The best place to put the drainage hose, is to store it in a PVC tube strapped under the rear of the camper. Storing it in the bumper can cause the bumper to rust out from the inside.
Although if radio is hooked to DC (vs. AC required) it's essential for access to emergency brroadcasts in case of forest fires or landslides. Not everyone camps in campgrounds as this gentleman does. Some folks use remote National Forest sites without AC power or cellphone connectivity.
I own one of these same campers. We replaced the queen mattress with a My pillow camper queen. It fit in the spot perfectly, Does not hang over the shelf on the side of the bed, and sleeps awesome
We have decided to replace the foam and "Teddy Bear mattress with a full size Queen RV mattress. It sticks over the end of the platform about 4-6 inches. The shelf down there supports it just like the platform. We are not really using the weird shelf at the foot for anything other than charging phones. The amount the bed sticks over doesn't interfere with that at all. Now the sheets fit better and my feet don't stick over. th-cam.com/video/exnKuxVbedo/w-d-xo.html
Thank you. I am a new traveler and bought a 2018 Coleman 202RD. It's just me and my two small pups so it's perfect. I am going to retire in Dec so I will make some changes to living area since I hope to spend lots of time on the road. Think I might pull out dinette, I hate it! Your video was very helpful. I do need to grab a spare tire. Thank you. Loved Dallas, worked there and lived in Red Oak. Now back in NE. Good to be home. Safe camping and travel on!
That video was our first time in a 202. We just loved it. We have considered taking out the dinette from our 17b, but decided that we would keep it for a work area. We don't like it either, but it serves a function. My wife and I are both from Duncanville, so we know Red Oak well. Yes, get a spare and a four-way lug wrench. There are a few other things you should get as well. (see link below.) Please tell us how the mattress in the 202 works for you. The one we saw was REALLY firm. th-cam.com/video/BS5U4VCHICM/w-d-xo.html
We bought the Coleman 17R because we didn’t need bunk beds and the larger bathroom also has a nice closet in it. We also upgraded the tires to premium rated tires and used the original ones for spares.
I also bought the 17r, built to a price to be sure, but I am one at a time adding the pieces that were they original equipment would have sent the price sky high!
I agree. Perhaps the best example is the tongue jack. It cost about $150, when I installed it myself, and it was easy. How much would a dealership or manufacturer had charged me to do it? The Spare tire and the tongue jack have been, so far, are the only two things that have cost me over $100. I have spent about $3000 on 50 upgrades. Half of that amount would have needed even if I had bought a unit for twice as much. The spare tire and tongue are two examples.
This past weekend we were forced to put two better rated tires on the ground. The spare I bought two years ago was a much better tire. This weekend the original equipment tire failed for some reason. I bought a new tire and made the remaining original tire the spare. We consider ourselves very lucky that someone was able to tell us about our tire before it might have come apart. VERY LUCKY!
Thank you so much for making this video! It was extremely helpful, and I love your personality! This is a camper we are considering for our family of 3 and I love all of the little hacks you shared, especially the mirror placement and the tip for securing the fridge - I never would have thought of that! Thanks again!
Thanks for this video. We just bought a 2023 17B. I already knew we were going to need to make some modifications and add ons. The part about leveling it because of the a.c unit. Was very helpful. Maybe we will see you on the road!! Safe travels
We've had two RV's, and they both had bumper storage for the stinky slinky. It's very convenient. I couldn't imagine trying to put it in a plastic bag and storing it somewhere else!
I know. On our first two trips we put it in a giant, clear, heavy, garbage bag. I am so glad we saw that guy use his bumper. Why didn't our salesman mention this feature at all? He knew we were novices.
I would just use the bunk for extra storage anyway, but agree it’s tight in there. That being said, we camped in an 11’ pickup camper, parents slept on the bed that was from the table/bench. 3 of us slept in the over the cab bunk, that was thought too but as kids, we didn’t notice, we were excited to be on every camping adventure.
If you don't need the bunk beds, you might want to consider getting a 17R. It is made for couples with no kids. Better floor plan and closets! th-cam.com/video/B_25_rC5jg8/w-d-xo.html
It has been 9 months, and several trips since this question was asked. We have found that Rubbermaid like tubs or "totes" can fit really well in the bunks. The use of clear tubs with a label on the inside really provide a great deal of convenient storage space on the bunks.
Wow great advice yes I lived in a fifth wheel for three years a lot of little things makes your life a lot better AM/FM radio just got to go AC unit I like what you said and the battery systemMaybe later on install a solar panel be safe be good
You are so right. The little things really make it so much better. We try to concentrate on the little things. Our list of all 35 upgrades has several, but our video on "8 upgrades in 8 minutes" has some fun little upgrades that I think really help. The small light above the bed might be the one in that video that we like the most, although the light in the bathroom is really nice in the middle of the night instead of that bright light in the ceiling.
Thank you for this video, my husband and I have been scared by so many manufacturing problems, described by many RV's, it seems the quality has declined
I completely understand. You should be cautious. The Coleman 17 series is an inexpensive option for the beginner RV’er. The old adage, “You get what you pay for.” is true. You can buy a Grand Design almost the same size as the 17B for $32,000, and you will probably get a much better product. The compromise between, extras, quality and price the a decision everyone must make for themselves. So far we have enjoyed our 17B, but there are things we wish we had. We have made over 35 upgrades to our Coleman. At least half of them are things we probably would have needed to buy even if we had purchased a more expensive product. (Power tongue jack, for example.) Our upgrades have come to about $1343.
Even if by yourself, those bunk beds give you enormous amount of storage area. Your going to need it in a 17 footer. Also still have a guest sleeping area if needed. You can store a lot in the bunks and cover w/a hanging curtain.
WE constantly use the bunk beds for storage. I have put a a clothes rod in the bottom bunk. We hang all our clothes there easily. The top bunk is actually just right for some large plastic tubs, and they stay there once you remove the poor mattress. The new 27R uses the bunk area for a closet. It is pretty nice and moving the sink and dinette, it is really useful. One needs to also remember that the dinette converts to a decent bed is you have only one other person (under 6ft) or two smaller children.
I have a 2020 Coleman Light (I forget the exact model). The radio is a little different, but I run an aux cable to my TV and get inline "surround sound" through the trailer speakers using the AU IN option. I also found out it has Bluetooth after owning it for five years ( thanks to my son 😂 ). It's nice for playing music from my phone.
Great review I just bought my 2023 model yesterday! By the way the salesman told us about the bumper storage and instead of a radio they gave us a blue tooth speaker. Thanks for the mattress and fridge tips!
In a week or so we will be attending the big Southwest RV show in Dallas. We plan on doing a video on the 2023 17B there. Is there anything interesting you don't want us to miss showing?
BTW- did you see my upgrade to the dirty hose in the bumper storage for safety? I have been hearing horror stories about people losing their hoses on the road. th-cam.com/video/Fn_HcwQetDk/w-d-xo.html
Weird thing happened today. You know that I have a small issue with the radio concept. I was working in the RV today, installing cabinet door struts (video is in post) and my camera person/helper (wife) suggested we turn on the radio. As I was completing the remaining struts, that were not on camera, it was nice to have the radio. It sounded good. If only they had mounted it under the cabinet, rather than using up valuable storage space, it might be nice to have.
Isn’t that radio also Bluetooth so that you can stream music from your phone or tablet or laptop? We’ve used the Bluetooth am/fm radio to stream the sound from our laptop, to watch movies and the sound was wonderful coming through those better speakers. And it stopped the need to mount a tv.
@@davidh0809 Yes, it is Bluetooth. I can agree that there is probably a use for the radio for some people. I understand that. I also think that the concept of an AM/FM radio is outdated and doesn't have the appeal it once did, but everybody has their own preferences and style. In my mind, the debate is really over the place they put the radio. I think I would rather have the cabinet space, and a Bluetooth speaker, than an AM/FM Radio. In truth, had they mounted the radio UNDER the cabinet, rather than take away a large % of available cabinet space, my criticism wouldn't have much of a leg to stand on. The Bluetooth feature is OK. This is why I think Coleman has decided to do away with the radio and just offers a Bluetooth speaker. (I have Bose Bluetooth speaker and we love the sound.)
What about a foldable stepping ladder, I love those things and they make them in every size under the rainbow. Thanks for the review, I'm strongly considering this one and it helps to get the perspective of a person who has been using it. I'm sure everything has to be modified to some degree and one thing I like about these is they are kind of a blank canvass. You aren't paying a bunch of money for frills that you don't want or will never use. Really like the "Stinky Slinky" storage idea too. Thank you again.
We have had luck with the ladder mentioned in our "8 upgrades in 8 minutes" video, but it is hard to tell. (see link) We don't really have little kids. If we had the chance to do it over, we would pick the 17R and just not have bunks. th-cam.com/video/Fn_HcwQetDk/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the comment. That are why we do this. Be sure to check out our latest video about 5 upgrades you need today. We are all about the Coleman 17B. There is a large online community for it. th-cam.com/video/BS5U4VCHICM/w-d-xo.html
Thank you we have just bought the 2024 version it’s very similar I found this video helpful. The radio is now behind the dinette. It is a removable Bluetooth one, and I haven’t figured out how to power it on yet. I’m not sure if it’s charging properly. It does come with a tv now.
The bed is a short queen, which is 6" shorter than a regular queen. I still need to buy one, as I've just bought my 17B and it was already winterized, so I'm not going anywhere until spring '24.
I am so glad you brought this up. We did OK with the memory foam mattress, but we had a couple of issues. I did some measuring and discovered that a full size queen will work with the 17B. The platform at the foot of the bed is over 12 inches wide. It's not like that space has much value or use that wouldn't work with just 6-8 inches, just as well. Using the outlet adapter to recharge you phone, etc. will work with a smaller space, just as easily. This gives you plenty of room for a full size. Check out our video on the subject. th-cam.com/video/exnKuxVbedo/w-d-xo.html
Glad I could help. Thank you for the comment. That is why we do it. We are doing several more easy and inexpensive upgrades in the net couple of weeks. Be sure you check back often, or subscribe.
Yes. That was very nice of him. He also did it from 1000 miles away too. He just felt we needed one as soon as we bought the RV. Thanks for the comment and for subscribing. It really helps the page when you do either.
There might be some truth to that, but using up a storage cabinet when storage is so needed in an RV, seems wasteful. Had they mounted the radio below the cabinet, I wouldn't have as much to cpmplain about. Thanks for your comment.
