2025 Coachmen RV Catalina Destination 42CONDO Review
If you have a property with beautiful views and are looking to have a vacation home, the 2025 Coachmen RV Catalina Destination 42CONDO just might be the model for you. Depending on the size of the people whom you’re hoping to share the adventure with, this destination trailer has provisions to sleep up to 13 individuals.
At a Glance: Catalina Destination 42CONDO
The Catalina Destination 42CONDO earned a score of 7.0 out of 10. With a really nice kitchen and private bedroom, this could be a great vacation home, permanent residence, or even auxiliary dwelling unit — especially for those who love to entertain. However, some of the build features definitely felt like they came from the bargain basement, thereby lowering the overall score.
2025 COACHMEN CATALINA DESTINATION SERIES 42CONDO
- Expansive sleeping space to host 13 people
- Enormous windows with power-retracting shades for magnificent views
- Luxurious residential-style amenities in the kitchen
- Not made to travel with any kind of frequency
- Drawers and cabinets are noticeably lower-grade in quality
- Local ordinances may restrict where you can put a destination trailer
- Vacation properties for personal use or as a rental
- Additional, fully furnished dwelling space for a family member
Check the Specs
- Sleeping capacity: 13
- Hitch weight: 1,586 pounds
- UVW: 12,715 pounds
- CCC: 1,500 pounds.
- Exterior length: 45 feet 5 inches
- Exterior height: 13 feet 5 inches
- Exterior width: 101 inches
- Fresh/Gray/Black: 55/89/44 gallons
- Propane: 2 x 20-pound tanks
- Awning: 26 feet
- MSRP: $79,748.55 (estimated)
Features We Love
- Sleeping space for up to 13
- Plentiful storage totes
- Large windows
- Drop-frame front bedroom and rear bath
- Included washer and dryer
- Power televator
- Residential-grade appliances
- Large spacious kitchen and living space
Benefits
- Room to host a crowd. Depending on how large your crew is both in number and stature, this RV can sleep up to 13 individuals. Admittedly, some of those individuals would have to be more youthful to be able to sleep two in a bed. However, even if each individual gets their own bed there is easily sleeping for eight in here. Further, many of the storage spaces are occupied by totes. That means that individuals who join your adventure can be responsible for their own tote.
- Magnificent views. If you place this RV on a property with beautiful views, the enormous windows with power-retracting shades will be a good way to enjoy those views There is a cabinet also with a built-in electric fireplace that also has a televator which can raise or lower the TV at the touch of a button. That means that the views aren’t impeded when the TV is deployed and the TV can be a larger model when it is deployed. It’s also directly across from a large L-shaped sofa so placement is good.
- Elevated spaces. The front and rear of this RV feature a drop frame design which means the bedroom at the front and bathroom at the rear are a step down from the main floor. This enables the lofts that also occupy the front and rear of the RV.
- Residential-grade kitchen. Using the kitchen in this RV will feel very much at home as the appliances chosen by Coachmen RV are residential-grade appliances. As such the stove, microwave and refrigerator are all larger than in many RVs. So, those who enjoy cooking will feel right at home.
Challenges
- More than a little moving. These large destination trailers aren’t really meant to travel frequently. A prime example of this is the included toilet, which is a residential model. If you do plan to move this, you’ll have to accommodate the lid on the top of the toilet tank, so it doesn’t get broken in transit.
- Low-grade drawers and cabinets. Frankly, the drawers and cabinets in this RV had some of the cheapest feel I’ve experienced in an RV in a long time. While many aspects of this rig were certainly pleasant, the drawers and cabinets had a distinct low-grade feel to them.
- Local ordinances. Something to be keenly aware of before buying any destination trailer are the local ordinances. Some jurisdictions do not permit what they consider to be RVs to be used in a permanent or semipermanent basis on a property. One can find this out by simply contacting the local planning department.
Best For
- Vacation residence or rental property. For those who have a vacation property, this could be a great way to have a residence on that property. Rather than going through the whole design and build process, it could make sense to simply place one of these destination trailers on a property. Further, one of these trailers could also make sense as a vacation rental. Whether at an RV park that permits such a use case or on a piece of property, something like this would be a quick way to step into the rental market.
