Your 07' looks identical to my 06' except we had an AC unit on the roof, and I agree with you about the quality compared to the jayco or Fleetwood, I looked at quite a few, and over the last 34 years, I've owned more than several pop-ups, including Cox, Coachmen, Jayco and a Fleetwood. I personally don't see one completely "outshining the other in quality, fit or trim" when it comes to comparing same equipped pups.
Jim & Kathy
07.5 Chevrolet K3500DRW/CC/LB/LMM/D/A LTZ,Prodigy,Reese 20K Ht.
08 Jeep Liberty Sport Trail Rated
06 HR Presidential Suite 37RLQ 4 slide,
99 Jayco Quest 10 pup
Boxers;Buddy& Sheba II
USAF 71-75 Nam Vet
Here's what you might LOSE going from the FW to the Coachmen:
Self storing bunk supports (and the CM might have 4 poles per bunk, IIRC).
One piece door (some two piecers can be a PIA!)
Breathable tenting - you don't know how nice until you don't have it anymore.
Standard electric brakes - don't buy a camper that size if it doesn't have brakes!
Useable upper cabinets on the kitchenette (depending on year, I can't recall)
4 independent lift cables. IIRC, the single cable CM design needs safety bars at two corners - another setup and storage hassle.
The Coachmen MAY not be able to accept wdh if you are using a light duty tow vehicle like a minivan or CUV (which need it).
None of the above is necessarily fatal, but add up to irritations. Before buying, set it up and down a few times and see if it makes you grind your teeth.
You will NOT LOSE a) breathable tenting, b) a one-piece door, nor c) electric brakes. Even my Coachmen 1070ST has these features.
You will gain a) the power roof vent - I wouldn't buy a pup without one, b) a wider stance for greater stability, and c) a front storage compartment.
Quite frankly, we shopped all the makes and models when we bought our pup new, and the Clipper outshone all the others. And it has lived up to our expectations.
TV: 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe
Pup: 2007 Coachmen Clipper 1070ST
Favourite Campgrounds: Lake Superior Provincial Park; Chutes PP; Sharbot Lake PP; Rainbow Falls PP; Neys PP
As a Viking owner, which was made in the same factory as the Coachmen line of PUP's, I'm happy with mine. The differences between the two brands is minimal - some decorative touches are different, and a few floorplans were unique to each brand, with other floorplans being the same in both brands.
A feature not well known about the Viking/Coachmen line is their superior interior headroom. I'm tall (6'6") and I never bump my head, even when standing under the A/C - as I remember it, the ceiling is 6' 10" in the center, and about 6' 8" at the bunkends. I found I had to stoop over a little bit in all the other brands I shopped, but not the Viking line.
I would shop around and I would be prepared to negotiate the price. The slump in RV sales means there are some bargains to be had out there for someone who's buying - it's definitly a buyer's market right now.
2000 GMC Sierra 1500 5.3L w/ Towing Package
2007 Viking Epic 2307
Days camped in 2008 - 10
Days camped in 2009 - 10
Guest wrote: Here's what you might LOSE going from the FW to the Coachmen:
Self storing bunk supports (and the CM might have 4 poles per bunk, IIRC).
One piece door (some two piecers can be a PIA!)
Breathable tenting - you don't know how nice until you don't have it anymore.
Standard electric brakes - don't buy a camper that size if it doesn't have brakes!
Useable upper cabinets on the kitchenette (depending on year, I can't recall)
4 independent lift cables. IIRC, the single cable CM design needs safety bars at two corners - another setup and storage hassle.
The Coachmen MAY not be able to accept wdh if you are using a light duty tow vehicle like a minivan or CUV (which need it).
None of the above is necessarily fatal, but add up to irritations. Before buying, set it up and down a few times and see if it makes you grind your teeth.
Do you even know anything about the Coachmen?? You've missed on quite a few points there pardner AND as far as towing it, Since last November, I've taken the pup camping into VA, SC, TN and NC..longest trip was a little over 300 miles, now admittedly, that isn't a long way, but it was through NOTHING but moutains and that was with my Jeep Liberty with tow package. Trailer DOES HAVE ELECTRIC BRAKES, Jeep has a brake controller, Class C hitch and NO WDH, tows like a champ and I've been towing pop-up's, TT's and 5th wheels since before 1975, so I think I ought to know a little about what I'm talking about. You DON'T need to use the safety bars, half the time or more, I haven't and it didn't make any difference whether I did or not. Don't grind my teeth any at all during set-up, no big deal, I've had it harder and I've had it easier, sometimes it comes down to what you like and/or what you can afford. Nice post, but if you don't like Coachmen and are on some kind of agenda, or don't know that much about it, I"d post a little differently.
Don't listen to Guest... he's a good example of what happens when you drink the Coleman/FW kool-aid.
You might get some of those things with a FW, but if you buy anything else you won't get a company that stiffs its customers with paying "shipping" to the tune of $700 or $800 for a new roof to replace one the company knew wasn't quality when they installed it... you won't get a company that forgets to caulk and seal their alumatite roofs causing all sorts of problems, and you won't get a company that builds it's campers known for sway problems but doesn't change the design.
Most of us here are more diplomatic, all that matters is that you buy what is best for you and your family and your budget. Who cares what you're camping in. I don't buy all that FW junk, obviously, I have a Jayco, but I'm not going to talk you out of one either, it might be the right camper for you... The best advice I can give you is look at everything within your budget and enjoy the process... This is high season right now anyway, so if you're patient you can find a good deal as we get closer to mid-fall.
Stumps, good post, didn't mean to offend, if I did, I apologize. Just felt like if someone doesn't know a product very well, it's kind of hard to say something bad or good about it. Coachmen is now run by Forest River, but original poster is looking at an 06'. Again, except for a "potti", the one I had was identical to the one he's looking at. I agree with you on him working a good deal, this is a good time, and be patient. Buy what you can afford, and try to get the best bang for your buck.
Stumps, I also think Jayco makes an excellent product, not only in their pop-up, but all the way up to their 5er's and I especially like the Seneca Class C, they also back their product, something that seems to be lacking more and more now a days.
The 10 yr. old Jayco "barebones" 10 that I have,(cept for AC), is in excellent condition which, to me attest to 1), the way it's been taken care of over the years, but also 2) the quality that went into it in the first place, or it would have "started going to the dogs" sometime back.
Thank you for all the input it really helps! I will have to set up an appointment to go and see the trailer for myself. It looks good in the pictures but they never really tell the truth.
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