Coleman/Coachman

[topcat7736]

I guess it's good Coleman found someone to put their name on popups. But, Coachman? Has anyone ever been in one of them? There's a dealer near where we camp and we've been in every one on their lot. I can truthfully say that the Coachman Clippers are very cheaply manufactured. There's no way I would own one of them.   Hopefully, the ones that bear the Coleman name will be of higher quality.

[jpreiser]

I guess it's good Coleman found someone to put their name on popups. But, Coachman? Has anyone ever been in one of them? There's a dealer near where we camp and we've been in every one on their lot. I can truthfully say that the Coachman Clippers are very cheaply manufactured. There's no way I would own one of them.   Hopefully, the ones that bear the Coleman name will be of higher quality.

  We own a clipper and have not had any problems.... no roofs to be replaced, no cracked panals, nothing (unlike the colemans).....

[2manytoyz]

We own a clipper and have not had any problems.... no roofs to be replaced, no cracked panals, nothing (unlike the colemans).....

"SOME" Coleman/Fleetwood have had issues, not all of them.  Mine hasn't had any issues yet, but it's only 9 years old.  

I haven't seen many Coachman PUs.  They tend to be Jayco, Coleman, Rockwood, Starcraft, or Viking around here.

It'll be interesting to see if their partnership works out better than the one with Fleetwood.  I was surprised to hear they will have a model with the Coleman name THIS year, and some new styles next year.  

Sneaky Dave knew what was up before he told us!  Dave, we work on rumors too, so don't hold back on anything you hear in the future!    

[tlhdoc]

The announcement says that it will be a new line, so I think they will be different that the other brands they already sell.

[topcat7736]

No offense meant JP. We've been in a lot of popups & there's a world of difference between the things used in them. Some have cushions that are laughably thin, others tissue paper thin plastic used as tenting materials and still others have 1/4" spouts on the sink fixtures and on & on. The plus for the Clippers was their floor plans which were infinately better than Fleetwoods.

An interesting thought just popped up into my head. The lifter system, used on Coleman/Fleetwood trailers, was proprietary to Coleman. What will Fleetwood do without the best lifter system in the industry???

[Tim5055]

It's mu inderstanding that when Fleetwood originally signed the contract with Coleman they purchased all manufacturing acilities and the patents.  I would assume that means FFT continues with the historical designs; Coachman will need to design a totally new line of pop ups.

When you think about it, most of te manufacturers work with the same materials and supplies.  It will be interesting to see what Coachman does with the name and contract.

[Gone-Camping]

Coachman is an old and trusted name in the RV business, and they also make the Viking...which I've rarely seen a bad word about them. I looked hard at Vikings when I bought my camper, needless to say if I had, I bet the roof wouldn't have needed replacing like my Coleman did.

Each manufacturer has their 'good lines' and the less than good lines. I'd venture to say that the Coachman PU was the lesser of the two PU lines (I.E. Viking being the better of the two).
 
I've been drooling over a Coachman Chapperal 5th wheel for months now, as it really is something I like. But when shopping for a trailer, I ruled out the Coachman Spirit of America line as they didn't seem to have the quality...

[2manytoyz]

I hope they choose Sunbrella as the fabric again.  Ours is still holding up great and remains 100% waterproof, yet breathable.  Never seen another fabric like it.

Most campers share the same shoddy construction.  Chipboard flooring, 70s paneling, staples to hold it all together.  There are a few things that set some models apart.  The heavy duty welded frame and monster lifters were a big selling item to me when we bought ours.  We looked at most others too.  They lacked in those two departments.

I'd sure like to be a part of their design team.  Some things I'd change/modify to all the current designs I've seen.

[NightOwl]

I'd sure like to be a part of their design team.  Some things I'd change/modify to all the current designs I've seen.

Yes, but, Robert, you'd have to change your screen name before you got in touch with them or  they'd probably delete you right away!.      :W

[brainpause]

This is certainly some interesting news. The next year surrounding Coleman and Coachmen will be very interesting.


Whether you like Coleman or Coachmen or not, this is what free enterprise, competition, and better campers are made of!


Larry

[jstaddwtr]

Change can be good.  The idea that Coleman is staying with the pop-up business is overall good for the pop-up business and good for all of our investments.

[jawilson]

Has anyone ever been in one of them?I can truthfully say that the Coachman Clippers are very cheaply manufactured.

I've been in a bunch of them, and to be honest I think they're designed/engineered pretty good. As good as any other PU that is.

[brainpause]

We were in some Coachmen travel trailers today at an RV show, and we were rather impressed with how well they were built. If they make PU's like they make their TT's, then Coleman has probably done their research!

Larry

[topcat7736]

Throughout the years, I've always owned Coleman camping equipment and won't ever change. The Coleman name stands for quality and the Coleman Company has always stood behind their products.

When we looked at trailers in 2000, the Coleman trailers appeared to be made the best. Having been in several 20+ year old Coleman trailers, we expected the one we bought to last just as long. I didn't realize at the time that they weren't made & QA'd by Coleman but by Fleetwood.

