RE: Coleman Caravan 25SLB

[my4cuties]

 We re considering the purchase of a Coleman Caravan SLB, 2002 model.  The price sounds high, though.  It is listed at $16,900, but NADA guides lists it at approx. $14,500.  Does anyone have a Caravan SLB?  If so, does $16,900 sound high to you?  Also, DO YOU LIKE THE CARAVAN?  We have 4 children, ages 9 1/2, 6 1/2, and 3 yr old twins, so the room is DEFINITELY a plus!
 
 Any info you can offer is welcome - and THANKS!
 
 Laurie & Mark  []
 
 P.S. It is a 2002 model, not year 2000 like I posted before - SORRY!

[Tim5055]

 my4cuties
Laurie & Mark,
 
 The first person I would direct you to is [link=http://www.popuptimes.com/members/showprofile.asp?memid=14]CamperJones[/link].  She & Ed have a Caravan, but I can t remember the exact model.
 
 The love it!!  As a matter of fact I looked at a couple at teh RV show Saturday before the snow began to fall around here.  They look nice.
 
 I have a couple of questions
 [ul]
 

• Is this your first RV?
• Do you have a tow vehicle large enough to pull it?  A Caravan is both heavy and has a lot of frontal space that causes drag.
[/ul]
 
 The tow vehicle is my bigest concern as salesmen are more than willing to tell you you will have no problems towing.  I as well as many other people here have seen extreme mismatched tow vehicles/trailers.
 
 Let us know if you have any other questions.
 

[my4cuties]

 my4cuties
This would be our first camper, and we realize we ll have to replace our 2000 Ford Windstar OR trade-in my husband s Saturn sedan (which doesn t fit all 4 kids anyway!).  My husband had been itching to buy a truck, so this would give him a good reason!
 
 We re excited about this - we ve only gone tent camping, and last summer we were pitching the ol  tent on July 4th in 105 degree weather in North East Maryland!  We had fun, but it was HOT!!!!  And, it takes us a good 2 1/2 hours to set up!
 
 Thanks for the " referral" ... I ll try to contact CamperJones.

[Ab Diver]

 my4cuties
" Any info you can offer is welcome... "
 
 Ask and yee shall receive:
 
 http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Coleman_Caravan/
 
 With 350 members, it remains *THE* place for all things Caravan. Register and join, do a search in their archives for all kinds of info, then post the same question you did here. Not that we won t-- or can t-- help, but you ll probably get more responses with what you need there. Tell Susan (the list mom there) we sent you over.
 
 Just make sure you come back here to hang out.[]

[traci36]

 my4cuties
Hi,
 
    We have a 2002 Coleman Caravan SLB.  We bought ours in July.   We paid under 16,000 for ours.   We think the price you were quoted is too high. We were at the RV show in Novi, Michigan on Friday.  We saw a brand new  2003 25SLB for just under 17,000.  
 
    We love our trailer.  It is perfect for our family.  We have two girls, ages 9 and 11.   We also take our moms along on at least one trip a year.  So far it is working wonderful for us.  
 
 
              Traci

[SactoCampers]

 my4cuties

ORIGINAL:  my4cuties
 
 We re considering the purchase of a Coleman Caravan SLB, 2002 model.  The price sounds high, though.  It is listed at $16,900, but NADA guides lists it at approx. $14,500.  Does anyone have a Caravan SLB?  If so, does $16,900 sound high to you?  Also, DO YOU LIKE THE CARAVAN?  We have 4 children, ages 9 1/2, 6 1/2, and 3 yr old twins, so the room is DEFINITELY a plus!
 
 Any info you can offer is welcome - and THANKS!
 
 Laurie & Mark  []
 
 P.S. It is a 2002 model, not year 2000 like I posted before - SORRY!
 

 If you like the concept of the Coleman Caravan and will be buying a new tow vehicle, have you considered the Sportsmen Frontier? It has a rear slide out bed (reverse of the Caravan) and quad bunks up front. They also have a model with the rear slideout bed a side slideout sofa and double bunks up front. Since I ve seen both the Sportsmen and the Caravan and an RV show, my preference is for the Sportsmen []. They re a little bit lighter, too, and have a higher GVWR, which means you can bring more junk. And since you re starting from scratch with a new tow vehicle, I would get a 3/4-ton pickup for either the Caravan or the Sportsmen Frontier. Anyway, click the link below to look at the floorplans:
 
 2405PQS-F
 2505QS-F
 
 http://www.campersfactoryoutlet.com/tt-sportsmenframe.html