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Old 07-31-2016, 05:52 AM   #1
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233S or 183

Hi all. I am in the market for one of the triple bunk campers. At first the slide outs were ruled out because of my TV but that;s changing. No I am considering a side out but unsure if I really need it (then again, I really don't need a 183 either).

Any 233S owners, that considered the 183, "regret" getting the 233S? Not that you don't like it but realize that the smaller 183 is fine.

And vice versa: any 183 owners wished they had a slide. My family and I are the type that spend most of our time outside. When we had our pop up we rarely hung out inside - just on cold or rainy nights did we.
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Old 07-31-2016, 07:02 AM   #2
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We went from a pop up years ago, to a 17 foot hybrid for 6 years then to a Shamrock 23s, we didn't need the 3 beds but if we did I would have gotten he 233s.

We never hung out in our pop up or the 17 foot hybrid, they were just too cramped with no elbow room, but now that we have the 23ws we find ourselves in it much more, you can watch a movie, hide from the bugs, unzip the tent ends and play games, and hide from the rain and heat, all in the comforts (nearly) of home.

All I can tell you is when you get all that extra space you find a way to use it, cooking meals in my camper is is now a breeze and the clean up is not too hard to do. We really enjoy all the elbow room and would not want to I've up an inch now that we have it.
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Old 07-31-2016, 04:44 PM   #3
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The slide out makes a HUGE difference in my opinion. (Wife's, too!). I think we would have regretted NOT having the slide out. It just feels more roomy. I don't get feeling of being in a box like with the ones without the slideout.

Good luck!
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Old 07-31-2016, 04:54 PM   #4
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233S is a great layout. Lots of room. Lots of storage. If you don't need all the beds that particular trip don't put all the bunk ends down or use one for storage. We love our 233S. The way it's laid out you can access the whole camper even when the slide is in.

Good luck with you choice.



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Old 07-31-2016, 05:16 PM   #5
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When we were moving up from our Coleman popup, we were going to buy the 183 at the local RV show but had second thoughts. The lack of a sofa was the deal breaker for us. We ended up finding our Roo 23SS used and we loved the floorplan. If you need the 3rd bed and your TV can handle the larger trailer, definitely go for the 233S. Your Honda Odyssey definitely won't be able to pull the 233S (even the 183 would be struggle with both weight and pulling the large front wall through the air) so you'll have to have a more capable tow vehicle.
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Old 07-31-2016, 05:54 PM   #6
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I moved from a popup to the 183. Just my wife and I but we have put in 2-3 month FL getaways in so far. SHe sleeps in the rear and uses the third bunk for clothes storage, I use the front bunk and dinette for my clothes and food storage while we camp for 2 weeks at a time before moving. We spend most time outdoors. The awning is a big deal for us! Acts as our outdoor living room.

Occasionally I camp with friends for a weekend or a week at festivals. We usually take 3 and find we don't usually bump into each other in the evening. If it is raining we sit under the awning outside... we are not inside much for anything.

We love our 183... perhaps if I had a slide I would like it, UNTIL the slide messes up, then not so much. I like to keep things simple.
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Old 07-31-2016, 08:01 PM   #7
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We have the 183 and love it. There have been one or two occasions we wished we had a couch but we solved that my putting the dinette down and putting pillows behind our backs for cushions so we could watch movies when it rains. Now that our kids are older and have jobs etc... it is usually just my husband and myself when we go camping. The most we have had on a trip is 5 and the weather was great so there was no need to be inside. We love the flexibility of the 3 bunks and it's great to unzip all the ends on a nice day.
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Old 08-01-2016, 01:45 PM   #8
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Love the 233s

Hello...

This would be our third trailer, starting out in a Tent trailer, then going to a hybrid to have a bathroom. Nothing like my Wife waking me up in the middle of the night while we were in the tent trailer to use the bathroom. Went to the Zeppelin EZ 190 with two beds and and island. There was not much walking room, but lots of storage. Had it from 2007 until 2016, when the floor rotted. So we then bought a 233s and was completely enthralled with the slide out and how much more room you get.

We use the third bunk as storage. Couldn't be happier with the slide out.

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Old 08-02-2016, 06:51 PM   #9
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We love the 233S! Bought a '16 this Spring.

Having just spent 10 nights/days in it... we love the space provided by the 3 tent ends and the dinette slide.

At one point we had 3 adults and 5 kids under 10 in the trailer for morning coffee/donuts and there was plenty of room.

We have 2 boys under 3. Our 2.5year old uses the rear bunk, my wife and I use the rear side bunk, 1year old is in a pack n' play and we use the front bunk for storage.

The couch is helpful to change the boys and when having a large group in the trailer.

