Coleman Lantern reviews

While this review will not make any difference, I feel the need to make people aware that there are Lemons in the RV world too, with no recourse or help at all from either the purchasing dealer or Coleman/Dutchman or whoever builds Coleman this week. Purchased New 2017 Coleman CTS262BH on 20 Oct 2016 . Paid $2k extra for Extended Warranty. Unfortunately, too late in season to use it so I winterized it and covered it on my property. Due to unforeseen Springtime work scheduling finally got to go camping in June of 2017. Now while getting ready for Oct 2017 trip found the refrigerator wasn’t working on A/C power. Self diagnosed a main board circuit problem. Sure, it would work on propane only, but if board completely failed, then no fridge at all…. So Cancelled Oct trip. Dropped for warranty service 12 Oct 2017. Had to pay to winterize because I was afraid freezing weather would set in before unit was repaired. Finally 2 December 2017, it was repaired under warranty. Foreword to spring 2018. Unforeseen catastrophic medical issue cancels any camping plans for most of the year. Camper sits in yard. Medical issue improves significantly, so a Sept 2018 trip planned. Preparing camper for trip found the paneling in shower had bowed out and separated along one inside corner. Inside ceiling trim separated due to popped out staples. Livable until return. Several damp and chilly days later, went to get extra blankets out from under the sofa on the slide out and found blankets and carpet SOAKING WET…. Checked outside and found the bottom corner caulking and panel trim at the bottom right side of the slide out had separated both horizontally and vertically allowing water to seep right in. Put duct tape on it and had to leave early to come home and clean and dry out carpeting. Dropped off camper 19 Nov 2018 for Warranty “diagnostics”. Forward to 14 Dec 2108. Trim in bathroom needs new staples and molding. OK, but why did it bow out in the first place? New staples on ceiling trim.. Hmmm…. But the best one is the report for the slide out. “Caulking and black sheeting are separated. When it rains it leaks in”. Cause….. WEAR AND TEAR. WHAT??? !!!! Sorry, not covered under Warranty. We went camping twice since purchased. The slide out has maybe extended/retracted only about 6-8 times for camping and pre and post camping cleaning/storage. I paid a premium for an extended warranty and am now waiting to submit warranty claims. Left for 2 months but forgot to remove my $ 350.00 AGM Battery. They left it outside in subzero temperatures. The cold weather killed the battery with no hope of recovery. Now it’s May 2019. Sadly, recurring medical issues return and no camping to current date. Opened up a few times during Summers for an ‘escape” refuge…… Now I Found the left slide out window seemed to leak at the bottom and down the wall. No warranty, 2 month wait to even look at it. Cleaned and re-caulk carefully with RV grade ($$) lap sealer. Seemed to work. Now 2022, opened a month ago. Faint odor of dampness. Last week found the entire left half of slide out roof, long wall and short side wall, and under the dinette bench seat are completely water rotted. Veneer and wall covering have bubbled and separated. Checked on top of slide out and it looks like the seal tape separated at the edge in a few places on that side of slide out. If I push on rubber roof, I can feel the rotted wood push down for almost 5 feet along the top. Now I’m afraid I may not be able to retract it, or if so, open again. Would have to drive 40 miles to RV Repair center for them to even look at it at $150-200 cost for estimate. Online guesses at repair range from $4k-$7k. I would even consider removing the slide out completely and just build a wall over the opening. This was supposed to be our retirement camper. Other people may love their Colman, I would Never buy one again. In our 40 years of camping, this has been the most horrible experience. More than likely wouldn’t even be able to trade it in if I wanted to get another smaller camper.. This Coleman may never leave my yard again except as salvage. While there may be a lot of folks out there who love their Coleman’s. I can’t be the only one that got a lemon. Show less