As more and more people want to experience the freedom of the open road, the demand for recreational vehicles is now higher than ever before. Consequently, RV prices have skyrocketed, with many models coming with six-figure price tags or more. However, not everyone who’s looking for a new camping rig is willing to pay the kind of money you would need for an average new car.
This incredibly low price makes it the cheapest travel trailer that you can buy brand-new in America at the moment. There might be smaller towable models that you can get for less, but this camper right here is 21.5 feet long, offers standing height inside, and packs all the necessities needed to camp comfortably.
Obviously, you can’t expect top-notch quality at this price range, but the fact that it is affordable doesn’t mean it is not built well. It boasts a construction that blends durability with lightweight maneuverability. It is built on a single-axle trailer and has an aluminum body with wooden framing, sheet metal side walls, a rubberized roof, and fiberglass insulation. Touching the scales at around 2,985 pounds (unladen weight), the Lantern 17B can be easily towed with an SUV or minivan. A payload capacity of 1,005 pounds means you can take plenty of food, water, clothes, and other camping essentials with you on the road.
Photo: Coleman/Camping World
The no-frills exterior does have some notable features, including an almost pass-through storage compartment for larger luggage, fishing rods, and other gear, a propane tank holder, and a roll-out power awning that encourages you to spend as much time outside as possible. Unsurprisingly, considering its low price, it doesn’t come with an enclosed underbelly, and the underslung water tanks are not winterized, so camping in below-freezing temperatures would be a challenge. Moreover, it has a manual tongue jack and stabilizer jacks only on the rear.
Inside, the Coleman Lantern 17B is a fully-featured living space that can sleep up to five people. Everything feels lightweight and thin inside, but as long as it is properly maintained and cared for, it should last for many years. The layout includes a queen bed, a dinette, a kitchen, a private bathroom, bunk beds, air conditioning, and even a fireplace (the camper’s electric heat source). You basically have everything you and your family need for a successful vacation.
The interior boasts an open-plan design, with the bathroom being the only separate space. This means no privacy in the sleeping areas for either the adults or the kids. The main bed is right next to the entrance and looks decent enough, though it rests on a hardboard and has a rather thin mattress. So, if you are a picky sleeper, you should consider replacing the mattress or at least adding a topper.
Photo: Coleman/Camping World
The center of the camper trailer is occupied by the kitchen and dining area, the latter of which can be converted into an additional bed if necessary. It has a freestanding table that you can move around and even take outside of the trailer for outdoor dining.
The kitchen is small but offers plenty of functionality thanks to decent storage and worktop area, a two-burner cooktop, a fridge, and a microwave. However, the cost-cutting is evident in the cooking area, as the cabinets are inexpensive, the sink is plastic, and you only get two burners.
In the back, you’ll find the bunk beds and a bathroom. Appealing to families with kids, the bunk beds offer younger family members a space they can make their own instead of pulling out a sofa or re-adjusting a dinette every night or every time they want to relax. An egress window in this area optimizes ventilation.
Photo: Coleman/Camping World
The bathroom is small but perfectly usable. It doesn’t have its own sink, so all the washing you be done at the kitchen sink, but you do get a foot-flush toilet and a decent shower. Another reference to the trailer’s low price is the fact that you don’t have a proper air-conditioner or heater in this camper. Instead, cold air comes from the small vent of the wall unit and heat comes from the electric fireplace.
Coleman is a brand of Dutchmen, a company that currently operates under the Thor Industries umbrella. The manufacturer also offers a Lantern LT 17R floorplan that is aimed at couples, as it ditches the bunks and offers a larger bathroom and more living space.
All in all, the affordable, family-friendly Coleman Lantern LT 17B travel trailer is great for people who are just diving their toes into the RV lifestyle. Don’t expect it to be a forever camper trailer, but you should certainly get some good years of use, especially if you don’t neglect maintenance.