Well, not really, We didn’t spend that much, only about $1500, and half of what was spent on things that we considered necessary, but wouldn’t have been included in a rig that cost twice as much. For example, A Forest River - Salem is about the same size, and yet costs over $26 K. Buying that one, you still would’t have a power tongue jack or a spare tire. You also wouldn’t have a microwave (which comes with the 17B). The Spare tire and the tongue jack were the only things that cost over $100. The tire, and hardware, were over $200. To be fair, a new mattress is also a cost that is probably incurred with any RV purchase, new or used The mattress that comes with just about any new RV is usually crap. I have seen RVs over $60k that that might have OK mattresses. You be the judge if that should be considered an extra cost due to the lower price. Our's cost $225 for a good deal on Amazon. There were several other things under $100 that were certainly needed, but still not included in an RV that cost more than twice as much. So to make it better than “functional” we probably spent $750 for the things a more expensive RV would not have either I am OK with saving $15,000 that way. I have seen RVs at shows, for $15,000, that were possibly a little better than the 17B. They didn’t have spare tires or power tongue jacks or good mattresses either, but they were nice. We also have to consider that these we "Special RV Show Prices!" The other half of that $1500 we spent went for all kinds of fun things, most of which wouldn’t be on the more expensive models, but still mainly just for fun. I tell people that "Buying a 17B is like buying a kit you can upgrade and personalize to your own needs and tastes." Check out the video some people have made. There are some very nice 17Bs out there.
Some others have mentioned that. I get such things on my phone. I also would have had as much issue, had they mounted the radio under the cabinet, rather then take up valuable storage space.
I’ve gotta be honest , you cracked me up a bit , but a good review ! We’ve been looking at new campers to replace an older one we have and this is one of the ones we have on our list. You could def see the excitement learning about the rear bumper storage there lol. For the radio tho : we camp in the Forrest with no cell phone signal . We don’t watch tv and we do like having a radio with weather forecasts , etc and music. Your review of the radio did crack me up tho man lol. Hope y’all enjoy the heck out of that camper !
I think that there can be a valid need for a radio for some people. Everybody has their own preferences and needs. I just don't think that a radio has the same universal value, to most people, it once did. There are so many other ways to acquire music. Then there is all the satellite radio stations. For $50-$100 one can buy a portable satellite radio on Amazon, if you really need a radio in a remote location. Given the need for storage/cabinet space in an RV, I just think a radio in an RV cabinet is a waste. My second question on the subject is, "Why didn't they just mount the radio under the cabinet, rather than in it?" If they did that my criticism wouldn't have a leg to stand on.
We own a 2022 Highland Ridge Olympia Sport 19BH which is basically the same camper with the "extra wish it had" items. Same floor plan. I have also been making improvements and additions. I'm wearing myself out looking for a rear observation\back up camera. I had pretty much decided to go with a wired system instead of a wireless until I came upon your video showing the Dohonest model. My question is, "have you had any signal loss?". Our Olympia is 22 feet from the trailer ball to the spare. These trailers are aluminum panels, not fiberglass, and would more readily absorb the signal. It's important that the system is reliable and has a low "lag". Thanks again for the info. You might consider upgrading you propane to dual tanks, it was easy. Sounds like we live very close. We deal with the air traffic from DFW and Alliance airports.
Thanks for the comments and question. I can relate to your question about signal loss and lag time. This is something we struggled with for a few months. We would have "Loss of Signal" on the monitor, or it would freeze. This is simply maddening. In our case it was a power wire problem. There was a short in the line. Not only would we lose signal sometimes, but other times we would blow the fuse on our running lights. Once we finally fixed that, we have really enjoyed our DoHonest system. I don't to take credit for the wiring short, but I might have to. Isn't Olympia made by Jayco? I would think that yours would be somewhat nicer then the 17B. I like what I see with the Olympia. th-cam.com/video/Ocb_qgHxdvQ/w-d-xo.html We are thinking about upgrading to dual LPG. We also are thinking about a second battery. Solar is coming soon! 35+ Upgrades! th-cam.com/video/Sq4YKCqj1ds/w-d-xo.html
Yes it does, but I would have rather had the cabinet space. Coleman has stopped including the Am/Fm radio in favor of including a portable Bluetooth speaker.
Thank you! Comments like yours are really appreciated and inspire us to do more. Be sure to check out the video of "8 upgrades in 8 minutes." We have had our 17B for one year now. Look for a "one year report" on our experience very soon.
Thanks for an excellent and honest review. I’m just start to look and this same camper seems to be the only one even near it’s price? I’m sure I’ll get even more tips by the end of the video.
I am so glad it helped. Thanks for the comment. FYI- I will be posting a couple more easy upgrades you will probably like, in just a few days. I am using the winter down time to work on it on nice days.
Hello, I'm thinking about buying the 17R Coleman. What do you think about it and if you had it to do over, would you buy another Coleman? And thank you for your service to our country. I was in the Navy 50 years ago. Great videos!
Thanks for your comment. We have two videos on the 17B compared to the 17R. For just two people, the 17r might be better. If we had it to do over, we would get the 17r. th-cam.com/video/mC6LCIveBoc/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/bA5KswgjjIY/w-d-xo.html
That is going to be up to you. It is such small RV. For a larger unit, like the Coleman 202, you have a sofa or futon to sit and watch the TV from. With the 17B one can only really watch it from bed. We tried watching it from sitting at the table, but it isn't very comfortable. The small metal studs in the wall can support a decent size, but you would have to contact a professional or the manufacturer to get real number of the weight it can hold. Having said that, look at this page. It is apparently much moe than one would think. rvoutsider.com/how-much-weight-can-rv-wall-hold/
Thanks for the comment. We really appreciate you letting us know. Be sure to look at our review of the 2023 LT 17B and the LT 17R. You might also want to check out our video of 8 upgrades in 8 minutes and our 35 upgrades in one year review. We just returned from a trip to the Davis Mountains. We really like our 17B.
Very good video, I'm looking into buying one of these currently. Very informative and thorough as well as well explained. Making a list already of possible/necessary upgrades, subscribed
Great video! Awesome explanations on everything. We are looking at campers and are leaning towards this one. Just because its budget friendly and we dont need something super fancy.
Thanks. We have two other videos on this trailer. One shows "8 upgrades" in 8 minutes. The other shows the "17R" version, which is a good option IF you don't need the bunk beds. All the upgrades I did would be nothing for an Ironhorse Mechanic! I was IV Div. in the 70s.
Do you recommend this unit? We found a Jayco 17bh for $2000.00 more. We’re retired and realize it’s just for sleeping and eating. Is the fireplace the only heating, how long will it run on the battery. One more thing . How big is the refrigerator? Does it have a separate top freezer? And will it run on propane and electric. Between the heater and refrigerator it seems the battery would go dead in one day. I love your tips. Phil
Do you recommend this unit? - Yes. If you are comfortable with the idea that this is a "kit" and you will save $1000s by doing the work yourself. We found a Jayco 17bh for $2000.00 more. It depends upon what you mean by "More". Coleman 17Bs can be purchased for a little over $12K to over $15K. We’re retired and realize it’s just for sleeping and eating. - If it is really just for the two of you, i highlu recommend getting a 17R instead. - Yes, the fireplace is the only heating, but we have found it to be adequate if plugged into service. - The Refrigerator will run for about a day on the battery. I don't think the heater will run on the battery. The separate freezer on the fridge will hold three ice cube trays. Check out our videos on the 17R, and the upgrades we have made. We have not spent a great deal of money on upgrades. half of them are things you will need to get even if you bought the Jayco. (Spare tire, power tongue jack, front stabilizers, mirror, mattress, vent covers, etc.) Remember, the dealer will offer you a good deal, perhaps cheaper, and then try to add $1000 in extras you don't need. Compare sales contracts, very carefully..
I like the backup cam, also im getting a motion security system with a super loud alarm and camera on all 4 sides to scare off black bear and grizzly bear, another very expensive upgrade is gas generator and solar panels for the top, electric heater, window cage and door cage because bears are RUTHLESSLY AGGRESSIVE when predatory, other than that it's a simple nice camper
I considered getting motion lights on the sides but realized that they would be constantly coming on when driving down the highway and other motorists might not like that in the face. The 2023 17B comes wired for a solar system. I wish I had that.
Thank you. Remember, we have many more videos with over 35 mods and upgrades to he 17B. Don't forget to look at the "room divider curtain" video. It might be our favorite.
Very awesome honest realistic video. Thank you very very much. & I love your upgrades. Very nice. Love it. I gotta say I'm alot disappointed in coleman. Even for a cheaper entry level trailer they could have added those cheap little touches. Included in the cost. & like u said everything u did was very simple cheap upgrades. I wud Def recommend jayco. Even there smaller cheap campers are amazing. They really ho above & beyond. But I still like this camper as a 1st. Have fun on ur journeys!!
I agree, Jayco and even R-Pods are really nice, and somewhat affordable. I just had a friend get the smallest R-pod for only $13k. They have been van and tent camping for a long time. The little R-pod will feel like a palace. I hope you will check out our recent 1st Year report. In it we list ever upgrade we have done over the past year. All 35 of them. I have had several people ask, or wonder, why some things were not included with the 17B, that could have easily been there. We have to remember that the biggest cost of construction is the labor cost. Probably 2/3 of the cost is labor. Take for example the tongue jack. The device alone is probably only about $100. Can you imagine what a manufacturer or a dealer would charge you to purchase and install one. I would guess it would be well over $300. Every little thing costs triple, when included. I spent about $650 on things that I would have needed to purchase, even had we bought a unit for twice the price. Why are RV mattresses so terrible? Because everyone replaces the mattress as the first thing. Even if someone buys a nice, used, 35 foot RV, with an expensive mattress, they still run out and get a new one. I tell people that the 17B is kit, ready to be personalized, and upgraded, to your desires. (And look at all the cool things people have done.) I spent about $650 on upgrades I wanted. (For example the cabinet door lift struts. $25. ) Of course, if I had paid a certified RV technician to make these upgrades, it would have cost me $1000s. Yes, the Coleman 17B could be better, much better, but at what cost? i can't really say.
Bumper storage for your black water/gray water hose can rust your bumper. Plus the end caps tend to fall off after a while. For your stablizer jacks place a board on the ground it helps fromhaving the jack sinking into the ground. Fasten a rope lop to the board for easier pick-up. Carry a few short boards to back your camper on to help level the camper.. not every camp site is level. Fill your water tank up after you get to your location the extra weight of a full tank while towing will hurt you gas mileage. 9nly have enough water to flush your toilet a few times and to wash with. Just a few extra tips
All really good comments and suggestions. Thanks! Many of them we have covered in our other videos and previous comments. One person suggested that the waste hose could be stored in a PVC pipe under the RV. I thought that was a very good idea. The end caps on our RV have hitch pins that run through the bumper so the caps aren't ever lost, or ever if they are, the pins will prevent the hose from coming out. The pins are also connected to the bumper so we don't loose them of the hoses. Wooden pads for the stabilizer jacks are a good idea if you are someone who camps in the woods or on soft surfaces. We tend to never do this. A state park is as roughing it as we get. However, if we did need them, we have several of the plastic pads for leveling we could use. We try to not have any full tanks on travel days. Sometimes people don't understand how heavy water can be. A 27 Gal freshwater tank can be about 225lb. We have one video that covers 35 upgrades and tips. Here is the bumper hitch pin video. th-cam.com/video/Fn_HcwQetDk/w-d-xo.html
I should have mentioned that I have been RVing for well over 40 years. With different types and sizes. With that many years comes a lot of tricks and knowledge.
With 40 years I am sure you have much to share and many tricks and tips. Please feel free to share anything you like here. I am sure that I am doing lots of things wrong. I would love to hear some of your thoughts on some subjects. Feel free to comment on any of our videos, anytime.
