RE: 2002 Coleman Caravan C23 ???

[GDSLTS]

 
We recently sold our 2001 Coleman SeaPine and want to upgrade to something larger. We have been looking at the Mesa and recently the Caravan s. The dealer has a 2002 Caravan C23 for $16K. It is new. I have only done research on popups and not hybrids. How do the Coleman Caravans compare to other brands AND are there any significant differences between the 2002 and the 2003 Caravans?

[Gone-Camping]

 GDSLTS
I was looking at them again last week and notice only one real difference for 2003, and that was the outside stove is now a " built-in"  that simply folds out, I think the older ones you had to hang a stove on the outside rails.
 
 Coleman Caravan is a beast weight wise for a hybrid, most are lighter weight. But your Expedition should be able to handle it just fine. It has a 4500# empty weight where mine has a 4600# max GVW.
 
 Coleman has a couple of amenities that I d really like to have though, and if I could have towed it with my Jeep I d have bought one. The door is wider on them than most other RV s...even most Fleetwood MH s have a narrow door, the Caravan has a nice wide door. Also the bathroom is larger than most of the other hybrids, which I m really beginning to question the size of the one I ve got now, not that I can do anything about at this stage of the game... [8D]
 
 Also, the fact that it has completely hard sided pullout bed instead of tenting makes it more secure, and probably easier to heat & cool. The down side there is when closing it up in the rain, all the water on top of the slide is going to wind up inside your trailer! I could probably work around that though considering the advantages that are otherwise notable!

[Tim5055]

 GDSLTS
There were several changes for 2003.  Cliff mentioned the fold out outside stove.
 
 Another one is the rear bumper was beefed up to allow the option of a bumper mount bike rack.

[topcat7736]

 GDSLTS
I wouldn t pay $16k for a 2002 C23. A 2003 would run you $15.7k! Of course, that s without the $350 microwave and $400 AM/FM/CD radio! []  LOL
 
 We shied away from getting a C23 Caravan after hearing from several people that they have a problem with the floors. Seems Fleetwood uses a sandwich style flooring which has foam in between the top & bottom layers. Flooring in higher usage areas, (front door & bathroom) develop " soft"  spots which feel like you re going to fall through the floor. Now, while you aren t actually going to go through it, I figure this new floor idea came from the brain of ABS roofs & I m not going to own one. [][][>:]

[Gone-Camping]

 GDSLTS
Keep in mind the 2004 s will be out in the next month or so if not already.... Hang in there and you should be able to work a good deal on a left over 2003 as the dealer attempts to move them off the lot in order to make room for the incoming 2004 models!!!
 
 Good catch Tim, I had forgot about the bumper & receiver!

[Tim5055]

 topcat7736

ORIGINAL:  topcat7736
 
 I wouldn t pay $16k for a 2002 C23. A 2003 would run you $15.7k! Of course, that s without the $350 microwave and $400 AM/FM/CD radio! []  LOL
 
 We shied away from getting a C23 Caravan after hearing from several people that they have a problem with the floors. Seems Fleetwood uses a sandwich style flooring which has foam in between the top & bottom layers. Flooring in higher usage areas, (front door & bathroom) develop " soft"  spots which feel like you re going to fall through the floor. Now, while you aren t actually going to go through it, I figure this new floor idea came from the brain of ABS roofs & I m not going to own one. [][][>:]
 

 Well Al, you and I usually agree, but...........
 
 I think there will be a new Caravan in our yard in the near future.  All those mods to the Santa Fe, just to trade her in[]
 
 
 
 

Good catch Tim, I had forgot about the bumper & receiver!

 
 Cliff, I have spent a lot of time lately looking at them.  It s a hard decision for me; buy now, wait and see if there is a leftover in the model I wan or wait for the 2004[]
 

[topcat7736]

 GDSLTS
Tim,
 
 The soft spot floors are being repaired by the dealers, under warranty, by drilling a hole and filling it with new, non-compressed foam again. There s a place in the west that will completely re-do an out of warranty floor for $6k.
 
 We wanted to move into a hard side unit so we could use it in the winter months and have less setup times. The C23 fit the two of us perfectly. All self contained and ready to roll....just bring the food & clothes. But, trailers aren t covered by warrantys that last forever. If expensive problems can rear their ugly heads a few months after the warranty expires, I m not going to be involved. I ve always stood behind Coleman products and still do. However, Fleetwood owns the trailers. While I ve had great luck, (and both dealer & manufacturer support),  with our Taos, I ve seen through our past boards what can happen to Fleetwood owners when warranty s are over.
 
 We have just about decided on a Sunline Solaris T-1950, which has everthing we NEED. Fully equiped (including skylights in the bath and living rooms) a 2004 will run us about $16k (with a add-a-room from Camping World). Too much for me to pull with the Jimmy is the T-2499 which would have everything we WANT! LOL
 
 The majority of trailers we sat in had similar layouts. We wanted a separate bedroom, livingroom (with chair, sofa & windows all around), and bathroom. We don t need a dinette area. The two Solaris units give us those items. The 2499 is larger and has a walk-around-bed which is nice, and a larger livingroom area which has a built-in media center. They have a high re-sale value and aren t cheaply manufactured.
 
 Hybrids are ok, but I ve had it with all the time I spend setting up and taking down things that require drying and cleaning before packing. Back it in, level, chock, hook up electric, water & sewage and light the pilots is enough work for me.
 
 [link=http://www.sunlinerv.com/sec_showroom.cfm?prdctid=1&year=2004]Solaris Lite Trailers[/link]