Coachmen Ramps Up Line With New Towables

Coachmen Recreational Vehicle Company, Middlebury, Indiana, has introduced six new series
of conventional and fifth-wheel trailers for 2002. The Coachmen Captiva Ultra Lite and
Shasta Ultra Lite series of travel trailers and fifth-wheels have been designed to meet the
entry-level market of products suitable for 1/2-ton truck, SUV and minivan tow vehicles
that have moderate towing ratings. Trailer gross vehicle weight ratings (gvwrs) range from
5,180 to 6,545 pounds. Most floorplans include a dinette, sofa or kitchen slideout. The
Cascade and Shasta Oasis series, also geared toward the entry-level segment of the market,
are targeted to buyers who prefer larger units that require tow vehicles with higher
ratings. Cascade and Oasis travel trailers are offered in 24- to 38-foot lengths with
single slides available in four of the seven floorplans. Gvwrs range from 7,000 to 10,000
pounds. Cascade and Oasis fifth-wheels are available in 25-, 26- and 28-foot floorplans
with either a dinette or a sofa/dinette slide. Gvwrs range from 9,280 to 10,000 pounds.
Chaparral, the midsize fifth-wheel line, uses I-beam construction instead of tubular-frame
construction as the units are intended by Coachmen to be compatible with the weight ratings
of 3/4-ton tow vehicles. Coachmen’s new high-line fifth-wheel, the Somerset, is available
in 28- to 37-foot lengths, with many floorplan options, plus double slides in most units
and one triple-slide arrangement. Features include upscale interior decor, fiberglass
exteriors, aluminum cage construction. Gvwrs range from 11,600 to 14,900 pounds, which
makes even the largest units suitable for towing by properly equipped conventional pickup
trucks.