Another suggestion. Backing into a spot in the evening or in the shade it is sometimes hard to see where you are actually backing into. In such cases I use a rope light as a guide while backing in. Then use the same light on my camper. I carry a solar rope light and a regular rope light. Not all camp sights have power. I have saved myself from a few hazards a few times over the years.
That is actually a really good idea. It is really weird what late afternoon patchy shadows can do to your backing sight. With some campsites, it is hard when looking in the mirror, etc. where the edge of the site really is. We carry little traffic cones that we can put at the corner of the site so we know exactly where we are. We also do everything possible to insure that we never arrive after dark at a state park campground. There are so many problems that can cause. *I am buying a rope light tomorrow!
Just got my 17b and well, I've come across a few 'issues' with the design. 1. The electric fireplace. They put it under the sink. UNDER THE SINK!!! Looks nice, but first time there is a water leak or busted waterline, whelp, guess there goes that fireplace! 2. All electrical outlets are on 1 side of the trailer... 3. The breaker box is located under the bottom bunk on the opposite side of the outlets. To remove the bunks, you have to either cut around the box that hold the breaker box and leave it there or you have to rewire and find a new location for the box entirely... that will need an electrician me thinks. 4. No real storage that makes sense. two drawers that do not come out with a huge space below that is paneled off providing no access to empty space. 5. The cabinets above the dinette have 1 door to the middle section... trying to get things out is a choir at best! 3 doors on that cabinet would have made sense. 6. The dinette sucks and the indoor/outdoor table is only indoor until you take it outdoors, then it's just junk that warp in the morning dew or a light rain. (Toting it in and out of this camper is not a brief experience) I ripped out the dinette my first week of owning the trailer. it was not comfortable and the space it was taking up enormous. 7. (Gas) Stove top placement UNDER the cabinets... just stupid. 8. Window in the 'kitchen' area, DOES NOT OPEN... W.t.F? enjoy the beeps of the fire alarm as you cook eggs. (I cook outside most of the time now) 9. Toilet placement is common in these, but I don't understand why they can't angle them from the corner to keep your knees from holding the door open while you do your business! 10. Why not even a shelf in the bathroom .. a simple little $2 shelf for soap, or meds or small items? thoughtless build in that regard. Knowing when I bought this camper, it is entry level and that means it won't have all the frills and thrills and was fine with me, basic is best in my book, but the lack of consideration in its use and practicality as a camper is a real let down. I added some solar motion sensor lights to the exterior 4 corners outside and the gauge for the propane tank. Thanks to this video, I learned about the bumper storage and I have to admit that little tidbit of info is going to come as a relief to my better half.
Some(many) of the things you mention are very valid. i will try to tell you my views and experience with some of them. 1. The electric fireplace. They put it under the sink. UNDER THE SINK!!! Looks nice, but first time there is a water leak or busted waterline, whelp, guess there goes that fireplace! [We had a leak when the drain pipe separated. (See video we posted.) The water down there did NOT seem to be a problem at all. I had to open the cabinet from the back and at least this time, it was OK. I have other issues with the fireplace. The glass front isn't mounted well.] 2. All electrical outlets are on 1 side of the trailer... [This is true, and sucks. I am going to put a (cig lighter type) plug under the table, in the wall of the storage under the table. This way I can stick in an inverter and have elect for charging computer etc.] 3. The breaker box is located under the bottom bunk on the opposite side of the outlets. To remove the bunks, you have to either cut around the box that hold the breaker box and leave it there or you have to rewire and find a new location for the box entirely... that will need an electrician me thinks. [If you don't want the bunks, I don't know what to tell you. ] I understand, i just don't have an answer.] 4. No real storage that makes sense. two drawers that do not come out with a huge space below that is paneled off providing no access to empty space. [I think the space below the drawers is wheel well. Storage is awful, yes. I used a system for the big shelf that helps a little. (See "8 upgrades in 8 minutes." 5. The cabinets above the dinette have 1 door to the middle section... trying to get things out is a choir at best! 3 doors on that cabinet would have made sense. [The door struts / pistons help. The fact that there is only one door, is not as much of a balancing act with the strut.] 6. The dinette sucks and the indoor/outdoor table is only indoor until you take it outdoors, then it's just junk that warp in the morning dew or a light rain. (Toting it in and out of this camper is not a brief experience) I ripped out the dinette my first week of owning the trailer. it was not comfortable and the space it was taking up enormous. [I considered taking out the dinette and installing a loveseat. Of course this would mean we couldn't feed more than two people at a time.] 7. (Gas) Stove top placement UNDER the cabinets... just stupid. [Where else could you have placed it? Doesn't every camper with a stove have some cabinets over it?] 8. Window in the 'kitchen' area, DOES NOT OPEN... W.t.F? enjoy the beeps of the fire alarm as you cook eggs. (I cook outside most of the time now) [We have our smoke detector off and in storage. We try to cook outside too.] 9. Toilet placement is common in these, but I don't understand why they can't angle them from the corner to keep your knees from holding the door open while you do your business! I saw an angled toilet in a 17ft Winnie today. It looked uncomfortable. [It is small, but how long are your legs??? I am 6'2" with no problem. BTW- get a "slow close" toilet seat. it will save you from waking each other up as much.] 10. Why not even a shelf in the bathroom .. a simple little $2 shelf for soap, or meds or small items? thoughtless build in that regard. [That $2 shelf, with Command peel and stick is more like $20 and once you add in the labor to do everything, the price goes up. it is labor that drives prices up. Probably 2/3+ of the price of anything is labor. Everything that a human, that is not you, does, costs the buyer $100s in labor. Take my power tongue jack for example. It about cost me about $100. How much do you think buying one from the dealer or manufacturer, installed, would cost?] [I have done 34 upgrades for a total cost of $1343.oo. At least half of them were things that I would have had to purchase even had I bought a $30,000+ RV (for example the tongue jack.) Only three of them were over $100. So I spent about $650 on about 25 small things that make it better. (Like a basket in the shower.) "Command" stick up baskets and hooks, etc. are life savers.] I added some solar motion sensor lights to the exterior 4 corners outside ... [That sounds like a good idea. I was going to do it until I wondered if they were going to come on for every car that passed me at night on the road. They might not appreciate it.] Thanks to this video, I learned about the bumper storage and I have to admit that little tidbit of info is going to come as a relief to my better half. {Are you talking about the hitch pins, or just the storage. I highly suggest you look at the "8 upgrades in 8 minutes." video. I think you will appreciate it.]
Thanks for you comment. You are not the first person to ask that. We try to mention the fact that virtually everything we buy, we get from Amazon. This makes providing a link a problem, for two reasons. 1. Amazon links are often a 1000 characters long. 2. Amazon sellers change their links often. If they make a tiny change to their product, it generates a new link. As I am sure you are aware, prices for just about everything is going up these days. This also causes a new link. I see that you asked this question after watching our “Critical Review and Upgrades” video. That video was created in January of 2023. I would bet that had I provided links for the upgrades, at least half of them would no longer be valid.
We are still new to the RV world, so it is hard for us to say. However, we have put 1000's of miles on it over the past 2 years. We got lucky and found a good used car with 9,000lb towing capacity, so we don’t even feel it. We recently purchased a anti-sway bar. I am not saying that we had any particular problems with stability. We just go to lots of places with high wind and thought it would be a good idea. On a recent trip we did encounter high winds, and there was no issue at all with fishtailing. See our video on installation. th-cam.com/video/D98H_Q0yMSI/w-d-xo.html
I am glad the video helped. You might want to subscribe to the page. We are about to do three more upgrades you will probably want to know about. This summer we will also be experimenting with, and videoing, meals one can cook on the two burner stove. Please feel free to post questions you might have about your new RV here. The 17B community is always happy to share their experience with others. My suggestion for the first upgrade you will want to do, (besides getting a new mattress,) is to install the battery cut off switch. Others might disagree, but that is my thought.
BTW- The 2023 looks good. We will be attending one of the largest RV shows in the country in February and doing a video on the 2023 17B, as well as other models. Please share with us anything you might notice about yours, that we might want to look for.
Loved the video! Sorry if this has been asked before but I scrolled down quite a few comments. The one that was super critical must have been watching another persons video because you kept me watching all the way! Question - what is the part number of the adjustable thermostat you fitted? I’m struggling to find one by googling?
Thank you for the Comment. I know it is confusing, but the word shown on the screen is the actual name of the camera set up. "DOHONEST" If you will search "dohonest backup camera" on Amazon, you will get all their various models. Unless you want cameras on all four sides, you can get a good one for $99.99. Amazon changes brands, prices, and links so often, I have found that it is just better to let you google the product. For our 1 year review we posted a video with 35 upgrades. th-cam.com/video/Sq4YKCqj1ds/w-d-xo.html
L658 Thank You! This was most helpful. I've been looking at midpoint RVs. Just wondering how much further I could take a basic on my own without breaking the bank. Is solar an option? 🦋
Check out the video I recently posted about the 2023 17B. It comes pre-wired for solar. (Sort of. You would still need to buy some electronics, but it is a good start.) th-cam.com/video/_IXq_VIcNxc/w-d-xo.html Regarding, "Breaking the Bank". Over the past 11 months we have spend right at $1300 (for 33 improvements) I estimate that about half of that was money I would have spent even if I had purchased an RV for $30K, or more. For example, if you look at other videos you will see that it is accepted that 90% of all factory mattresses, at any price point, are terrible. Everyone buys a new mattress. Hardly anything comes with a spare tire today. Just those two things add up to $300-$400. The power tongue jack is also something that usually doesn't come as standard equipment. I spent $114 on ours and easily installed it. How much do you think a dealer would charge to provide and install such a luxury item? Admittedly, some of our favorite improvements were around $10 (for example the outlet adapter with more plugs and the USB outlets, $10.99.) So far, only four items were over $100. -Spare Tire ($200) -Power Tongue Jack ($114) -Bunk Bed Ladder ($107) - Combination door Lock ($107) To be honest, I think that upgrading one's RV is limited more by the person's imagination, than the budget. th-cam.com/video/Fn_HcwQetDk/w-d-xo.html
@@funinourrv Well, I have a great imagination. You sure gave me a lot to think about. I'm most grateful for you sharing this information. I'll be checking your other videos. Thanks, ~Mary 🦋
@@Marys-Channel Don't forget to sign up for the drawing for a free Battery Cut Off Switch. This is a very important device to save power AND protect your battery's life. th-cam.com/video/IrrU2RL502c/w-d-xo.html
Two things, consider recording location, the airplanes were a lot to deal with. You could have recorded this somewhere else. Second, have you calculated your upgrades versus buying a slightly nicer one with most of these features?