I can't speak highly enough about our decision and if you have the TV go with the slide!!


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Old 08-05-2016, 09:46 AM   #10
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We have the 233S and agree with the others that have made comments about once you have the space you will use it. We found that there is enough space that we purchased an ottoman (extra storage too!) for in front of the sofa and found that on a rainy day to watch movies we moved the ottoman along the front of the camper to make an "L" with the sofa and then moved the dinette table to middle and we were able to comfortable sit 8 people to watch movies.
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Old 08-05-2016, 03:50 PM   #11
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I own a 2013 233s Roo that we bought new and have never regretted getting this one over any other Roo model. We upgraded from a Rockwood HW276 pup which had a lot of amenities in it as well. The only thing that I have not resolved yet is counter space. The roo doesn't have much of it but where that lacked, it gained in many other categories. When it's closed you are still able to get to everything for loading and unloading. The 23ikss was really nice, but when closed, you were not able to get to the fridge easily. Now models have all changed since 2013, but the 233s still seems to be a nice model.
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Old 08-05-2016, 06:26 PM   #12
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The bottom line for me is not having a gigundo tow vehicle. I like using the same SUV for everything all year long, as we only camp in the summer. I can tow the 183 fine with my explorer, but can't go bigger. That is the choice. The 183 doesn't have all the interior space, but it does just fine. We can fit 6 adult type people in that booth table, if we have to. Some of us watch tv from the end bunk, or we turn the tv to the back 2 bunks and have movies in bed. We are usually going places, or hanging out outside anyway.


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Old 08-05-2016, 09:13 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by Summer2Go View Post
The bottom line for me is not having a gigundo tow vehicle. I like using the same SUV for everything all year long, as we only camp in the summer. I can tow the 183 fine with my explorer, but can't go bigger. That is the choice. The 183 doesn't have all the interior space, but it does just fine. We can fit 6 adult type people in that booth table, if we have to. Some of us watch tv from the end bunk, or we turn the tv to the back 2 bunks and have movies in bed. We are usually going places, or hanging out outside anyway.


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Old 08-24-2016, 08:37 PM   #14
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Thanks for all the replies. For 233S owners: can you still put down and access the front bunk if you don't push the slide out? Anyone have a pic of the inside with the slide closed?


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Old 08-24-2016, 08:47 PM   #15
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Yes it can be done, but I don't have any pictures to show. The access to the front bunk with the slide in is still bigger than the rear bunk access. I would guess the slide takes about 2 1/2' of space, leaving the remainder for bunk access if so desired. You do still have the sofa there on the right side though.
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Old 08-24-2016, 09:27 PM   #16
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We bought a 183 a month ago and so far love it. I would agree with others that if you have the space you will use it. We wanted something that we could easily pull with what we had and had enough beds that we didn't have to make down the dinette for a bed. To us the inside entertainment was not that important as we spend most of our time outside. Maybe we'll feel different when the kids are bigger, but for now the 183 checked all the boxes we were looking for in a tt.
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Old 08-25-2016, 08:28 AM   #17
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This has been helpful. Let's move onto outside storage. Coming from a Popup, outside storage is important. I have looked at the Coachmen 23qtx and that appears to have some decent outside storage. What bout the 233S?

Main things I would want to store outside is the grill, camping chairs (4), and the awning rug...is this doable? Storage on the outside seems a bit lacking
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Old 08-25-2016, 10:38 AM   #18
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233 outside storage is very lacking IMO. The side attach grill fits fine as well as an awning rug, but you may be pressed to fit camping chairs. We just leave ours in the TV as they are not only for camping, but used for other activities as well. If you are talking a different grill, then I can't comment on fitment.

There are only 3 exterior storage compartments on the 233.
One on the connection side that will open to full space under dinette. Although door is smaller, it does open to fairly decent space.
One on camp side that opens under sofa. this is where the grill is stored and fits. you could possibly fit camp chairs, but never tried, mine is filled with other stuff.
One on the rear left, fairly small, maybe a 18"x18" door and opens to a little bigger space.


Beyond that, we make space in various interior storage, but we also don't have a lot to pack yet. Our first TT, so we pickup as we need stuff as on each outing, we typically find something we need.
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Old 08-25-2016, 09:08 PM   #19
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Have only seen 1 or 2 hybrid floorplans that had storage big enough for campchairs.
Nearly all hybrids have limited outside storage.
But they definitely have much more interior storage compared to pups.
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Old 08-26-2016, 12:43 PM   #20
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Since we never boondock and I never intend to carry water I cut up access holes in sides of tank to store leveling wood, axe, etc. Grill and chairs can lay on floor of 233S between couch and dinette during travel.
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