Dutchmen Rv Coleman Lantern Lt Series Travel Trailer Reviews
We did information technology, ya'll! We bought a camper. And in the interest of total transparency, we never really intended to purchase a camper this twelvemonth. We only started talking most it a month agone. And hither nosotros are – the proud owners of a 2021 Coleman Lantern LT 17B. We couldn't be more excited near it and the upcoming adventures (which volition be fully documented, stay tuned!). Ultimately, nosotros knew flight wouldn't be in the cards for awhile, then nosotros're hitting the open road. Simply first, we wanted to help some of yous out if you're because this camper.
When we first started looking at it, we could only find basic information and pretty scarce reviews from other owners. It's a new model, so this totally makes sense. But equally someone who wishes there were less formal product images and more first paw experiences, I felt information technology could potentially help in your decision making procedure. So without farther ado, our tour and review of the Coleman Lantern LT 17B travel trailer. That's a mouthful.
Table of Contents
- Best inside features of the Coleman Lantern LT 17B
- Bunkhouse
- Queen master bed
- Tabular array
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Our favorite outside features of the Coleman Lantern LT
- The specs
- Awning
- Pre-wiring Prep
- Solar
- Price and similar brands
- Are nosotros happy with our Coleman Lantern LT 17B?
- Follow our camper adventures
Best inside features of the Coleman Lantern LT 17B
We bought the Coleman Lantern LT for a really long list of reasons, merely one of the biggest is that it truly makes splendid use of space. It has everything we need without being over the summit (who needs a firm sized refrigerator anyhow?). But there are some features that really sealed the deal for the states.
Bunkhouse
This was at the top of our priority list. We wanted the kids to have space they could make their own rather than pulling out a sofa or rearranging a table anytime they wanted to relax, nap, or go to bed. The Coleman Lantern LT travel trailer has one. Information technology'due south size-able enough for young kids to sleep and also accept room for their toys and books on their beds. Plus, plenty of wall room to hang storage past their beds. Thanks Target for the super affordable toy storage solution. The mattress is thin and it feels like it may be a little claustrophobic for adults, merely for kids, it will exercise the trick just fine. Information technology's just slightly smaller than a twin bed, so they'll hardly find the departure. Only the person on the bottom bunk gets a window, so the ii bunkmates volition have to duke it out.
Related: RVing on a Budget (How to Save Money on your Next Camping Trip)
Queen master bed
Speaking of beds, with the Coleman Lantern LT 17B travel trailer, you'll get a large queen bed. It's enough big. Like it literally takes upwards a 3rd of your camper space, which we were totally fine with because we wanted a big comfortable bed. Only, we had to make some adjustments to brand it comfortable. The mattress it comes with is garbage and if we were to recommend one purchase you go correct away, it'southward a new mattress to put in there.
Pro tip: even though it's a queen bed, it's actually a queen brusque (and then it's a couple inches shorter than a standard queen). When you lot purchase a mattress for it, make certain y'all become the queen short size.
We tried getting abroad with a standard queen, merely quickly buried that idea because it will get aptitude and ruined. We went with the Cool Gel retentivity foam mattress which was actually pretty affordable and And so comfortable. The bed is right nether the air conditioner unit, which is really squeamish when its hot out.
There is storage if yous lift upward the end of the bed that borders the tabular array. Definitely a squeamish to accept. And the other half of the bed likewise has storage (it'south only the kind yous admission from outside the camper).
Table
It'due south your standard kitchen tabular array, merely it can seat 4. Nosotros like the bench seating because it'southward easier for modest kids. You tin corner them inside so they tin't squirm out of their seat and run around during mealtime.
The bench seats likewise have storage underneath them, which we fully programme on using. It's corking for big kitchen items like pots, pans, storage containers, or even an instant pot. The table also folds downwards into a bed (for those counting – this clocks the sleep count in at 5). Truthfully, the number of beds was one of the well-nigh important things for us because we plan to be outside the camper a lot during the day. So ensuring we had adequate slumber infinite was the goal. Oh, and if you use a portable crib, information technology fits in the table space!
Kitchen
The good
The kitchen in the Coleman Lantern LT 17B is fairly blank bones. Only from our standpoint it's all yous really need unless you are doing some heavy duty cooking. And information technology'southward comparable to other travel trailers of a like size. You get a refrigerator (and a teeny tiny freezer at the very peak). The fridge is small – you would just be able to fit a gallon of milk if it's on information technology's side (speaking from experience on this i). So we got one of the Yeti coolers (ah-mazing) to fit some additional cold foods that we desire to proceed frozen. And the fridge lone is a fleck too small to completely meet our needs.
