Coleman Lantern Camper Units
02-10-2019, 07:36 PM
#11
They are identical save for the 4 gallon differences between the waste tanks. Because of this, and that the tanks are in the rear, the tongue weight is heavier on the BHWE model. My Coleman 274BH has been trouble free since I got it in 2016, but we are outgrowing it so have been looking for ones with similar floorplans to what you are looking at. What we have found and REALLY like is an Alpha Wolf 26DBH, nearly identical floor plan, difference is it has a U shaped dinette. It has doors instead of curtains for the queen and it has curtains for the bunks. It is also a foot longer and aluminum framed. Costs a few grand more though.
Going to list my trailer in a week or two, depends on if I can get a decent day to get to it and get some pictures. It is stored in my barn and the ice storms have made the path treacherous.
More importantly, how the heck did you find a USED 2019 model?
Going to list my trailer in a week or two, depends on if I can get a decent day to get to it and get some pictures. It is stored in my barn and the ice storms have made the path treacherous.
More importantly, how the heck did you find a USED 2019 model?
02-10-2019, 09:20 PM
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
There are a surplus of used 2019s because of the Boston natural gas explosion late last year. Govt bought something like 250 brand new trailers from Campjng world and let displaced families stay in them for a few weeks. In typical government fashion, most of the trailers were totally untouched, and then sold back to camping world two months later.
Im looking at about $6000 off from brand new. Sales price I’m agreeing to is about the same as the NADA retail value of a 2015. It’s almost too good to be true. We missed a similar deal on the 285BH and are kinda settling for the 263, but with the deal it just doesn’t make sense to spend the extra $8k for a new 285
Im looking at about $6000 off from brand new. Sales price I’m agreeing to is about the same as the NADA retail value of a 2015. It’s almost too good to be true. We missed a similar deal on the 285BH and are kinda settling for the 263, but with the deal it just doesn’t make sense to spend the extra $8k for a new 285
Last edited by Sweetlou; 02-10-2019 at 09:24 PM.
02-10-2019, 11:58 PM
#13
Senior Member
With our family of 4 (5 starting this year!), I find it very cumbersome to enter and exit around the table, the table is actually smaller than a standard 2 bench dinette and we end up bumping our legs a lot more. The corner seats are pretty useless for eating and the outer side of the table isn't able to be utilized. It just makes for cramped quarters while eating.
I have plans to remove the center seating under the window and make a larger table. It will be as wide as needed to straddle the benches to fold down into a bed but go from the window all the way out to the end of the benches. That way we can sit 2 people on each bench and the baby in the highchair at the end of the table.
02-11-2019, 08:40 AM
#14
Senior Member
Thread Starter
It's funny how different people like or lean towards different features. We bought our trailer and I have really liked every aspect of it except for the U shaped dinette.
With our family of 4 (5 starting this year!), I find it very cumbersome to enter and exit around the table, the table is actually smaller than a standard 2 bench dinette and we end up bumping our legs a lot more. The corner seats are pretty useless for eating and the outer side of the table isn't able to be utilized. It just makes for cramped quarters while eating.
I have plans to remove the center seating under the window and make a larger table. It will be as wide as needed to straddle the benches to fold down into a bed but go from the window all the way out to the end of the benches. That way we can sit 2 people on each bench and the baby in the highchair at the end of the table.
With our family of 4 (5 starting this year!), I find it very cumbersome to enter and exit around the table, the table is actually smaller than a standard 2 bench dinette and we end up bumping our legs a lot more. The corner seats are pretty useless for eating and the outer side of the table isn't able to be utilized. It just makes for cramped quarters while eating.
I have plans to remove the center seating under the window and make a larger table. It will be as wide as needed to straddle the benches to fold down into a bed but go from the window all the way out to the end of the benches. That way we can sit 2 people on each bench and the baby in the highchair at the end of the table.
02-11-2019, 09:44 AM
#15
And a U-dinette was a must-have on our Rockwood Ultra lite 2509S. We're picking it up today.
Whatever you buy, go out to it on a nice day and sit in it for an hour with the family. See if you can tolerate it.
Whatever you buy, go out to it on a nice day and sit in it for an hour with the family. See if you can tolerate it.
02-11-2019, 11:29 AM
#16
Senior Member
Yeah, I didn't want that to discourage anyone but its my real world perspective. The real downside to taking out the center portion of the U will be losing some valuable storage space. There's a good 15"x15"x30" cavity that won't be there anymore.
02-11-2019, 05:31 PM
#17
The one reason I like the U shape is when we are stuck inside due to bad weather, then the 5 of us can sit comfortably to watch the TV, where with the standard only 2 can sit on one side, and two on the sofa, leaving the 5th person with no where to sit comfortably. I do get the point though and didn't consider it that would limit table space.
OTOH I was also looking at trailers that had a mini dinette in the rear in conjunction with the U-shape so table space didn't matter. Now that it has been pointed out, may change what we look at.
Another reason I liked the U shape was the ease in which it is made into a bed, the two end cushions remain in place, and the wall cushions are used, so that there is no hard surface for hitting a head against.
OTOH I was also looking at trailers that had a mini dinette in the rear in conjunction with the U-shape so table space didn't matter. Now that it has been pointed out, may change what we look at.
Another reason I liked the U shape was the ease in which it is made into a bed, the two end cushions remain in place, and the wall cushions are used, so that there is no hard surface for hitting a head against.
02-13-2019, 02:31 PM
#19
That 285 is nice, but too heavy. 
Lots of storage though. The Alpha Wolf is the same price and size but 2K lighter.
Lots of storage though. The Alpha Wolf is the same price and size but 2K lighter.
02-13-2019, 07:43 PM
#20
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Cheapest Alpha Wolf 26BH I see is listed at around 23,000. Im signing the papers on my used 2019 Coleman 263BH for 14k. Big difference. Alpha looks nice... identical setup but with an outside kitchen.