Coleman Camper Must-Haves: 12 Things Every Coleman Travel Trailer Owner Should Have
We have owned our 2025 Coleman 17B for about a year: 11 trips and over 2,000 miles. Coleman travel trailers across the lineup share a lot, from the build style to the hookups to the spots that tend to leak. So whether you have a 17B, a bunkhouse, or one of the bigger Lantern models, this is the gear we think every Coleman owner should have. Everything here is something we bought, use, and would buy again.
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The quick list
Setup at the site
Spares and safety 3. A spare tire you can count on 4. Fuse kit 5. First aid kit 6. Battery disconnect switch
Inside the camper 7. Queen sheets that actually fit 8. Shelf organizer bins 9. Shower water dam
Maintenance 10. Roof lap sealant 11. Pinless moisture meter 12. Thermal camera
Plus which Coleman models this list covers and our Coleman camper FAQs.
Watch our Coleman after a year
Aaron Goes Outdoors walks a Coleman 17B after a year of camping, including the exterior gear, upgrades, and the issues to watch for.
Which Coleman models this list covers
We own a 17B, but nothing on this list is specific to one floorplan. It works across the Coleman travel trailer lineup, including:
- Coleman: 13B, 13R, 13S, 17B, 17R, 19R, 23B, 25B, 25R, 27B, and the 27BWE bunkhouse
- Coleman Lantern: 25REX, 25RBS, 28BHS, and the 32BHS
- Coleman Light: 29BX
- Coleman Legacy: 1905RB, 2115RK, 2600RB, 2900BH, 2950RL, and the 2400REX fifth wheel
- Older Coleman Lantern LT models, like the earlier 17B and 17R
The only things that change from model to model are sizes. Check your tire size and bolt pattern before buying a spare, and measure your mattress before buying sheets. Everything else carries over.
Setup at the site
1. Leveling blocks
Every Coleman owner needs a set of stackable leveling blocks. Campsites are rarely flat, and on our Coleman the angle matters for more than comfort. If the camper sits wrong, the wall-mounted AC can drip inside instead of draining out. We use blocks like these RVMATE RV leveling blocks to get it close to level with a slight lean the right way. The full fix is in our Coleman AC dripping post.
2. Water pressure regulator
Campground water pressure is all over the place, and high pressure is hard on any camper’s plumbing. A Camco brass water pressure regulator screws on between the spigot and your hose and keeps it in a safe range. It is cheap insurance against a burst fitting.
Spares and safety
3. A spare tire you can count on
Do not assume your spare is ready to go. We set ours up with a 14-inch trailer tire on a 5-lug rim, an elevated spare tire carrier, and a spare tire cover to keep the sun off it. Tire size and bolt pattern vary across the Coleman lineup, so check yours before you order.
▶ See the spare tire and exterior upgrades in the video
4. Fuse kit
A blown fuse can kill your lights, your water pump, or your fridge, and the nearest auto parts store is never close to the campground. This 140-piece blade fuse kit covers the standard and mini sizes. It lives in the camper.
5. First aid kit
Not exciting, but you will be glad it is there the first time someone gets a splinter or a cut at the fire ring. We keep this 300-piece first aid kit in the camper so it never gets left at home.
6. Battery disconnect switch
A battery disconnect switch lets you cut power from the battery between trips, so small background draws do not run it down while the camper sits. On ours, the battery holds enough charge between trips a few weeks apart, and a disconnect makes it easy to shut everything off when it goes into storage.
▶ See the propane and battery in the video
Inside the camper
7. Queen sheets that actually fit
A lot of Coleman models, ours included, have a queen bed up front. We use this Great Bay Home queen microfiber sheet set in a lodge print that fits the camper vibe. Some camper mattresses run a little short of a standard queen, so measure yours before you buy.
8. Shelf organizer bins
Coleman overhead shelves are great until you take a corner and everything slides. These fabric shelf bins fit our factory shelves well and keep everything in place. We found them through a Coleman owners group, and they are one of the cheapest upgrades we made. More in our top 10 things we bought for our Coleman 17B.
9. Shower water dam
Camper wet baths are small, and water likes to find its way out of them. A flexible silicone shower water dam sticks down along the edge to keep water where it belongs. It also works as a splash guard around a sink.
Maintenance
10. Roof lap sealant
Every camper needs sealant checked and touched up, and Coleman campers are no exception. We had a skylight leak at the exterior sealant and I resealed it myself. Keep a tube of Dicor self-leveling lap sealant for flat roof seams and Dicor non-leveling lap sealant for vertical edges.
▶ See the skylight leak in the video
11. Pinless moisture meter
This is how you catch a leak before it turns into a soft wall. A pinless meter scans behind the paneling without leaving holes. We use the RDINSCOS pinless moisture meter. Here is our full guide to checking a Coleman for water leaks with a moisture meter.
12. Thermal camera
A small thermal camera like this TOPDON TC004 is a nice partner to the moisture meter. It shows temperature differences, which can point you toward cold, damp spots, drafts around windows and doors, or a wheel hub running hotter than the others after a drive. It is the most optional thing on this list, but it is handy.
Coleman camper FAQs
What do I need for a new Coleman travel trailer?
Start with leveling blocks, a water pressure regulator, a spare tire you have checked, a fuse kit, and a first aid kit. Add a sealant kit and a moisture meter for maintenance, then work on comfort items like sheets and storage bins.
What is the most important accessory for a Coleman camper?
For us, leveling blocks. They make every site more comfortable, and on our Coleman they keep the wall-mounted AC draining outside instead of dripping in.
Do Coleman campers leak?
Any camper can leak, and ours had a skylight leak at the exterior sealant in the first year. Check sealant around skylights, vents, and windows, and scan with a moisture meter a few times a year.
Do these must-haves work on every Coleman model?
Yes. Most of them work on any Coleman travel trailer, from the small 13B and 17B to the bigger Lantern, Light, and Legacy models, or any camper at all. Sizes are the exception: check your tire size and bolt pattern before buying a spare, and measure your mattress before buying sheets.
Are Coleman campers worth it?
For the price, we think so. After a year, 11 trips, and 2,000 miles, ours has held up well. Read our one-year Coleman 17B review for the full honest take.
Final thoughts
None of this is flashy, and most of it is cheap. That is the point. These are the things that make a Coleman camper easier to set up, safer to tow, more comfortable inside, and less likely to surprise you with a leak. Start with the setup gear and the spares, and build from there.
Everything above is in our Coleman camper gear list. Want to try a Coleman before you buy one? You can rent our Coleman 17B here in Cedar Falls. For more Coleman content and honest Midwest trip reports, subscribe to Aaron Goes Outdoors on YouTube.