The airplanes made a little noise perhaps three times. Where they really that distracting? Besides, much of the video was inside. As far as saving money I can only guess at the savings on an individual upgrade basis. It is really hard to say with any precision. I know that all the upgrades I have done so far have cost less than $300. This includes purchasing a electric tongue jack and some front scissor stabilizing jacks. I have to imagine what the price tag would be on a rig that would have these things included. The price jumps dramatically when you go up from the 17B or the other Dutchman versions. The price quickly jumps up to $25k, or more, for this size trailer. But to be honest they might have all kinds of other features that make them really nice, too. Take the simple battery disconnect switch. For me to install one on my RV costs $15 + $8 for a second cable. This is a feature usually only found on very expensive models. How can I put a comparison value on that? I plan on getting better tires at some point. This might be a little pricey, but how much would a RV with higher performance tires cost me? This might be something I would have to buy separately on any unit I might purchase, of this size. When it is all said and done, I doubt I will spend even close to $1000 on upgrades, but only time will tell. When I am done I believe I will have a much nicer, and efficient RV of this size, than I started with, but I won't have the same as a what $25k-$30k would get me. I am not fooling myself. I am just trying to get the best I can for well under $20K.
BTW- I have started running a spreadsheet with what I have spent on upgrades. All total it is right at $1000, but how do I really compare what I might have spent on a nicer version or not? I only had two things that over $100. One was the power tongue jack, ($125) and the other was for the spare tire ($200.) Would any $25K RV have come with these two things? I doubt it. So how would I compare these things? And then that is $325 I would have to take off the list. There are several items like that. I have also been told that with just about every RV, the new owners usually choose to buy a new mattress. (Unless you buy a REALLY expensive model.)
Here it is, about one year since we purchased our 17B. (Summer of 2022.) At this point we have spent about $1300.oo. This is on 34 upgrades. About half of that money was spent on six things I would have had to purchase even if we had bought a $35,000 RV. This also included the more expensive items. (Tongue Jack, $100+. Spare Tire, >$200, etc.) So I have spent about $650 on 29 improvements/upgrades/ mods, I might have found on a more expensive rig. I think I have done OK.
We purchase virtually everything on Amazon. What isn't from Amazon, is usually Walmart or a couple of things from Harbor Freight. I don't have the part number for the thermostat, but given that there are really only two makers of water heaters, it wasn't hard to find. Thanks for you question. Just Google - "rv water heater adjustable thermostat"
Yes it does, but why? There are just two speakers in the RV. The year after this they simply gave a Bluetooth speaker to everyone. I think that they quit even doing this the next year. RV Storage space is in short supply. Why take out a chunk of it for a radio. Couldn't they have just mounted the radio UNDER the cabinet?
I just noticed that my local Camping World has the 17B on sale for $13,995. That is a decent price, but don't forget to haggle and see what else they can throw in. Also be sure to look at the "Sales Contract" for things you might not want or need. You can save $1000s there too. Camping World is NOT a sponsor or ours. We get nothing in return for talking about them here.
I have seen several RVs that don't have it. Having said that, many people are advocating putting a PVC pipe on the bottom for the stinking Slinky. I think it is probably a good idea.
Thanks? I guess? Several people have said they they bought 17Bs or 17Rs after seing my videos. I hope they took my advice and haggled, and got a good deal. But I can only wish Camping World would give me a cut. For now I am happy with not having the pressure, or bias, of getting paid anything for my comments.
I think they could’ve splurged a little bit and put a little sink in the bathroom. I don’t know why they left that out altogether. That’s something you really need.
You are not the first person to comment about it. I think that you might have to remember that every detail the manufacturer does adds $1000 of dollars to the price. This is a budget RV. In fact, I like to think of it as a kit for people who are interested in doing lots of stuff to it. If you look at small RV with lavatories in the bathroom, you will see an enormous difference in price. Not only that but, in my mind, there is little difference in having the sink in the bathroom, or three feet away. I also have to point out that there is hardly enough room in the bathroom to do what need to be done. I can't imagine having a lavatory in there too. My wife and I also use the shower head to wash our hands in the bathroom, all the time. Thanks for your comment.
I do need to talk to you sir and I'm in your neighbor hood...so to speak. I'm in Garland and Ive been searching for an RV trailer that I can pull with my Ram 1500 without having to upgrade my truck. So i happened upon your video just now and I'm very impressed! I'm working at emptying my house so I can list it and retire in 8 months 🤞I need advice sir, can you assist me?
I am not an expert. We are new and learning with the rest of the RV community. Our niche seems to be, "coming up with inexpensive upgrades for cheap rvs." (We are about to produce another video with 6 more easy upgrades.) You can determine your towing capacity simply by Googling "Ram 1500 Towing capacity". You will be pleasantly surprised. You can tow lots of rv, , but there are other factors at play. Our RV is 3,000 lb. The Ram 1500 can tow 27,500 lb. A 30ft Grand Design is around 8000+.lb A dealership can help you, but don't be sucked in to buying the first thing they show you, and don't be afraid to haggle. They will also automatically add all kinds of things to the offer, you don't need. Just like with a car, buying used has pros and cons. The kind of RV you will need for your "home" depends on your requirements and preferences. There are many TH-cam pages dedicated to your situation. We are NOT one of them. One of the best is Grateful Glamper, but there are MANY other really good pages out there for the camper who wants to go full time. BTW- Try renting first. The webpages that do vacation rentals (Verbo, Outdoorsy, etc) will rent campers too. Goodsam.com also rents RVs. Spend about $100 a day to find out if you like it.
I might still make one myself, but until then, here is someone else, which I think is OK It is not the one I originally found, which was a little better, but it gives you a good idea on how to do it. It's not difficult to do. If you happen to find a better one, please post it. th-cam.com/video/UkhrbdpHVKA/w-d-xo.html
Oops. Just found another video. Between the two of them, you should have no problem. I do like the first one where he shows the actual temperature coming out of the tap. th-cam.com/video/FuBoRRojKcA/w-d-xo.html
A new Coleman LT 17B will cost about $15K. You can find them for as much as $16,500, or as little as $14,599. If you ae patient and look around you might find one on sale for a little less. After the 2024 models come out, you can sometimes get deals on a 2023, etc. If you are asking about how much an RV with many of the upgrades would cost, then you are looking at $25K or more. We have saved $1000s by doing them ourselves.
i think that the splash guard might be one of the few things we did not get from Amazon. This is the one we got and it is available at Lowe's. www.lowes.com/pd/Magic-White-Splash-Guards/1000192431
How heavy is it to pull? I know it weighs around 3k pounds but I have a 2015 ford f150 and I don't plan on changing pickups. Is it possible that I can pull it with my f150 just fine with no problems?
I can't reply to that question as any kind of expert. There are people who can tell you. Just about any RV dealership will be happy to help. I can say that the Ford F150 can tow anywhere from 5000 lb to 15000 lb, depending upon the year, model, engine, transmission, etc. The RV dealership people I asked about this, when I was looking to buy, suggested that you should have good buffer between the weight of the RV and the towing capacity of your vehicle. I do know that many do use the F150 to tow the smaller RVs, but again, I have no idea what is the best answer. Just because someone does it, doesn't mean it is safe. Google YOUR truck's towing capacity with the model and engine, etc. This might help. i personally would feel better if the towing capicity was at least 6000 lb, but that might be over cautiousness on my part.
You can do anything your skill level allows you to do. People have done all kinds of things to their 17B. A guy on the internet took out the dinette and replaced it with a nice slidding futon. I know that people have modified the bunk beds for other use. Exactly how they did this i unknown to me. I would start by looking at the 17r for inspiration. th-cam.com/video/mC6LCIveBoc/w-d-xo.html
![[MV] A leap of faith...ความเชื่อใจครั้งสุดท้าย (From "Petrichor the series")](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/U1piZH2CNXA/mqdefault.jpg)
The best place to put the drainage hose, is to store it in a PVC tube strapped under the rear of the camper. Storing it in the bumper can cause the bumper to rust out from the inside.
That is one of the best ideas I have ever heard. I will remember than for my next RV!
Genius!!! 👍
question: so you put a PVC tube strapped to the bumper, where do you put your spare tire?...
Great tip
@@sherrcon that’s not what he said.
Brother is not having it with that radio😂
Although if radio is hooked to DC (vs. AC required) it's essential for access to emergency brroadcasts in case of forest fires or landslides.
Not everyone camps in campgrounds as this gentleman does.
Some folks use remote National Forest sites without AC power or cellphone connectivity.
I have thought about that. We have found ourselves in locations without any cellphone or anything. A radio might be handy.
I agree it’s a waste of cabinet space
@@marciaframe Yes.That os my main complaint.
I own one of these same campers. We replaced the queen mattress with a My pillow camper queen. It fit in the spot perfectly, Does not hang over the shelf on the side of the bed, and sleeps awesome
We have decided to replace the foam and "Teddy Bear mattress with a full size Queen RV mattress.
It sticks over the end of the platform about 4-6 inches. The shelf down there supports it just like the platform.
We are not really using the weird shelf at the foot for anything other than charging phones. The amount the bed sticks over doesn't interfere with that at all.
Now the sheets fit better and my feet don't stick over.
th-cam.com/video/exnKuxVbedo/w-d-xo.html
Great video and the walk through and tips are crucial for new buyers. We truly appreciate the time and detail you gave.
Thank you.
I like tiny bed room
Thank you. I am a new traveler and bought a 2018 Coleman 202RD.
It's just me and my two small pups so it's perfect. I am going to retire in Dec so I will make some changes to living area since I hope to spend lots of time on the road. Think I might pull out dinette, I hate it! Your video was very helpful. I do need to grab a spare tire. Thank you.
Loved Dallas, worked there and lived in Red Oak. Now back in NE. Good to be home.
Safe camping and travel on!
That video was our first time in a 202. We just loved it.
We have considered taking out the dinette from our 17b, but decided that we would keep it for a work area. We don't like it either, but it serves a function.
My wife and I are both from Duncanville, so we know Red Oak well.
Yes, get a spare and a four-way lug wrench. There are a few other things you should get as well. (see link below.) Please tell us how the mattress in the 202 works for you. The one we saw was REALLY firm.
th-cam.com/video/BS5U4VCHICM/w-d-xo.html
WOW! This was so informative. Two days ago my husband & I bought a 2023 & we’ve learned a lot here so thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks! Be sure to check out the videos on Vent covers and the "8 fun upgrades in 8 minutes."
We bought the Coleman 17R because we didn’t need bunk beds and the larger bathroom also has a nice closet in it. We also upgraded the tires to premium rated tires and used the original ones for spares.
I agree with all of that.
I also bought the 17r, built to a price to be sure, but I am one at a time adding the pieces that were they original equipment would have sent the price sky high!
I agree. Perhaps the best example is the tongue jack. It cost about $150, when I installed it myself, and it was easy.
How much would a dealership or manufacturer had charged me to do it?
The Spare tire and the tongue jack have been, so far, are the only two things that have cost me over $100.
I have spent about $3000 on 50 upgrades. Half of that amount would have needed even if I had bought a unit for twice as much. The spare tire and tongue are two examples.
This past weekend we were forced to put two better rated tires on the ground.
The spare I bought two years ago was a much better tire.
This weekend the original equipment tire failed for some reason. I bought a new tire and made the remaining original tire the spare.
We consider ourselves very lucky that someone was able to tell us about our tire before it might have come apart.
VERY LUCKY!
