Coleman 17B, One Year Later: What Held Up and What to Watch For (2,000 Miles)

We have had our 2025 Coleman 17B for just shy of a year now, put it through 11 trips and a little over 2,000 miles, and it is time for an honest long-term review. This is the good, the bad, and the things to watch out for if you are shopping for a 17B of your own. It has held up well, but there are a few real spots to keep an eye on.

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Watch the one-year review

Aaron Goes Outdoors walks the 2025 Coleman 17B inside and out after a year of camping, covering what held up and what to watch for.

What held up (the good)

After a year, most of it has just worked, which is what you want:

• Propane and battery. With two or three weeks between trips and the battery not plugged in, it holds enough charge to be ready to go.
• Water systems. We have run both the fresh water tank and city connection, and the hot water heater has been great.
• The big appliances. Furnace, AC, fridge, and microwave have all performed well trip after trip.
• Tires. They have held up over 2,000 miles. Just keep an eye on air pressure.
• Electrical cord and connections. All in good shape.

The problems to watch for (the honest part)

This is the part you actually want before you buy. None of these are dealbreakers, but you should go in knowing them.

1. The AC can drip inside if the camper is not angled right. If the trailer is not sitting so this side is just slightly lower, condensation from the AC can drip inside instead of draining out, and people report it landing on the bed, the wall, or your head. We always park it leaning slightly so it drains outside. The newer 2027 models add an interior lip on the AC to catch this.
2. Skylight leak from exterior sealant. We had a small skylight leak that came down to the sealant on the roof. We got it fixed, but the lesson is to check around every skylight and roof light for leaks, because you may not notice it right away.
3. The AC drain leaves mud streaks. When the AC drains, it runs dirty water down the side of the camper. We are adding a small gutter and downspout so it drips away from the wall instead of staining it.
4. The tongue jack is starting to go. Ours is leaking some of its lubricant and getting clunky to crank, so it is on the list to upgrade to a powered tongue jack.
5. The pass-through storage locks loosen up. The locks on the pass-through storage doors get a little loose over time, but they are quick and easy to tighten back up.
6. Microwave overheated once. During one long run (potatoes), it got too warm and paused itself for a bit, then was fine. Not a real issue, just something we noticed.

Upgrades that made it better

A year in, these are the upgrades we are glad we did. All of them are in our Amazon storefront.

• Keyless entry lock. A digital lock with a code, a fob, and keys. This is one of our favorites, especially for renting the camper out. We wrote a full keyless RV lock install guide.
• A bathroom cabinet. We added a cabinet that is a close match to the factory ones. It gives real storage, a spot for toilet paper, and makes the all-white bathroom feel less clinical and more finished.

• An interior pull bar. A small grab bar by the door that lets you pull the outer storm door shut without wrestling the big door. Cheap, and we use it every trip.

• Shelf divider baskets. We found these little divider baskets in a Coleman Facebook group and they fit the factory shelves perfectly. Great for keeping the overhead shelves organized instead of everything sliding around.
• A flush cooktop. We swapped the factory burners for a flush cooktop so we actually have counter space to work on.
• A fridge travel strap. A simple strap to hold the fridge door while you drive.
• Spare tire, stronger bumper caps, backup camera, and furnace bug screens. The upgrades from our first year that are still earning their keep. More on those in the six-month owner review.

Where we have taken it

Eleven trips in a year covered a lot of ground. The biggest was Mackinac Island, Michigan, roughly a 500 mile haul each way. We also camped in the driveway for a family reunion, which sounds funny but was a blast being right in the middle of everyone. The 17B has been an easy, comfortable rig for both the long trips and the quick ones.

One note on the newer models

If you are comparing model years, the newer 2027 Colemans fix some of the older issues, like adding that interior lip on the AC so it does not drip on you. The one thing they dropped is the rear bumper, which we actually really like having on ours. Worth knowing before you decide new versus a slightly older unit.

Coleman 17B long-term FAQs

Does the Coleman 17B hold up over time?

After a year, 11 trips, and 2,000 miles, ours has held up well. The furnace, AC, fridge, microwave, water heater, and tires have all performed. The things to watch are mostly water intrusion points, not mechanical failures.

What are the common problems with a Coleman 17B?

The ones we have run into are the AC dripping inside if the camper is not angled slightly, a skylight that leaked at the sealant, an AC drain that streaks the side, and a tongue jack that is getting clunky. All are manageable if you know to check for them.

Does the AC leak inside the Coleman 17B?

It can, if the trailer is sitting level or tipped the wrong way, since the AC condensation needs to drain outward. Park it leaning slightly so it drains outside and you avoid it. The 2027 models added an interior lip on the AC to help.

Is the Coleman 17B good for long trips?

Yes. We took ours about 500 miles each way to Mackinac Island and it did great. Keep an eye on tire pressure and you are in good shape.

Would you buy the Coleman 17B again?

For the price, yes. We really love ours. Just go in with your eyes open on the leak-prone spots and check the roof sealant early.

Final thoughts

A year in, the 2025 Coleman 17B has been a great camper for our family, and the honest problems are the kind you can get ahead of: watch the windows and roof sealant, plan for the AC drain, and expect to tighten a few things over time. None of it has kept us off the road.

Want to try a 17B before you commit to one? You can rent our Coleman 17B here in Cedar Falls, all of these upgrades included. For the full upgrade rundown, see the six-month owner review and the Coleman 17B gear list.

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