At that place is also a microwave to a higher place the fridge. And a two burner stove. Some campers take 3 burners, but honestly, I tin't see us ever cooking iii things at once, so this seems like a super non-dealbreaker. Plus, we found one of the infamous Instant Pots on sale and plan to do bulk of our cooking in that. This is also a skillful identify to point out the refrigerator runs off your camper battery and the stove runs on propane, and then if you programme on doing whatsoever boondocking, you can employ both without being hooked upward to electric (as long as your battery is on).
And of class you have your sink in there as well. In a higher place the sink is storage and this is where nosotros plan on storing all of our dry out foods. And yous have three fiddling drawers. They aren't huge just they will do the fox for utensil storage. There is no real spot for kitchen towels, fruits/veggies, newspaper towels, spices, etc. (stay tuned for countertop space), but in that location is some wall space adjacent to the fridge, so nosotros plan on control hooking a lot of those items.
The bad
The counter infinite with the Coleman Lantern 17B floorplan leaves a little to be desired. And that's putting it mildly. Information technology's pretty much non-existant. You take one countertop – so apply it wisely! The cable hookup is correct beside this countertop so some people probably take their tv hither. Merely then you accept no space for food prep, so we nixed this idea. We programme to utilize it for our espresso machine, which is very compact. And and so leave the space open up for nutrient prep. We also bought a Chemex pour over coffee maker, which we are VERY excited about (and already fabricated a few cups – totally tin can attest to the quality!). So we can store it away and not take a bulky java maker taking up space.
Related: Installing a Tile Backsplash in an RV
Bathroom
The good news is that you have a shower and a toilet and if you don't want to use the community army camp facilities, you don't have to. The bad news is that the bathroom is very tiny. If yous are taller than 6 foot, you are going to take to slouch downwardly a scrap in the shower because it's a low shower.
The toilet is a toilet, nothing really to write dwelling house virtually. And at that place is no sink in the bath. Then, not super ideal, but you can use the kitchen sink. Also, there'south no storage so you'll take to squeeze your own bathroom storage in. I searched high and depression, and we found these storage drawers, which fit just perfectly.
It's as well a bit of a tight fit sitting on the toilet with the door closed, but meh, not our top priority then we'll deal.
A fireplace?! Yes, at that place'due south a fireplace. Really it'south where the camper oestrus comes out of. Merely you can also put it on ambiance style and it shows the fire, simply no heat comes out. It's excessive, but besides fun.
There are a few outlets in the camper: past the bed and by the sink. Y'all'll have enough of places to go charged up. Though, in that location's not one by the tabular array and that'due south my simply critique there.
Above the bed, there's a shelf and so y'all have some actress storage place if you desire it. Maybe for your apparel since there isn't a bully identify to shop apparel. Or mayhap for decor. Either way, information technology'southward an additional space you can use.
And one small, but nice, characteristic is the trash can storage. There's a cabinet that opens up by the door and so you can store the trash can. It'south prissy so it doesn't become in your manner. And not something a lot of other RVs take.
Our favorite outside features of the Coleman Lantern LT
The specs
At present on to the more boring (simply probable the most important) features of the Coleman Lantern LT 17B. The weight is 3042 pounds, making this thing super lightweight. In all honestly, that was the most of import consideration for united states. We wanted something that would be piece of cake for a Ford Explorer with a 5000 lb tow capacity to booty. If you are annihilation similar us as you lot accept an SUV with a comparable tow capacity, you lot'll probable demand to stay beneath the 4k lb range. And this will do the trick. Information technology's also smaller in length as far every bit RVs are concerned, clocking in at 21'v". This is good news because you lot'll be able to fit in most all campsites. Information technology's a 30amp hookup and to power the ac and outlets, y'all'll need to be connected to electric hookups.
There's a 28 gallon grey water tank and 28 gallon black water tank. And a six gallon water heater. More to come in future posts on how the water heater works in practice. The quality of materials used to build the Coleman travel trailer, well, allow's just say they aren't elevation of the line, but they'll do.
Awning
We were THRILLED to have an awning. Nothing overly fancy most information technology. It's your standard canopy. The awning is ten ft and is ability retractable. You tin control the angle of it, so you'll stay dry in inclement atmospheric condition. Not much else to say here other than information technology's pretty simple to use. Oh, and there are no lights on the awning, which is a bummer. Yous'll have to add your own. Our like in our example, the Christmas lights get another fourth dimension to shine.
