Hi All!

[tlhdoc]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the '99 Niagara has a slideout either. It would be much better to spend a few more bucks for a slideout with small children. I believe the '00's and newer Niagaras have the slideout.

Larry

I have the 1999 Coleman brochure and the Niagara does have the slide-out dinette.  The toilet is in the front passenger side of the PU and the door is toward the back.

[tlhdoc]

I really like the idea of a toilet so the kids can go potty without having to rush across the campground.  

We have a cassette potty and love it.  I don't want to have to take a walk in the middle of the night, let alone take kids.  We did have portapotty but we like the built in cassette potty more.

I would like an A/C.  At first I did not care one way or the other about the A/C, but last August we met my family in Birmingham, AL, for a camping trip, and I would have paid big bucks for A/C in our tent that weekend.  So hot!!  Usually we don't camp during the summer because it is too hot, and if we have A/C, maybe that trend would change.

I added AC to my PU 2 years a go.  I don't regret it.  I don't like the heat and we do camp more in the summer with the AC.

shower would be nice for the kids, but that is an option that we would like but not an absolute must have.  But it would be great to have it.  

We have both an indoor and an outdoor shower.  I think we use the outdoor one more, but there are times I am so happy we have the indoor shower.  If you get a PU with an outdoor shower you can get an outdoor shower stall to shower in.  If you look at my webshots albums you will see my shower stall that I hang from the  roof rack of the PU.

[Gone-Camping]

Welcome to our little addiction, once hooked it's harder to give than smoking was!!!

I'm kind of curious though, you haven't mentioned what you're planning on towing this trailer with (unless I missed it somewhere?!?!). The Niagra isn't a small trailer and you'll need something capable of hauling it. Just curious as to what you'll tow it with.

[brainpause]

The Niagra isn't a small trailer and you'll need something capable of hauling it. Just curious as to what you'll tow it with.

Good point, Cliff.

Thanks, Tracy, for righting my mistake.

Larry

[Acts 2:38 girl]

Wow - you've been given so much good advice already - all I can say is Welcome!  I hope you find all the ideas and info you need!  We have an older Starcraft now, with four children!  This will be our first year actually trying out four in it.  We had a baby girl last August, and we have three boys as well.  We just got a porta-potty last year and it really helped (me from going to the bathroom, uphill, in the middle of the night three times) The kids used it too!  The shower isn't really something I miss, but I've never had one either!  I hope you find just what your looking for!

[RuffinIt]

I feel lucky to have found such a great board

We have two vehicles.  We have a 2003 Honda Odyssey that we origianlly thought of using, but now that we are looking at bigger campers, we won't use it.  We also have a Dodge Ram pickup that should pull it with no problems.  If we end up with a smaller camper, we will probably get the van setup to tow, but otherwise we will just use the truck.

We are still looking, but I am so ready to get something!  We have been looking for about a year now, on and off to see what was out there, but now that we are seriously looking, I am anxious to find one.  We are going camping in July with my family, and I would love to bring our new PU on that trip, but I am not holding my breath.  We aren't anxious enough to jump on one unless we feel like it is a pretty decent deal.

~Ann Marie

[angelsmom10]

We all can understand how exciting it is getting a camper, but be sure you are happy with what you are getting.  If you don't see something or don't like the price, wait until the fall/winter.... prices tend to be lower then.  Although you still may find a deal now.

[Miss-Teri]

Welcome!  If you use the van to tow, be sure to always remember to turn overdrive off while towing (some say except on flat roads, but to me it's easier to just keep it off so you don't forget), and you will probably need some kind of weight distribution device so the back end of your van isn't too low while towing.  

We have towed our large '00 Starcraft with a slide-out dinette (Starcrafts are lighter weight than Colemans on average) with our '99 Windstar for 3 - 4 years now, through the Smoky Mountains, through the Rocky Mountains (twice), and everywhere in between and it has been wonderful.  We will probably trade it in next year for a conversion van if we can afford the higher payments so that the kids have a bit more room.  One definate thing to check is that your Odyssey has a tow package with the extra transmission cooler to bring the tow capacity up to it's maximum 3500 pounds.  The only newer minivans that I know of that still have that capacity are the Freestar, Kia's minivan, and the Odyssey, so if you do need to use your van you should be in good shape unless it's a large Coleman with a slide-out.

Our kids are older, but still love to camp.  I think your toddlers will love the pop-up as much as you will, and you'll have the added security of a door you can lock to be sure they don't wander outside.

Good luck on your purchase, and ask any questions you want.  There are a ton of knowledgeable people on this board that have helped all of us when we were newbie pop-up owners!