2013 Coachmen Viking Ultra-Lite 16FB Review

RVGuide.com
by RVGuide.com

You don’t have to win the lottery to take cross-country road trips. The Coachmen Viking Ultra-Lite is the perfect pseudo home for a couple with a big dream on a small budget.


The 2013 Viking Ultra-Lite comes in seven floorplans but we’ll be exploring the 16FB, which is most suitable for families who want to feel at home when they’re on the road. It has a hitch weight of 318 lbs and a base weight is 2,503 lbs, making it one of the lightest and easiest-to-tow travel trailers on the market. Its gross vehicle weight rating is 3,538 lbs and it has a cargo capacity of 1,018 lbs. The Viking’s exterior length is 18’8”, its exterior height is 9’8” and its exterior width is 88”. For water, it has a fresh water tank capacity of three gallons, gray water capacity of 25 gallons, and black water capacity of 25 gallons. Finally, it has a 10-foot awning.


Built on a powder coated I-beam frame, the 16FB mimics the same excellent quality as other Coachmen models. It is equipped with ultra lube spring axles and an E-Z Crank tongue jack. It comes with a dual battery rack and heavy-duty safety chains. It also comes with a brilliant tube style storage bumper, where you can hide hoses and tools. The Viking has a .024 Mesa aluminum exterior and a .030 rock guard. Its front wall protector is diamond plate, making it durable and easy to clean.


COMPETITION: Read our review of the Forest River Wolf Pup 17B

Enter your home through the one-piece radius door, equipped with a window. Safety glass windows in the trailer are radius tinted. Keep your baggage safe in the radius locking baggage door. The one-piece rubber roof is radius trussed. As well, the patio light encourages evening barbeques and adds an element of safety to your surrounding environment. You can also take advantage of the exterior speakers and invite the neighbors for a party.


When you walk in through the radius door, you’re greeted by deep maple cabinetry. The Lumbercore cabinetry, equipped with Mortise & Tenon cabinet doors, lines the walls of the interior, giving you usable storage space without taking up a lot of room. The cabinets are great for storing linens, clothing, electronics and anything else you bring on your trips. This combined with the residential grade flooring makes your small travel trailer feel more like a cute apartment. Tinted windows have blinds and stylish window valances, complimenting the warm furniture.


COMPETITION: Read our review of the Starcraft AR-ONE 18FB

Drive-throughs will be a thing of the past if you purchase the 16FB. Its kitchen is the main feature, especially since it takes up most of the room and provides you with ample space to chop, fry and wash. Store your food and condiments in the spacious pantry. Scramble eggs for breakfast on the two-burner LP range. You don’t have to worry about the delicious smell of caramelized onions or fried sausage seeping into the fabrics of the room because above the range hangs a lighted range hood. If cooking meals and washing pans isn’t a priority for you, then use the microwave to heat frozen meals. A deep kitchen sink minimizes sink clutter by allowing dirty dishes to comfortably pile up until someone finally decides to wash them under the high neck sink faucet. The high-pressure laminated countertops in the kitchen are easy to wash, easy to maintain and almost impossible to stain.


Enjoy your meals at 32” by 72” dinette, conveniently located across from the kitchen and beside a small window. Like the countertops, the table is also laminated and easy to wipe. If you like watching TV while eating dinner, make use of the TV antenna with a booster and HDTV cable hookup. For those who get their mornings started with radio shows, turn on your AM/FM stereo, which also acts as an MP3 and USB player. No matter how small or humble the 16FB is, safety is key. Inside you’ll find an LP/carbon monoxide detector, fire extinguisher and smoke detector.


COMPETITION: Read our review of the Heartland MPG 185

The bathroom is much bigger than one would expect from such a small travel trailer. It contains the basics – a tub and toilet. If you enjoy bubble baths then hop into the 36” tub. Otherwise, just take a quick shower. The foot-flush toilet sits beside the tub. For those who enjoy powdering their noses in the bathroom, hang a mirror above the toilet. It’s not conventional, but hey, living on the road is not conventional either.


When you need to recharge, collapse in your 54” by 74” bed. It’s located directly beside the kitchen and unfortunately has no door or curtain separating it from the rest of the house.


For more information on the 2013 Coachmen Viking Ultra-Lite 16FB Travel Trailer, visit CoachmenRV.com.

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