Thank you so much for making this video! It was extremely helpful, and I love your personality! This is a camper we are considering for our family of 3 and I love all of the little hacks you shared, especially the mirror placement and the tip for securing the fridge - I never would have thought of that! Thanks again!
Thank you for saying that. It means so much to hear it.
BTW- I am really proud of these 8 upgrades.
th-cam.com/video/Fn_HcwQetDk/w-d-xo.html
Yes that's just what I was going to say 😊
@@funinourrv Thanks for your service with the Cav!
(Even if it you were Army😉)
GO NAVY!
Just found your channel today!
Have a great day!
Thank you, It was an honor and privilege to serve.
If it is just three of you, you might want to look at the 71R. The dinette turns into a decent bed. but it lacks the privacy the bunks provide.
Thanks for this video. We just bought a 2023 17B. I already knew we were going to need to make some modifications and add ons. The part about leveling it because of the a.c unit. Was very helpful. Maybe we will see you on the road!! Safe travels
Thank you for the comment. This is really why we do it.
Be sure to check out the "8 upgrades in 8 minutes" video, and the first year report.
We've had two RV's, and they both had bumper storage for the stinky slinky. It's very convenient. I couldn't imagine trying to put it in a plastic bag and storing it somewhere else!
I know. On our first two trips we put it in a giant, clear, heavy, garbage bag. I am so glad we saw that guy use his bumper.
Why didn't our salesman mention this feature at all? He knew we were novices.
I would just use the bunk for extra storage anyway, but agree it’s tight in there. That being said, we camped in an 11’ pickup camper, parents slept on the bed that was from the table/bench. 3 of us slept in the over the cab bunk, that was thought too but as kids, we didn’t notice, we were excited to be on every camping adventure.
If you don't need the bunk beds, you might want to consider getting a 17R.
It is made for couples with no kids. Better floor plan and closets!
th-cam.com/video/B_25_rC5jg8/w-d-xo.html
It has been 9 months, and several trips since this question was asked.
We have found that Rubbermaid like tubs or "totes" can fit really well in the bunks.
The use of clear tubs with a label on the inside really provide a great deal of convenient storage space on the bunks.
Wow great advice yes I lived in a fifth wheel for three years a lot of little things makes your life a lot better AM/FM radio just got to go AC unit I like what you said and the battery systemMaybe later on install a solar panel be safe be good
You are so right. The little things really make it so much better. We try to concentrate on the little things. Our list of all 35 upgrades has several, but our video on "8 upgrades in 8 minutes" has some fun little upgrades that I think really help. The small light above the bed might be the one in that video that we like the most, although the light in the bathroom is really nice in the middle of the night instead of that bright light in the ceiling.
Thank you. We just got the 2023 and each of your recommendations were on point. Thanks.
Thank you for this video, my husband and I have been scared by so many manufacturing problems, described by many RV's, it seems the quality has declined
I completely understand. You should be cautious.
The Coleman 17 series is an inexpensive option for the beginner RV’er.
The old adage, “You get what you pay for.” is true. You can buy a Grand Design almost the same size as the 17B for $32,000, and you will probably get a much better product.
The compromise between, extras, quality and price the a decision everyone must make for themselves. So far we have enjoyed our 17B, but there are things we wish we had. We have made over 35 upgrades to our Coleman. At least half of them are things we probably would have needed to buy even if we had purchased a more expensive product. (Power tongue jack, for example.)
Our upgrades have come to about $1343.
Even if by yourself, those bunk beds give you enormous amount of storage area. Your going to need it in a 17 footer. Also still have a guest sleeping area if needed. You can store a lot in the bunks and cover w/a hanging curtain.
WE constantly use the bunk beds for storage.
I have put a a clothes rod in the bottom bunk. We hang all our clothes there easily. The top bunk is actually just right for some large plastic tubs, and they stay there once you remove the poor mattress.
The new 27R uses the bunk area for a closet. It is pretty nice and moving the sink and dinette, it is really useful.
One needs to also remember that the dinette converts to a decent bed is you have only one other person (under 6ft) or two smaller children.
Thank you sir for taking your time to do this. Very helpful
We do these videos in the hope that it helps people. Thanks for letting us know.
I have a 2020 Coleman Light (I forget the exact model). The radio is a little different, but I run an aux cable to my TV and get inline "surround sound" through the trailer speakers using the AU IN option. I also found out it has Bluetooth after owning it for five years ( thanks to my son 😂 ). It's nice for playing music from my phone.
Great review I just bought my 2023 model yesterday! By the way the salesman told us about the bumper storage and instead of a radio they gave us a blue tooth speaker. Thanks for the mattress and fridge tips!
Glad you enjoyed it. Have fun. Keep checking back, we have four more easy upgrades planed and a trip planned,
In a week or so we will be attending the big Southwest RV show in Dallas. We plan on doing a video on the 2023 17B there. Is there anything interesting you don't want us to miss showing?
BTW- did you see my upgrade to the dirty hose in the bumper storage for safety?
I have been hearing horror stories about people losing their hoses on the road.
th-cam.com/video/Fn_HcwQetDk/w-d-xo.html
Perfect video! We are looking into getting the 17R or 17B, and this gave us a ton of information! Thank you!
Weird thing happened today. You know that I have a small issue with the radio concept.
I was working in the RV today, installing cabinet door struts (video is in post) and my camera person/helper (wife) suggested we turn on the radio. As I was completing the remaining struts, that were not on camera, it was nice to have the radio.
It sounded good. If only they had mounted it under the cabinet, rather than using up valuable storage space, it might be nice to have.
Isn’t that radio also Bluetooth so that you can stream music from your phone or tablet or laptop? We’ve used the Bluetooth am/fm radio to stream the sound from our laptop, to watch movies and the sound was wonderful coming through those better speakers. And it stopped the need to mount a tv.
@@davidh0809 Yes, it is Bluetooth.
I can agree that there is probably a use for the radio for some people. I understand that.
I also think that the concept of an AM/FM radio is outdated and doesn't have the appeal it once did, but everybody has their own preferences and style.
In my mind, the debate is really over the place they put the radio. I think I would rather have the cabinet space, and a Bluetooth speaker, than an AM/FM Radio. In truth, had they mounted the radio UNDER the cabinet, rather than take away a large % of available cabinet space, my criticism wouldn't have much of a leg to stand on.
The Bluetooth feature is OK. This is why I think Coleman has decided to do away with the radio and just offers a Bluetooth speaker. (I have Bose Bluetooth speaker and we love the sound.)
Don't forget to sign up for the drawing for a free Battery Cut Off Switch. You will need it.
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In the 2022 model they did away with the am/ fm radio and now just included a splash proof Bluetooth speaker.
Great review! Thank you soo much
I am glad you like it.
We are going to do reviews of the NEW 2025 17B and 17R, this coming week.
The improvements they have made are incredible.
What about a foldable stepping ladder, I love those things and they make them in every size under the rainbow.
Thanks for the review, I'm strongly considering this one and it helps to get the perspective of a person who has been using it. I'm sure everything has to be modified to some degree and one thing I like about these is they are kind of a blank canvass. You aren't paying a bunch of money for frills that you don't want or will never use. Really like the "Stinky Slinky" storage idea too. Thank you again.
We have had luck with the ladder mentioned in our "8 upgrades in 8 minutes" video, but it is hard to tell. (see link) We don't really have little kids. If we had the chance to do it over, we would pick the 17R and just not have bunks.
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Just bought this trailer today. Great video. Thanks for the tips.
Thanks for the comment. That are why we do this.
Be sure to check out our latest video about 5 upgrades you need today. We are all about the Coleman 17B. There is a large online community for it.
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Thank you we have just bought the 2024 version it’s very similar I found this video helpful. The radio is now behind the dinette. It is a removable Bluetooth one, and I haven’t figured out how to power it on yet. I’m not sure if it’s charging properly. It does come with a tv now.
That is interesting. I will check that out.
Just bought the 17B… no tv included or Radio. Interesting.
@@Kimmcgowen5 Did they give a reason?
Very informative! Newbies need to see this...100 thank you's.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a nice comment. It really inspires use to make more.
The bed is a short queen, which is 6" shorter than a regular queen. I still need to buy one, as I've just bought my 17B and it was already winterized, so I'm not going anywhere until spring '24.
I am so glad you brought this up.
We did OK with the memory foam mattress, but we had a couple of issues.
I did some measuring and discovered that a full size queen will work with the 17B.
The platform at the foot of the bed is over 12 inches wide. It's not like that space has much value or use that wouldn't work with just 6-8 inches, just as well.
Using the outlet adapter to recharge you phone, etc. will work with a smaller space, just as easily.
This gives you plenty of room for a full size.
Check out our video on the subject.
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Thanks for the review. this is good information. We just bought one and was wondering about all the pro and cons and upgrades that can be done.
Glad I could help.
Thank you for the comment. That is why we do it.
We are doing several more easy and inexpensive upgrades in the net couple of weeks.
Be sure you check back often, or subscribe.
Thanks for all the tips Sir Nice Video
Thank you. Comments like yours make it worthwhile.
You have a good son. It's nice that he bought you a backup camera. I'll Subscribe.
Yes. That was very nice of him. He also did it from 1000 miles away too. He just felt we needed one as soon as we bought the RV.
Thanks for the comment and for subscribing. It really helps the page when you do either.
Well AM FM radio comes in handy in emergency broadcasts. Which is why people are fighting to keep fm am radio in cars too
There might be some truth to that, but using up a storage cabinet when storage is so needed in an RV, seems wasteful. Had they mounted the radio below the cabinet, I wouldn't have as much to cpmplain about.
Thanks for your comment.
Great job on the video. I close on my 2019 17B in the morning; found a like new one from a private seller. And I did subscribe. Keep up the good work!
If you don’t mind sharing - how much did you pay?
$6000?
Sounds like you have to put a lot of extras into this RV to make it functional, even though the price is lower.
Well, not really,
We didn’t spend that much, only about $1500, and half of what was spent on things that we considered necessary, but wouldn’t have been included in a rig that cost twice as much. For example, A Forest River - Salem is about the same size, and yet costs over $26 K. Buying that one, you still would’t have a power tongue jack or a spare tire. You also wouldn’t have a microwave (which comes with the 17B).
The Spare tire and the tongue jack were the only things that cost over $100. The tire, and hardware, were over $200.
To be fair, a new mattress is also a cost that is probably incurred with any RV purchase, new or used The mattress that comes with just about any new RV is usually crap. I have seen RVs over $60k that that might have OK mattresses. You be the judge if that should be considered an extra cost due to the lower price. Our's cost $225 for a good deal on Amazon.
There were several other things under $100 that were certainly needed, but still not included in an RV that cost more than twice as much.
So to make it better than “functional” we probably spent $750 for the things a more expensive RV would not have either
I am OK with saving $15,000 that way.
I have seen RVs at shows, for $15,000, that were possibly a little better than the 17B. They didn’t have spare tires or power tongue jacks or good mattresses either, but they were nice. We also have to consider that these we "Special RV Show Prices!"
The other half of that $1500 we spent went for all kinds of fun things, most of which wouldn’t be on the more expensive models, but still mainly just for fun.