Pre-wiring Prep
Since most of the Coleman Lantern LT 17B comes with the nuts, you won't become a ton of extras. But I can't imagine you lot'd get these things with near campers. Nevertheless, information technology does come pre-wired for several features you may desire to add.
Backup Camera
This was 1 of the very first things we purchased for our camper. Unless you are a pro at backing up with a travel trailer, you may desire to strongly consider a fill-in camera as they can aid IMMENSELY. Important notation hither: the Coleman Lantern LT 17B (and in fact, I think most Coleman travel trailers) comes pre-wired for the Furrion backup camera. But, they are very expensive and we recommend going with a more affordable selection. Don't allow the "Furrion pre-wiring" fool you. We read many reviews and followed communication from others with Furrion wiring. Yous tin can go a backup camera from a different manufacturer, simply y'all may need to do a lilliputian additional work depending on the type you become.
We can recommend the AMTIFO Wireless backup camera. It came highly recommended on Amazon from a agglomeration of RVers with the Furrion pre-wiring and is just $135 (Furrion is upwardly of $400). And if you lot get this bracket adapter, you lot really don't need to do much extra.
Solar
We went back and forth on whether to get solar panels. And we landed in the camp of waiting, simply it'south probably something we'll add eventually. This is again pre-wired for Furrion, but I'm given to understand it functions much like the backup camera. If y'all get the proper adapter, y'all can spend considerably less. From my research, Renogy seems to exist the almost popular pick and is simply about $130.
Toll and similar brands
While that concludes our Coleman Lantern LT 17B tour, I wanted to touch on toll and whether you lot tin find a similar floorplan through whatever other brands. Beginning, toll…
Toll is 1 of the biggest selling points of Coleman travel trailers. The 17B Coleman model is selling for less than $15K in almost places. Ours was in the neighborhood of $11K. But for transparency, know that the final cost was a bit higher. At that place are boosted options you lot tin can add on like the warranty and the weatherproofing. We did both. The waterproofing really applies to both the inside and outside. It'southward a coating on the exterior to protect confronting in-optimal conditions conditions. On the within, it volition protect against stains. You can also add on the tow bundle. And and then you add together in the taxes, registration fees, etc. and you have a trivial extra. And so only continue that in mind (I had to go along reminding myself to throw a piffling extra on to the base cost while RV searching). You can also purchase the Expert Sam membership, which in our example came with roadside assistance and all the order benefits (the primary one being ten% off campground fees).
Similar brands/floorplans
If yous are super duper in dearest with the Coleman Lantern LT 17B floorplan, simply you can't find one in stock (it's hard – we know immediate), you exercise have another options. Coleman Lanterns are actually nether the Dutchman brand. And Dutchman makes other travel trailers with the same floorplan – check out the Kodiak Cub 175BH and the Aspen Trail LE 1760BH. We were And then close to actually buying the Aspen Trail camper. All these have the same floorplan and then we weren't tied to a specific one, we merely wanted the start nosotros plant in stock (did we mention travel trailers are selling similar hotcakes and information technology'south super hard to discover one?).
Two others that aren't nether the Dutchman make are the Jayco Jay Flight SLX seven 174BH and the Wolf Pup 16BHS. The Wolf Pup was the one nosotros first saw that caught our centre, but information technology was very hard to find one in stock.
Are we happy with our Coleman Lantern LT 17B?
Nosotros've owned our Coleman Lantern LT 17B for about a month now, and so I tin't give a truthful, complete answer on this 1. We've taken it out camping then far, we love it. It has all the features we really need and I don't see the need for more than space. We desire to travel all over the country with it, and so nosotros want something light and like shooting fish in a barrel to tow. The Coleman Lantern travel trailer fits the bill. In terms of immovability, we'll take to give y'all a follow-upwards later on some real, hardcore use.
Don't just take our discussion for information technology – join a group on Facebook that we're members of, the Coleman Lantern LT 17B Owners group. You'll observe owners of this camper and conversations about towing, modifications, fixes, etc. It's a corking group of people!
Follow our camper adventures
Speaking of, we are planning a calendar month long trek in this guy. Nosotros'll be vlogging the whole matter on our Family unit on Standby Youtube aqueduct. If you desire to come across more of this camper in action and how we organize the space. Or if you lot want camping with kids tips. Commencement fourth dimension RVer experiences. Whatever the reason, we will be showing it all. And probably quite a few stumbles along the way (did we mention we are start time RVers?).
Follow along and allow us know what you want to meet! Here's our full Coleman Lantern LT 17B video tour (along with the reasons why we chose this camper:
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Source: https://www.bottlesandbanter.com/2020/09/09/coleman-lantern-lt-17b-travel-trailer-tour-review/