The first two years went by with just minor problems occuring. This past summer was extremely humid and wet. Well, all the moulding came off and the countertop area swelled & cracked. I noticed swelling in all the areas made with the pressed fiberboard (or whatever the junk is that Fleetwood uses).

Now, I'll admit that Peggy & I are hard on the popup. We've dragged it into areas where we once tent camped and banged it around more than anyone else would. But, it has begun falling apart in only 3 years not 20+. When we went looking for a TT, we looked inside the Fleetwoods. Sure enough, same garbage stuff used for cabinets. No way would I buy anything made of that junk again.

The new Fleetwood popups have "white tape" covering the splits in the ceiling inside the trailer. They couldn't get a one piece sheet of metal that would reach 8 or 10 or 12 feet long? Or, cover them with an aluminum seaming strip? And, in every trailer we were in, the tape was coming off because of the humidity. Ridiculous! Sunbrella is the finest tenting material I've ever been around. But, below the Sunbrella on Fleetwoods is vinyl. Seems the vinyl they used for 2001 was too thick so, they are using some thinner junk that looks the same. While the mattresses on the Destiny series are the same thickness, they managed to leave a piece of the covering hanging over the edge so it appears that the mattresses are 6" thick! Their abs roof "looked good" too, at one time. Along comes their heavy from too much pressboard, overpriced Caravans with a "sandwich" floor that develops "soft spots" from walking on it! (Hey, you can get it replaced for only another 6 or 7 grand)! Seems that every new year that comes along brings with it a new, cheaper made version of last years model that "looks the same".

I don't enjoy being experimented upon and don't like low quality junk. When I buy a Coleman product, I want a Coleman product. Not a fake replica that belongs in a junk pile and not a product made by a manufacturer who turns his back on you when there's a problem. I don't mind paying extra for what I consider to be the top of the line, which in camping equipment is that which carries the Coleman name.

I'm thankful Coleman terminated Fleetwood's license and I, for one, would never buy a Fleetwood product. I just wish it could have happenend before folks got stuck with all those "good looking" abs roofs.

Take heed Coachman. There's a lot more popup owners now than there were 20 years ago. The first product you put out bearing the Coleman name had better be worthy of it.

[jpreiser]

Throughout the years, I've always owned Coleman camping equipment and won't ever change. The Coleman name stands for quality and the Coleman Company has always stood behind their products.

When we looked at trailers in 2000, the Coleman trailers appeared to be made the best. Having been in several 20+ year old Coleman trailers, we expected the one we bought to last just as long. I didn't realize at the time that they weren't made & QA'd by Coleman but by Fleetwood.

The first two years went by with just minor problems occuring. This past summer was extremely humid and wet. Well, all the moulding came off and the countertop area swelled & cracked. I noticed swelling in all the areas made with the pressed fiberboard (or whatever the junk is that Fleetwood uses).

Now, I'll admit that Peggy & I are hard on the popup. We've dragged it into areas where we once tent camped and banged it around more than anyone else would. But, it has begun falling apart in only 3 years not 20+. When we went looking for a TT, we looked inside the Fleetwoods. Sure enough, same garbage stuff used for cabinets. No way would I buy anything made of that junk again.

The new Fleetwood popups have "white tape" covering the splits in the ceiling inside the trailer. They couldn't get a one piece sheet of metal that would reach 8 or 10 or 12 feet long? Or, cover them with an aluminum seaming strip? And, in every trailer we were in, the tape was coming off because of the humidity. Ridiculous! Sunbrella is the finest tenting material I've ever been around. But, below the Sunbrella on Fleetwoods is vinyl. Seems the vinyl they used for 2001 was too thick so, they are using some thinner junk that looks the same. While the mattresses on the Destiny series are the same thickness, they managed to leave a piece of the covering hanging over the edge so it appears that the mattresses are 6" thick! Their abs roof "looked good" too, at one time. Along comes their heavy from too much pressboard, overpriced Caravans with a "sandwich" floor that develops "soft spots" from walking on it! (Hey, you can get it replaced for only another 6 or 7 grand)! Seems that every new year that comes along brings with it a new, cheaper made version of last years model that "looks the same".

I don't enjoy being experimented upon and don't like low quality junk. When I buy a Coleman product, I want a Coleman product. Not a fake replica that belongs in a junk pile and not a product made by a manufacturer who turns his back on you when there's a problem. I don't mind paying extra for what I consider to be the top of the line, which in camping equipment is that which carries the Coleman name.

I'm thankful Coleman terminated Fleetwood's license and I, for one, would never buy a Fleetwood product. I just wish it could have happenend before folks got stuck with all those "good looking" abs roofs.

Take heed Coachman. There's a lot more popup owners now than there were 20 years ago. The first product you put out bearing the Coleman name had better be worthy of it.

What kind of pop up do you have now?