I tell people that "Buying a 17B is like buying a kit you can upgrade and personalize to your own needs and tastes." Check out the video some people have made. There are some very nice 17Bs out there.
I have the 17 RD and my radio blue tooths to the TV and speakers in the ceiling in front and back of camper.
Do you mean that the TV can play to the speakers? That would be cool.
Am radio is a must have safety feature for emergency broadcast
Some others have mentioned that.
I get such things on my phone.
I also would have had as much issue, had they mounted the radio under the cabinet, rather then take up valuable storage space.
I’ve gotta be honest , you cracked me up a bit , but a good review !
We’ve been looking at new campers to replace an older one we have and this is one of the ones we have on our list.
You could def see the excitement learning about the rear bumper storage there lol.
For the radio tho : we camp in the Forrest with no cell phone signal . We don’t watch tv and we do like having a radio with weather forecasts , etc and music. Your review of the radio did crack me up tho man lol.
Hope y’all enjoy the heck out of that camper !
I think that there can be a valid need for a radio for some people. Everybody has their own preferences and needs. I just don't think that a radio has the same universal value, to most people, it once did. There are so many other ways to acquire music.
Then there is all the satellite radio stations. For $50-$100 one can buy a portable satellite radio on Amazon, if you really need a radio in a remote location. Given the need for storage/cabinet space in an RV, I just think a radio in an RV cabinet is a waste.
My second question on the subject is, "Why didn't they just mount the radio under the cabinet, rather than in it?" If they did that my criticism wouldn't have a leg to stand on.
@@funinourrv I can’t disagree at all with location. That is the worst spot to put it !
Very informative video I am looking to buying one of these trailers
Thank you. Be sure to check out our latest video on the Coleman 17R. If we had it to do over...
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We own a 2022 Highland Ridge Olympia Sport 19BH which is basically the same camper with the "extra wish it had" items. Same floor plan. I have also been making improvements and additions. I'm wearing myself out looking for a rear observation\back up camera. I had pretty much decided to go with a wired system instead of a wireless until I came upon your video showing the Dohonest model. My question is, "have you had any signal loss?". Our Olympia is 22 feet from the trailer ball to the spare. These trailers are aluminum panels, not fiberglass, and would more readily absorb the signal. It's important that the system is reliable and has a low "lag".
Thanks again for the info. You might consider upgrading you propane to dual tanks, it was easy. Sounds like we live very close. We deal with the air traffic from DFW and Alliance airports.
Thanks for the comments and question.
I can relate to your question about signal loss and lag time. This is something we struggled with for a few months. We would have "Loss of Signal" on the monitor, or it would freeze. This is simply maddening. In our case it was a power wire problem. There was a short in the line. Not only would we lose signal sometimes, but other times we would blow the fuse on our running lights.
Once we finally fixed that, we have really enjoyed our DoHonest system. I don't to take credit for the wiring short, but I might have to.
Isn't Olympia made by Jayco? I would think that yours would be somewhat nicer then the 17B. I like what I see with the Olympia.
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We are thinking about upgrading to dual LPG. We also are thinking about a second battery.
Solar is coming soon!
35+ Upgrades!
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Thanks Camping Dad!!! So helpful!
Thanks.
Excellent video! Learned so much! Keep making them!
Thank you. We love sharing ideas with our RV community.
Great video thank you! Also that fm/am radio is most likely equipped with Bluetooth. So you can wirelessly play music from your phone (:
Yes it does, but I would have rather had the cabinet space. Coleman has stopped including the Am/Fm radio in favor of including a portable Bluetooth speaker.
Thank you for the informative video.. We just bought one yesterday.
Thank you! Comments like yours are really appreciated and inspire us to do more.
Be sure to check out the video of "8 upgrades in 8 minutes."
We have had our 17B for one year now. Look for a "one year report" on our experience very soon.
Thanks for an excellent and honest review. I’m just start to look and this same camper seems to be the only one even near it’s price? I’m sure I’ll get even more tips by the end of the video.
Thanks a bunch for all the much needed info❤
I am so glad it helped. Thanks for the comment.
FYI- I will be posting a couple more easy upgrades you will probably like, in just a few days.
I am using the winter down time to work on it on nice days.
Hello, I'm thinking about buying the 17R Coleman. What do you think about it and if you had it to do over, would you buy another Coleman? And thank you for your service to our country. I was in the Navy 50 years ago. Great videos!
Thanks for your comment.
We have two videos on the 17B compared to the 17R.
For just two people, the 17r might be better.
If we had it to do over, we would get the 17r.
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Great video id like to ask what is the largest tv you can fit, thanks
That is going to be up to you. It is such small RV.
For a larger unit, like the Coleman 202, you have a sofa or futon to sit and watch the TV from.
With the 17B one can only really watch it from bed.
We tried watching it from sitting at the table, but it isn't very comfortable.
The small metal studs in the wall can support a decent size, but you would have to contact a professional or the manufacturer to get real number of the weight it can hold.
Having said that, look at this page. It is apparently much moe than one would think.
rvoutsider.com/how-much-weight-can-rv-wall-hold/
Such a great video. So many things you mentioned I would have never thought about.
Glad it was helpful!
We are actually me and the wife are looking at this trailer now it's in our budget really appreciate the video lot of very good information thank you
Thanks for the comment. We really appreciate you letting us know. Be sure to look at our review of the 2023 LT 17B and the LT 17R.
You might also want to check out our video of 8 upgrades in 8 minutes and our 35 upgrades in one year review.
We just returned from a trip to the Davis Mountains. We really like our 17B.
Very good video, I'm looking into buying one of these currently. Very informative and thorough as well as well explained. Making a list already of possible/necessary upgrades, subscribed
Glad it was helpful! I haven't see it. I will look again.
Thank you for this GREAT review!
Thank you. comments like yours are why we do this.
I was seriously looking at these, but I think I’m gonna hold off for something a little more convenient.
Great video! Awesome explanations on everything. We are looking at campers and are leaning towards this one. Just because its budget friendly and we dont need something super fancy.
Thanks.
We have two other videos on this trailer. One shows "8 upgrades" in 8 minutes. The other shows the "17R" version, which is a good option IF you don't need the bunk beds.
All the upgrades I did would be nothing for an Ironhorse Mechanic!
I was IV Div. in the 70s.
Do you recommend this unit? We found a Jayco 17bh for $2000.00 more. We’re retired and realize it’s just for sleeping and eating. Is the fireplace the only heating, how long will it run on the battery. One more thing . How big is the refrigerator? Does it have a separate top freezer? And will it run on propane and electric. Between the heater and refrigerator it seems the battery would go dead in one day. I love your tips.
Phil
Do you recommend this unit?
- Yes. If you are comfortable with the idea that this is a "kit" and you will save $1000s by doing the work yourself.
We found a Jayco 17bh for $2000.00 more.
It depends upon what you mean by "More". Coleman 17Bs can be purchased for a little over $12K to over $15K.
We’re retired and realize it’s just for sleeping and eating.
- If it is really just for the two of you, i highlu recommend getting a 17R instead.
- Yes, the fireplace is the only heating, but we have found it to be adequate if plugged into service.
- The Refrigerator will run for about a day on the battery. I don't think the heater will run on the battery.
The separate freezer on the fridge will hold three ice cube trays.
Check out our videos on the 17R, and the upgrades we have made. We have not spent a great deal of money on upgrades. half of them are things you will need to get even if you bought the
Jayco. (Spare tire, power tongue jack, front stabilizers, mirror, mattress, vent covers, etc.)
Remember, the dealer will offer you a good deal, perhaps cheaper, and then try to add $1000 in extras you don't need. Compare sales contracts, very carefully..
This guy is hilarious
Thank you for the suggestions
Thank for the comment. We have many more videos with over 35 upgrade ideas.
We also have more coming up soon.
Great review I bought this camper and made all these edits!
I agree. those first upgrades were the best, but we have added over 30 more since that time.
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We just purchased one. Thanks!
I like the backup cam, also im getting a motion security system with a super loud alarm and camera on all 4 sides to scare off black bear and grizzly bear, another very expensive upgrade is gas generator and solar panels for the top, electric heater, window cage and door cage because bears are RUTHLESSLY AGGRESSIVE when predatory, other than that it's a simple nice camper
I considered getting motion lights on the sides but realized that they would be constantly coming on when driving down the highway and other motorists might not like that in the face.
The 2023 17B comes wired for a solar system. I wish I had that.
Your scaring me...guns cheaper
Shut lights off driving..they all.hav ability even Walmart dollar tree do hav Shut off solar all.the way so cheap anymore
Super helpful! Thank you
We are glad it helps. That is why we do this.
Be sure to check out the "8 upgrades in 8 minutes" and the First Year report.
Great ideas! Thank you😊
Be sure to check out our "8 upgrades in 8 minutes" video. I like some of the ideas on that one the best.
(They are not necessarily my ideas.)
Thank you for your video. Really helpful.
Thank you. Remember, we have many more videos with over 35 mods and upgrades to he 17B.
Don't forget to look at the "room divider curtain" video. It might be our favorite.
Very awesome honest realistic video. Thank you very very much. & I love your upgrades. Very nice. Love it. I gotta say I'm alot disappointed in coleman. Even for a cheaper entry level trailer they could have added those cheap little touches. Included in the cost. & like u said everything u did was very simple cheap upgrades. I wud Def recommend jayco. Even there smaller cheap campers are amazing. They really ho above & beyond. But I still like this camper as a 1st. Have fun on ur journeys!!
I agree, Jayco and even R-Pods are really nice, and somewhat affordable.
I just had a friend get the smallest R-pod for only $13k. They have been van and tent camping for a long time. The little R-pod will feel like a palace.
I hope you will check out our recent 1st Year report. In it we list ever upgrade we have done over the past year. All 35 of them.
I have had several people ask, or wonder, why some things were not included with the 17B, that could have easily been there.
We have to remember that the biggest cost of construction is the labor cost. Probably 2/3 of the cost is labor. Take for example the tongue jack. The device alone is probably only about $100. Can you imagine what a manufacturer or a dealer would charge you to purchase and install one. I would guess it would be well over $300.
Every little thing costs triple, when included.
I spent about $650 on things that I would have needed to purchase, even had we bought a unit for twice the price.
Why are RV mattresses so terrible? Because everyone replaces the mattress as the first thing. Even if someone buys a nice, used, 35 foot RV, with an expensive mattress, they still run out and get a new one.
I tell people that the 17B is kit, ready to be personalized, and upgraded, to your desires.
(And look at all the cool things people have done.)
I spent about $650 on upgrades I wanted. (For example the cabinet door lift struts. $25. ) Of course, if I had paid a certified RV technician to make these upgrades, it would have cost me $1000s.
Yes, the Coleman 17B could be better, much better, but at what cost? i can't really say.
great info thanks so much!
Thank you for the comment.
When someone likes the info we put out, it really makes our day.
Excellent review thank you sir.
Awesome idea for the stinky slinky. ❤❤
Thank you. Did you see what I did to it here?
