Coachmen: Coachmen Chaparral 5th Wheels

[jackson47]

Any comments on Coachmen Chaparral 5th wheels? I am seriously looking at a 2020/2021 298RLS. Any feedback would be appreciated.

[Yosemite77]

Originally Posted by jackson47

Any comments on Coachmen Chaparral 5th wheels? I am seriously looking at a 2020/2021 298RLS. Any feedback would be appreciated.

My 298 RLS is a 2018/19 model. I think it’s middle of the road in terms of quality. We bought ours from Wana RV in Shipshewana, Indiana. Nobody else came close in price. I found them to be honest and easy to deal with.

Would I buy the trailer again? Probably. The “bones” of the trailer could be beefier. By that I mean the axles and frame. They aren’t undersized, but I would call them adequate. I’ve only been on the roof once. To me it seemed a bit spongy.

The only thing we don’t like about the floor plan is that you can’t open the refrigerator unless the slide is out. Otherwise, it’s great. We’ve found it perfect for 2 people. A little crowded for 3 adults.

We have made some improvements. In order:
Progressive Industries hard-wired surge protector
Slide toppers
Shocks
Disc brakes
Towel bars next to bed
5 new tires
I disconnected the water lines to the washer to make winterizing easier. It’s an improvement in my mind.

We replaced the brakes due to a failure of one of the Dexter electric brakes that came on the trailer. This was on Dexter - no fault of Coachmen. In my opinion the slide toppers are a must due to the height off the ground. The shocks were put on to minimize the amount of bouncing going on inside while on the road. The tire that came on it were a no name, Made in China brand. I had intended to replace them before a long trip this summer. We ended up canceling our plans and opting for a in-state trip instead. On a last minute walk around, I found a split in the side of one of the tires that wasn’t there earlier in the day. I’m sure I damaged the tire hitting a curb somewhere, but I have never seen a tire split like that.

Other random likes: Adzel siding, the size of the shower is great, comfortable bed.

Dislikes: the ceiling fan moves no air at all. It’s on borrowed time.

I hope this helps. If I think of anything else I’ll post it below. I’ll check back in case you have any questions. Good luck with your decision!