Forum Discussion

mtnman1989's avatar
mtnman1989
Explorer
Aug 31, 2017

Who Loves their Coachmen Clipper

We have always had a Class A motorhome and a Travel Trailer. We have had several different Trailers over the years. Last year we sold our 2010 TT and decided to just buy a brand new TT and bought the Coachmen Clipper model 17FQ and we love it! I had to replace the shower head and that's it. We have enjoyed this trailer more than any other TT we have owned. We bought this lite weight trailer just so we could tow in the mountain elevations of NC, TN, WV, VA and KY. I tow with a Toyota Tundra hauling two motorcycles and it is just awesome. The large tanks are a real plus for a small TT, we can go a week without dumping or taking on more water. Set up is a breeze since the TT is so lite.

I met a retired couple last week camping in a Clipper just like mine. I ask him how he liked it and he shared his thoughts. He said the same thing I said. He stated he also had a larger RV but love traveling long distances in the clipper a lot. He has taken his clipper to Alaska, Canada and Nova Scotia on two separate trips with no issues.

Who else owns and loves their Clipper?

18 Replies

  • JCR-1 wrote:
    GWolfe wrote:
    I'm on my second Clipper, my first one was a 16B and the bunk bed was just too small for me, loved it other than that. Sold it and picked up a 17RD and am very happy. They are great little trailers for what they are, entry level and light weight. What drew me to Clipper was the larger that most fresh water tank and holding tanks and the 13,500 BTU roof air. I upgraded the 13" tires to 15" just to have a little cushion on the load rating.

    I would buy another Coachmen without giving it a second thought.


    How did you upgrade the tires to 15 inch without hitting the wheel well. What size tires ??


    I was inspired by a gentleman on a different forum that had a 17FQ and upgraded to 15" with no clearance problems so I bit the bullet and did the same. I put 205-75/15 Goodyear Endurance tires on and have been nothing but pleased. The load rating is 2040 lbs which is a nice upgrade from the 13" ones that came on my camper. Clearance hasn't been an issue and I've been down some pretty rough roads.
  • GWolfe wrote:
    I'm on my second Clipper, my first one was a 16B and the bunk bed was just too small for me, loved it other than that. Sold it and picked up a 17RD and am very happy. They are great little trailers for what they are, entry level and light weight. What drew me to Clipper was the larger that most fresh water tank and holding tanks and the 13,500 BTU roof air. I upgraded the 13" tires to 15" just to have a little cushion on the load rating.

    I would buy another Coachmen without giving it a second thought.


    How did you upgrade the tires to 15 inch without hitting the wheel well. What size tires ??
  • I'm on my second Clipper, my first one was a 16B and the bunk bed was just too small for me, loved it other than that. Sold it and picked up a 17RD and am very happy. They are great little trailers for what they are, entry level and light weight. What drew me to Clipper was the larger that most fresh water tank and holding tanks and the 13,500 BTU roof air. I upgraded the 13" tires to 15" just to have a little cushion on the load rating.

    I would buy another Coachmen without giving it a second thought.
  • JCR-1,
    You are right, they have a 3500 pound single axle and the trailers dry weight is at 2900 pounds. 500 to 600 pounds is all you can load into them. We live 10 miles down a mountain dirt so my trailer gets at least 20 miles of rough dirt road each trip. It is holding up well.
  • I have a 17fq as well. I had axle problems..Kept wearing out tires on the inside. Found out it had lost its camber. I had to replace the axle at my own expense. Not much help from Coachman on that. The axle rating and weight of the camper is close..not much room for safety built in.Otherwise not a bad trailer for occasional camping.
  • I might mention that we usually ride our 250cc dual sport motorcycles almost daily. We spend very little time inside the Clipper or Class A other than to sleep, shower, eat or plan our next trip. I am 70 and wife is 62. We almost always dry camp without hookups as well.

    We usually go to a US Forest Service cg and stay a week or so adventure riding the Forest roads in the area. Then we load back up and travel to another area or a different US Forest Service and start all over again. I never have to worry about finding a site for the Clipper's size.
  • We bought one after a 30 ft. class A and soon found it way too small. Now have a 38 ft. 5th wheel.