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Bumper storage for your black water/gray water hose can rust your bumper. Plus the end caps tend to fall off after a while. For your stablizer jacks place a board on the ground it helps fromhaving the jack sinking into the ground. Fasten a rope lop to the board for easier pick-up. Carry a few short boards to back your camper on to help level the camper.. not every camp site is level. Fill your water tank up after you get to your location the extra weight of a full tank while towing will hurt you gas mileage. 9nly have enough water to flush your toilet a few times and to wash with. Just a few extra tips
All really good comments and suggestions.
Thanks!
Many of them we have covered in our other videos and previous comments.
One person suggested that the waste hose could be stored in a PVC pipe under the RV. I thought that was a very good idea.
The end caps on our RV have hitch pins that run through the bumper so the caps aren't ever lost, or ever if they are, the pins will prevent the hose from coming out. The pins are also connected to the bumper so we don't loose them of the hoses.
Wooden pads for the stabilizer jacks are a good idea if you are someone who camps in the woods or on soft surfaces. We tend to never do this. A state park is as roughing it as we get. However, if we did need them, we have several of the plastic pads for leveling we could use.
We try to not have any full tanks on travel days.
Sometimes people don't understand how heavy water can be. A 27 Gal freshwater tank can be about 225lb.
We have one video that covers 35 upgrades and tips.
Here is the bumper hitch pin video.
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I should have mentioned that I have been RVing for well over 40 years. With different types and sizes. With that many years comes a lot of tricks and knowledge.
With 40 years I am sure you have much to share and many tricks and tips. Please feel free to share anything you like here.
I am sure that I am doing lots of things wrong. I would love to hear some of your thoughts on some subjects.
Feel free to comment on any of our videos, anytime.
Another suggestion. Backing into a spot in the evening or in the shade it is sometimes hard to see where you are actually backing into. In such cases I use a rope light as a guide while backing in. Then use the same light on my camper. I carry a solar rope light and a regular rope light. Not all camp sights have power. I have saved myself from a few hazards a few times over the years.
That is actually a really good idea. It is really weird what late afternoon patchy shadows can do to your backing sight.
With some campsites, it is hard when looking in the mirror, etc. where the edge of the site really is. We carry little traffic cones that we can put at the corner of the site so we know exactly where we are.
We also do everything possible to insure that we never arrive after dark at a state park campground. There are so many problems that can cause.
*I am buying a rope light tomorrow!
Just got my 17b and well, I've come across a few 'issues' with the design.
1. The electric fireplace. They put it under the sink. UNDER THE SINK!!! Looks nice, but first time there is a water leak or busted waterline, whelp, guess there goes that fireplace!
2. All electrical outlets are on 1 side of the trailer...
3. The breaker box is located under the bottom bunk on the opposite side of the outlets. To remove the bunks, you have to either cut around the box that hold the breaker box and leave it there or you have to rewire and find a new location for the box entirely... that will need an electrician me thinks.
4. No real storage that makes sense. two drawers that do not come out with a huge space below that is paneled off providing no access to empty space.
5. The cabinets above the dinette have 1 door to the middle section... trying to get things out is a choir at best! 3 doors on that cabinet would have made sense.
6. The dinette sucks and the indoor/outdoor table is only indoor until you take it outdoors, then it's just junk that warp in the morning dew or a light rain. (Toting it in and out of this camper is not a brief experience) I ripped out the dinette my first week of owning the trailer. it was not comfortable and the space it was taking up enormous.
7. (Gas) Stove top placement UNDER the cabinets... just stupid.
8. Window in the 'kitchen' area, DOES NOT OPEN... W.t.F? enjoy the beeps of the fire alarm as you cook eggs. (I cook outside most of the time now)
9. Toilet placement is common in these, but I don't understand why they can't angle them from the corner to keep your knees from holding the door open while you do your business!
10. Why not even a shelf in the bathroom .. a simple little $2 shelf for soap, or meds or small items? thoughtless build in that regard.
Knowing when I bought this camper, it is entry level and that means it won't have all the frills and thrills and was fine with me, basic is best in my book, but the lack of consideration in its use and practicality as a camper is a real let down.
I added some solar motion sensor lights to the exterior 4 corners outside and the gauge for the propane tank.
Thanks to this video, I learned about the bumper storage and I have to admit that little tidbit of info is going to come as a relief to my better half.
Some(many) of the things you mention are very valid.
i will try to tell you my views and experience with some of them.
1. The electric fireplace. They put it under the sink. UNDER THE SINK!!! Looks nice, but first time there is a water leak or busted waterline, whelp, guess there goes that fireplace!
[We had a leak when the drain pipe separated. (See video we posted.) The water down there did NOT seem to be a problem at all. I had to open the cabinet from the back and at least this time, it was OK. I have other issues with the fireplace. The glass front isn't mounted well.]
2. All electrical outlets are on 1 side of the trailer...
[This is true, and sucks. I am going to put a (cig lighter type) plug under the table, in the wall of the storage under the table. This way I can stick in an inverter and have elect for charging computer etc.]
3. The breaker box is located under the bottom bunk on the opposite side of the outlets. To remove the bunks, you have to either cut around the box that hold the breaker box and leave it there or you have to rewire and find a new location for the box entirely... that will need an electrician me thinks.
[If you don't want the bunks, I don't know what to tell you. ]
I understand, i just don't have an answer.]
4. No real storage that makes sense. two drawers that do not come out with a huge space below that is paneled off providing no access to empty space.
[I think the space below the drawers is wheel well.
Storage is awful, yes. I used a system for the big shelf that helps a little. (See "8 upgrades in 8 minutes."
5. The cabinets above the dinette have 1 door to the middle section... trying to get things out is a choir at best! 3 doors on that cabinet would have made sense.
[The door struts / pistons help. The fact that there is only one door, is not as much of a balancing act with the strut.]
6. The dinette sucks and the indoor/outdoor table is only indoor until you take it outdoors, then it's just junk that warp in the morning dew or a light rain. (Toting it in and out of this camper is not a brief experience) I ripped out the dinette my first week of owning the trailer. it was not comfortable and the space it was taking up enormous.
[I considered taking out the dinette and installing a loveseat. Of course this would mean we couldn't feed more than two people at a time.]
7. (Gas) Stove top placement UNDER the cabinets... just stupid.
[Where else could you have placed it? Doesn't every camper with a stove have some cabinets over it?]
8. Window in the 'kitchen' area, DOES NOT OPEN... W.t.F? enjoy the beeps of the fire alarm as you cook eggs. (I cook outside most of the time now)
[We have our smoke detector off and in storage. We try to cook outside too.]
9. Toilet placement is common in these, but I don't understand why they can't angle them from the corner to keep your knees from holding the door open while you do your business!
I saw an angled toilet in a 17ft Winnie today. It looked uncomfortable.
[It is small, but how long are your legs??? I am 6'2" with no problem.
BTW- get a "slow close" toilet seat. it will save you from waking each other up as much.]
10. Why not even a shelf in the bathroom .. a simple little $2 shelf for soap, or meds or small items? thoughtless build in that regard.
[That $2 shelf, with Command peel and stick is more like $20 and once you add in the labor to do everything, the price goes up.
it is labor that drives prices up. Probably 2/3+ of the price of anything is labor. Everything that a human, that is not you, does, costs the buyer $100s in labor. Take my power tongue jack for example. It about cost me about $100. How much do you think buying one from the dealer or manufacturer, installed, would cost?]
[I have done 34 upgrades for a total cost of $1343.oo. At least half of them were things that I would have had to purchase even had I bought a $30,000+ RV (for example the tongue jack.)
Only three of them were over $100.
So I spent about $650 on about 25 small things that make it better. (Like a basket in the shower.)
"Command" stick up baskets and hooks, etc. are life savers.]
I added some solar motion sensor lights to the exterior 4 corners outside ...
[That sounds like a good idea. I was going to do it until I wondered if they were going to come on for every car that passed me at night on the road. They might not appreciate it.]
Thanks to this video, I learned about the bumper storage and I have to admit that little tidbit of info is going to come as a relief to my better half.
{Are you talking about the hitch pins, or just the storage. I highly suggest you look at the "8 upgrades in 8 minutes." video.
I think you will appreciate it.]
Can you provide links to the sites that you used for upgrades?
Thanks for you comment. You are not the first person to ask that.
We try to mention the fact that virtually everything we buy, we get from Amazon. This makes providing a link a problem, for two reasons.
1. Amazon links are often a 1000 characters long.
2. Amazon sellers change their links often. If they make a tiny change to their product, it generates a new link. As I am sure you are aware, prices for just about everything is going up these days. This also causes a new link.
I see that you asked this question after watching our “Critical Review and Upgrades” video. That video was created in January of 2023. I would bet that had I provided links for the upgrades, at least half of them would no longer be valid.
@@funinourrv I'm on the fence with buying this camper. How does it tow?
We are still new to the RV world, so it is hard for us to say. However, we have put 1000's of miles on it over the past 2 years. We got lucky and found a good used car with 9,000lb towing capacity, so we don’t even feel it.
We recently purchased a anti-sway bar. I am not saying that we had any particular problems with stability. We just go to lots of places with high wind and thought it would be a good idea. On a recent trip we did encounter high winds, and there was no issue at all with fishtailing. See our video on installation.
th-cam.com/video/D98H_Q0yMSI/w-d-xo.html
Thank you that was same good info ❤
buying my 2023 lt this week good video.
I am glad the video helped. You might want to subscribe to the page.
We are about to do three more upgrades you will probably want to know about.
This summer we will also be experimenting with, and videoing, meals one can cook on the two burner stove.
Please feel free to post questions you might have about your new RV here. The 17B community is always happy to share their experience with others.
My suggestion for the first upgrade you will want to do, (besides getting a new mattress,) is to install the battery cut off switch. Others might disagree, but that is my thought.
BTW- The 2023 looks good. We will be attending one of the largest RV shows in the country in February and doing a video on the 2023 17B, as well as other models. Please share with us anything you might notice about yours, that we might want to look for.
Loved the video! Sorry if this has been asked before but I scrolled down quite a few comments. The one that was super critical must have been watching another persons video because you kept me watching all the way! Question - what is the part number of the adjustable thermostat you fitted? I’m struggling to find one by googling?
Where’s the Amazon list? Can you tell me what backup camera that is? My parents need one for their trailer and me for mine. Thanks and great video.
Thank you for the Comment.
I know it is confusing, but the word shown on the screen is the actual name of the camera set up. "DOHONEST"
If you will search "dohonest backup camera" on Amazon, you will get all their various models.
Unless you want cameras on all four sides, you can get a good one for $99.99.
Amazon changes brands, prices, and links so often, I have found that it is just better to let you google the product.
For our 1 year review we posted a video with 35 upgrades.
th-cam.com/video/Sq4YKCqj1ds/w-d-xo.html
Great video!!!!
L658 Thank You! This was most helpful. I've been looking at midpoint RVs. Just wondering how much further I could take a basic on my own without breaking the bank. Is solar an option? 🦋
Check out the video I recently posted about the 2023 17B. It comes pre-wired for solar. (Sort of. You would still need to buy some electronics, but it is a good start.)
th-cam.com/video/_IXq_VIcNxc/w-d-xo.html
Regarding, "Breaking the Bank".
