While January was a dismal month in terms of new RV sales, there still had to be “winners” in that slow horse race. The top-selling travel trailer for the month may just surprise you.
Rooster in the barnyard
Marcus Lemonis, CEO of Camping World, the rooster always ready to strut about the RV industry barnyard, got his crowing in. “Coleman … reached new heights in January as the #1 selling travel trailer in America.” The company describes Coleman trailers as their “flagship product” and “sold almost exclusively” at Camping World dealerships. The company claims its bragging rights based on data gathered by Statistical Surveys Inc.
Who makes the top-selling travel trailer?
You might wonder who builds Coleman trailers? It’s a long way from 1905 when W.C. Coleman’s pressurized gas lanterns got their start as a camper’s staple. While W.C. may have had a hand in lanterns, stoves, and coolers, only his brand mark was directly imprinted in the first Coleman RV. That was in 1967, and since then, several different RV manufacturers paid to license the Coleman name and logo on their rigs. Who today produces the top-selling travel trailer?
Dutchmen Manufacturing takes the logo today. In addition to Coleman-branded travel trailers, the company also produces pop-ups and toy haulers.
And as for gas lanterns: If you wax nostalgic with thoughts of the smell of white gas and the feel of the pump stem getting harder as you near the “light it off” point, you can still have the experience. While “Coleman” is touting LED lighting, the pump-up style lanterns of your youth are still available.
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Thank you, Russ and Tina! Congratulations to Dutchmen winning the plow horse race. 😉 Safe travels! 🙂
Who in the hay wants a white gas lantern anymore? Check the price of a gallon of the stuff and you will know why.
using led lanterns now but still have 3 of the powermax lanterns just in case…
I have 3 Coleman lanterns that have not been used in 10 or so years. Last month we were at a COE park in Waco, Texas where the site next to us had a Coleman lantern burning all night. I loved it for the retro look and may bring one of my lanterns on my next trip. As far as cost, you can burn regular unleaded gas outside. You don’t need Coleman fuel.
What’s the world coming to?
FYI – Back in day when gas had lead in it, white gas is unleaded, which is the current standard since the 70’s.