive UV exposure. Look for areas of delamination and wear.
 
 You should also search the PUT archives for more information on both the Columbia and Evolution III fabric.
 
 If you are looking for a small, light, easy to tow PU, I think you will find the Columbia a nice camper.
 

[MommaMia]

 MommaMia
Thanks for all the info.
 
 This model is too small for our family of 5.  I think we will be sticking with the  67 Skamper we already have!