Over the past 11 months we have spend right at $1300 (for 33 improvements) I estimate that about half of that was money I would have spent even if I had purchased an RV for $30K, or more.
For example, if you look at other videos you will see that it is accepted that 90% of all factory mattresses, at any price point, are terrible. Everyone buys a new mattress.
Hardly anything comes with a spare tire today.
Just those two things add up to $300-$400.
The power tongue jack is also something that usually doesn't come as standard equipment. I spent $114 on ours and easily installed it. How much do you think a dealer would charge to provide and install such a luxury item?
Admittedly, some of our favorite improvements were around $10 (for example the outlet adapter with more plugs and the USB outlets, $10.99.)
So far, only four items were over $100.
-Spare Tire ($200)
-Power Tongue Jack ($114)
-Bunk Bed Ladder ($107)
- Combination door Lock ($107)
To be honest, I think that upgrading one's RV is limited more by the person's imagination, than the budget.
th-cam.com/video/Fn_HcwQetDk/w-d-xo.html
@@funinourrv Well, I have a great imagination. You sure gave me a lot to think about. I'm most grateful for you sharing this information. I'll be checking your other videos.
Thanks,
~Mary 🦋
@@Marys-Channel Don't forget to sign up for the drawing for a free Battery Cut Off Switch.
This is a very important device to save power AND protect your battery's life.
th-cam.com/video/IrrU2RL502c/w-d-xo.html
Two things, consider recording location, the airplanes were a lot to deal with. You could have recorded this somewhere else. Second, have you calculated your upgrades versus buying a slightly nicer one with most of these features?
The airplanes made a little noise perhaps three times. Where they really that distracting? Besides, much of the video was inside.
As far as saving money I can only guess at the savings on an individual upgrade basis. It is really hard to say with any precision. I know that all the upgrades I have done so far have cost less than $300. This includes purchasing a electric tongue jack and some front scissor stabilizing jacks. I have to imagine what the price tag would be on a rig that would have these things included. The price jumps dramatically when you go up from the 17B or the other Dutchman versions. The price quickly jumps up to $25k, or more, for this size trailer. But to be honest they might have all kinds of other features that make them really nice, too.
Take the simple battery disconnect switch. For me to install one on my RV costs $15 + $8 for a second cable. This is a feature usually only found on very expensive models. How can I put a comparison value on that?
I plan on getting better tires at some point. This might be a little pricey, but how much would a RV with higher performance tires cost me? This might be something I would have to buy separately on any unit I might purchase, of this size.
When it is all said and done, I doubt I will spend even close to $1000 on upgrades, but only time will tell.
When I am done I believe I will have a much nicer, and efficient RV of this size, than I started with, but I won't have the same as a what $25k-$30k would get me. I am not fooling myself.
I am just trying to get the best I can for well under $20K.
BTW- I have started running a spreadsheet with what I have spent on upgrades.
All total it is right at $1000, but how do I really compare what I might have spent on a nicer version or not?
I only had two things that over $100. One was the power tongue jack, ($125) and the other was for the spare tire ($200.)
Would any $25K RV have come with these two things? I doubt it. So how would I compare these things? And then that is $325 I would have to take off the list.
There are several items like that.
I have also been told that with just about every RV, the new owners usually choose to buy a new mattress. (Unless you buy a REALLY expensive model.)
Here it is, about one year since we purchased our 17B. (Summer of 2022.)
At this point we have spent about $1300.oo.
This is on 34 upgrades.
About half of that money was spent on six things I would have had to purchase even if we had bought a $35,000 RV.
This also included the more expensive items. (Tongue Jack, $100+. Spare Tire, >$200, etc.)
So I have spent about $650 on 29 improvements/upgrades/ mods, I might have found on a more expensive rig.
I think I have done OK.
About the water heater thermostat. What is the part number and where did you get it?
We purchase virtually everything on Amazon. What isn't from Amazon, is usually Walmart or a couple of things from Harbor Freight.
I don't have the part number for the thermostat, but given that there are really only two makers of water heaters, it wasn't hard to find.
Thanks for you question.
Just Google - "rv water heater adjustable thermostat"
Awesome video. Thank you!
Thanks for the comment. It is very encouraging.
Wow I’m surprised that the water heater is 150 thanks for that info
Very informative. Ty Sir!
mine didnt come with a radio!! good video
The 2022 was the last model to have the radio.
The radio probably hooks up to your phone via bluetooth and you can play music from your phone the sound system in the RV
Yes it does, but why?
There are just two speakers in the RV.
The year after this they simply gave a Bluetooth speaker to everyone.
I think that they quit even doing this the next year.
RV Storage space is in short supply. Why take out a chunk of it for a radio.
Couldn't they have just mounted the radio UNDER the cabinet?
I just noticed that my local Camping World has the 17B on sale for $13,995.
That is a decent price, but don't forget to haggle and see what else they can throw in.
Also be sure to look at the "Sales Contract" for things you might not want or need. You can save $1000s there too.
Camping World is NOT a sponsor or ours. We get nothing in return for talking about them here.
Most RVs that I’ve had that bumper that’s where the black hose is kept.
I have seen several RVs that don't have it.
Having said that, many people are advocating putting a PVC pipe on the bottom for the stinking Slinky. I think it is probably a good idea.
Thanks. A very good review .
Great video!! Thank you so so much!!
Thanks for the nice comment. That is why we do this.
This dude should work at camping world
He could forsure sell me 2 or these, easily
Thanks? I guess?
Several people have said they they bought 17Bs or 17Rs after seing my videos. I hope they took my advice and haggled, and got a good deal.
But I can only wish Camping World would give me a cut.
For now I am happy with not having the pressure, or bias, of getting paid anything for my comments.
Was it under $13,000?
I think they could’ve splurged a little bit and put a little sink in the bathroom. I don’t know why they left that out altogether. That’s something you really need.
You are not the first person to comment about it.
I think that you might have to remember that every detail the manufacturer does adds $1000 of dollars to the price. This is a budget RV. In fact, I like to think of it as a kit for people who are interested in doing lots of stuff to it.
If you look at small RV with lavatories in the bathroom, you will see an enormous difference in price. Not only that but, in my mind, there is little difference in having the sink in the bathroom, or three feet away. I also have to point out that there is hardly enough room in the bathroom to do what need to be done. I can't imagine having a lavatory in there too.
My wife and I also use the shower head to wash our hands in the bathroom, all the time.
Thanks for your comment.
i like this guy.. I could talk to him for hrs
Thanks. That might be one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.
Good info sir thanks
I do need to talk to you sir and I'm in your neighbor hood...so to speak. I'm in Garland and Ive been searching for an RV trailer that I can pull with my Ram 1500 without having to upgrade my truck. So i happened upon your video just now and I'm very impressed! I'm working at emptying my house so I can list it and retire in 8 months 🤞I need advice sir, can you assist me?
I am not an expert. We are new and learning with the rest of the RV community.
Our niche seems to be, "coming up with inexpensive upgrades for cheap rvs."
(We are about to produce another video with 6 more easy upgrades.)
You can determine your towing capacity simply by Googling "Ram 1500 Towing capacity".
You will be pleasantly surprised. You can tow lots of rv, , but there are other factors at play.
Our RV is 3,000 lb. The Ram 1500 can tow 27,500 lb.
A 30ft Grand Design is around 8000+.lb
A dealership can help you, but don't be sucked in to buying the first thing they show you, and don't be afraid to haggle. They will also automatically add all kinds of things to the offer, you don't need.
Just like with a car, buying used has pros and cons.
The kind of RV you will need for your "home" depends on your requirements and preferences.
There are many TH-cam pages dedicated to your situation. We are NOT one of them.
One of the best is Grateful Glamper, but there are MANY other really good pages out there for the camper who wants to go full time.
BTW- Try renting first. The webpages that do vacation rentals (Verbo, Outdoorsy, etc) will rent campers too.
Goodsam.com also rents RVs.
Spend about $100 a day to find out if you like it.
Awesome Review !!
Thanks for the comment. It helps our rating AND comments like yours are the reason we do this.
Thank you for the video
I've been searching for the thermostat video you reference with no luck. Could you post a link please?
I might still make one myself, but until then, here is someone else, which I think is OK It is not the one I originally found, which was a little better, but it gives you a good idea on how to do it. It's not difficult to do.
If you happen to find a better one, please post it.
th-cam.com/video/UkhrbdpHVKA/w-d-xo.html
Oops. Just found another video. Between the two of them, you should have no problem.
I do like the first one where he shows the actual temperature coming out of the tap.
th-cam.com/video/FuBoRRojKcA/w-d-xo.html
@@funinourrv Thanks!
I ask the question how much does this cost new?
A new Coleman LT 17B will cost about $15K. You can find them for as much as $16,500, or as little as $14,599. If you ae patient and look around you might find one on sale for a little less. After the 2024 models come out, you can sometimes get deals on a 2023, etc.
If you are asking about how much an RV with many of the upgrades would cost, then you are looking at $25K or more. We have saved $1000s by doing them ourselves.
Can you tell the name and item number and what splash guard you bought for your shower ? I have looked at so many on Amazon.
i think that the splash guard might be one of the few things we did not get from Amazon.
This is the one we got and it is available at Lowe's.
www.lowes.com/pd/Magic-White-Splash-Guards/1000192431
it looks like Amazon carries this brand, but they don't seem to have the product we used, right now.
Funny, I prefer a radio over tv. But I don't need either installed. I'll watch on my phone or tablet, and I'll listen on a portable radio.
Right! That is the real issue. Who needs an FM radio more than the cabinet space?
Thanks for the comment.
How heavy is it to pull? I know it weighs around 3k pounds but I have a 2015 ford f150 and I don't plan on changing pickups. Is it possible that I can pull it with my f150 just fine with no problems?
I can't reply to that question as any kind of expert. There are people who can tell you. Just about any RV dealership will be happy to help.
I can say that the Ford F150 can tow anywhere from 5000 lb to 15000 lb, depending upon the year, model, engine, transmission, etc.
The RV dealership people I asked about this, when I was looking to buy, suggested that you should have good buffer between the weight of the RV and the towing capacity of your vehicle.
I do know that many do use the F150 to tow the smaller RVs, but again, I have no idea what is the best answer. Just because someone does it, doesn't mean it is safe.
Google YOUR truck's towing capacity with the model and engine, etc. This might help.
i personally would feel better if the towing capicity was at least 6000 lb, but that might be over cautiousness on my part.
Just off the top. "Garry Owen's " brother
Glad you noticed.
I’ve noticed most of the newer RVs are not coming with the TV.
That's true.
Thanks for your comments.
They also don't come with spare tires.
This is so cool! You have a new subscriber
Thanks. So do you.
can i remove the bunk beds? perhaps put more storage or make a office in that area
You can do anything your skill level allows you to do.
People have done all kinds of things to their 17B. A guy on the internet took out the dinette and replaced it with a nice slidding futon.
I know that people have modified the bunk beds for other use. Exactly how they did this i unknown to me.
I would start by looking at the 17r for inspiration.
th-cam.com/video/mC6LCIveBoc/w-d-xo.html