The Coleman Camper is back!

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

FTCA, INC., MANUFACTURER OF FLEETWOOD

[tenndon]

That is awesome news! Thanks for sharing.
This seems to me like the perfect time to get back into the pop up market. I sure am seeing more and more of them in the campgrounds and on the road.

Don

[sewserious]

Why so excited?  It is just a name on the side, nothing more.  Coleman quit making campers in 1987 when they sold out to Fleetwood.  Since then, they have been nothing more than "Coleman" campers in name only.  Who cares what name is on the side.  I am concerned that they will even stay in business, though that might help as folks will think they are buying something like what the original used to be.  I care about quality and floor plans and features for my $$, not the name.

[Buck62]

When you look at the construction of all the different pop-up campers out there, most of them use the same lightweight woods and plastics and share the exact same cheap stoves and ice boxes. The only real differences seem to be the layout (which doesn't vary much) and the interior and exterior color schemes.

[Hackker]

Anyone know what the long term plans are for the folding trailer division?  Seems that private equity firms typically buy companies, slash whatever costs they can, then turn around and sell the firm to someone else at a profit.  

Would suck to see that with one of the biggest PU makers out there (are they still the biggest?).

[tenndon]

Wow, I never expected to get all that negativity for being a Coleman fan. I have never had anything but good experiences with anything bearing the Coleman name. I am on my second Coleman camper. First one, a 1984 Columbia is still going strong. My latest, 1999 Niagara, is proving to be a great camper as well.
So I am brand loyal. I know Coleman does not make much of anything anymore, including campers. But I still choose their name over others and it proves to be a good choice for me every time.

Don

[Buck62]

I used to own a 1998 Coleman/Fleetwood Taos and it was nice. All I'm saying is that most pop-ups use the same basic components, making them similar in overall quality. Nothing negative, just an observation.

[coach]

Wow, I never expected to get all that negativity for being a Coleman fan.

WOW, why the negative reaction?

[sewserious]

Wow, I never expected to get all that negativity for being a Coleman fan. I have never had anything but good experiences with anything bearing the Coleman name. I am on my second Coleman camper. First one, a 1984 Columbia is still going strong. My latest, 1999 Niagara, is proving to be a great camper as well.
So I am brand loyal. I know Coleman does not make much of anything anymore, including campers. But I still choose their name over others and it proves to be a good choice for me every time.

Don

Your 1999 camper isn't a Coleman, not really, it is a Fleetwood with the Coleman name on it.  Just like my 1993 and just like the ones from this company will be.

[CajunCamper]

Your 1999 camper isn't a Coleman, not really, it is a Fleetwood with the Coleman name on it.  Just like my 1993 and just like the ones from this company will be.

sewserious are you debbiedowner in disquise?

CajunCamper

[sacrawf]

The label or brand name on any vehicle or other item today makes little difference. The Coleman name may be a good thing for the company, in selling more campers, but a negative thing for the consumer.  The new Fleetwood folding trailer division is of course going to pay for the licensing fee to Coleman for the use of the name, and that cost will be passed along to the consumer without any real increase in the quality or usefulness of the camper.  Having the name decal stuck on the outside of a camper doesn't make it a better or worse camper. Why would any wise consumer pay more just for the brand name?

Tohatsu makes outboard motors that sell under the Tohatsu, Nissan, and Mercury brand names.  The Nissan and Mercury motors command a higher price because of the brand recognition, even though there is no difference in the motors except for the name decal. (I just bought a Tohatsu and saved some money).

[waygard33]

Wow, I never expected to get all that negativity for being a Coleman fan. I have never had anything but good experiences with anything bearing the Coleman name. I am on my second Coleman camper. First one, a 1984 Columbia is still going strong. My latest, 1999 Niagara, is proving to be a great camper as well.
So I am brand loyal. I know Coleman does not make much of anything anymore, including campers. But I still choose their name over others and it proves to be a good choice for me every time.

Don

Let's face it. Humans are emotional creatures.  :-()  :mad:  :compumad:  :p

For us Baby Boomers, Coleman means camping. It's all about the memories. I hang beer can lights from my awning because it reminds me of camping with my departed parents when I was a kid. My DW doesn't truly appreciate the Schlitz cans hanging from the awning, but understands my emotions and gladly accepts them. :!

As several folks have stated, when making any purchase, camper, auto, or whatever, you should be objective, weigh your options carefully, and make the smartest purchase possible. Try to remove as much emotion as possible. :book:

On that same note, if I'm starting a new folding trailer company, I would do all I could to put the Coleman name on it, rather than calling it Wayne's tent trailer. The objective business men who now own Fleetwood Folding Trailers know there is a lot of emotion tied up in the Coleman brand. They're smart folks. Having the Coleman name pretty much guarantees that their camper will be included in the 'Hunt' when anyone is out to purchase a new camper.

Objectiviely: It is a GREAT start to a business plan.

Emotionally: Let's hope that both parties in this new partnership are interested in quality and customer satisfaction. Let's hope that Coleman is happy to get a 2nd chance at the Tent Trailer market and will put their experience to work to 'oversee' the making of a great product. Let's hope that both sides of the partnership poke their noses into this little online cubby hole to listen to what their customer's are saying about them. So come-on Coleman...make us all happy and make sure your name is going on a great camper!  :U

[Buck62]

While I would agree that the Coleman name would sell more pop-ups than "Wayne's Campers", you could still sell a lot of ANY product if you use a name that implies quality and versatility.

Years ago I painted my mom's house with Sears "Weatherbeater" paint. I stripped, primed and prepped everything properly, but the paint only last three years before it cracked and chipped off. I thought a product with a name like "Weatherbeater" (especially from Sears!) would be an awesome product, but it wan't very good. Sears gave me three free gallons of paint because I brought them pictures of her house and the receipt and the unused portion of the paint I had left. That paint only last about 5 years and I'll never use Sears paint again.

The point is, I bought the paint based on it's name, which implied that it could "beat the weather" and/or anything Mother Nature could throw at it. But it didn't.

A brand name is only as good as the company who strives to maintain it's quality. But no company is perfect. Even Mercedes Benz churns out a lemon or two every now and then.

[pricerj]

When Coleman originally sold to Fleetwood back in the 80's, didn't they also sell the Somerset, PA factory? and didn't the workers & product line come with it? True, decisions at the top of a corporation can dramatically affect product, but I've been happy with my Fleetwood which carries the Somerset legacy. Now that they have aquired the rights to the Coleman name, the old Coleman pop-up factory in Somerset will still be making pop-ups with a Coleman decal on the side.  I'll toast them tonight with my Belgian Budweiser.....

[tlhdoc]

When Coleman originally sold to Fleetwood back in the 80's, didn't they also sell the Somerset, PA factory? and didn't the workers & product line come with it?

You are correct.  I am glad that there will be Coleman campers again.  I hope the new owners will listen to the people that camp in their trailers to make them better, at least better than Fleetwood did.  I am very interested in what changes the new company will make.  I hope they do a fine with their campers.