- Additional dwelling unit. I’ve seen families with sufficient property buy a destination trailer and put it on their own property as an additional dwelling unit for a family member. This could be a great idea for a family where one generation stays in the main house and another has the autonomy of a trailer like this.
Key Areas We Evaluate for RV Buyers
Sleeping Space: 8/10
The sleeping space in the Catalina Destination 42CONDO is rather intriguing. There is a traditional front bedroom with a proper bed. This space is in the lower portion of the front of the trailer but still has three larger windows to the front. So, you can take advantage of views if you have them. There is also a wall of closets on the back of the bedroom plus a dresser with four drawers on the camp side of the rig. The bed itself is in a slide room and measures 66 by 74 inches.
Loft Space
Above the main bedroom is the larger of two lofts, and there are three bunk mats up here. I went up there and couldn’t sit on one of the bunk mats without hitting my head on the ceiling. So, this is a space that is well suited to more youthful occupants who might also appreciate the spiral staircase up to this level.
Two of these sleeping mats measure 42 by 74 inches, which conceivably can accommodate two smaller humans. These two mats also have a cabinet between them with a number of totes along with some additional storage.
There is a third mat up here that measures 28 by 74 inches and is a much thinner mat.
A second loft is in the back of this rig above the bathroom. That loft has two of the thicker mats that measure 42 by 74 inches, also with a cabinet between them that features totes and enclosed storage as well.
In the Living Area
The last space for sleeping is on the couch in the main living area which is an L-shaped affair and has a pull-out bed.
If all the mats, couch and front bedroom are fully occupied by as many people as possible that leaves sleeping space for 13 individuals. One had better hope that none of the occupants are tweens. In that case, the bathroom schedule could become very complicated.
Bathroom: 8/10
In the lower portion of the back of the Catalina Destination 42CONDO is the lone bathroom. This is a larger space and features a residential toilet, unusual in an RV. There is also a larger walk-in shower with a spa-style shower head fed by the tankless propane water heater.
Additional storage is decent in here but what looks like a closet is a provision for an included stacking washer and dryer.
Something I caught: The toilet in the Catalina Destination 42CONDO directly faces a window in the bathroom. If the place where you have this trailer has a great view you could occupy the toilet while enjoying that view or even use this to greet any neighbors who might be close by. Of course, there’s a curtain if that’s not your style.
Living Area: 8/10
The main living area in the Catalina Destination 42CONDO encompasses the kitchen and a place to relax. There is that large L-shaped sofa that can accommodate maybe six people. So, for those who plan to sleep host 13 people, someone’s not going to get a place at this sofa. That sofa faces a cabinet with a televator in it as well as an electric fireplace.
This entire interior space feels incredibly open and airy much due to the vast number of windows that extend into the very tall ceiling of this rig. One’s initial reaction might reflect how I pondered closing the shades on those windows. but that task is easy with a switch at the control panel that will power down these shades. Also, a plus: The shades are the light-blocking, roller-shade variety.
There’s a large kitchen island that extends into the main living space and is surrounded by five bar-height stools. So, now you know where the crew that didn’t grab a couch seat is going to sit.
Like many other destination trailers, this one features a large sliding glass entry door that has folding steps underneath it. It’s not uncommon that these destination trailers are brought to a place and then a porch is built in front of these sliding glass doors. So, the folding steps and patio-style doors make a lot of sense.
Kitchen: 8/10
I like the kitchen in the Catalina Destination 42CONDO with its residential appliances and plentiful counter space. For anyone who likes to cook, these larger appliances will feel right at home. There are a decent number of drawers, but there’s also a large pantry here. So, storage shouldn’t be an issue.
Four-Season Capabilities: 6/10
I wouldn’t qualify the Catalina Destination 42CONDO as four season capable by any means. While the underbelly is enclosed, it’s not heated to my knowledge nor are there heating pads. These trailers tend to sit permanently in a spot. However, I’ve seen many owners put skirting around the outside of their trailers and then put a small space heater under the trailer to stave off winter’s chill.
Storage Space: 6/10
While outside storage isn’t a strong suit of any of these destination trailers, this one is better than many. There is a compartment door in the bedroom slide that grants access to the space under the bed. There’s also a second compartment door that opens up to the space under the back stairwell. Many’s the time owners of this type of RV also have a storage shed of some sort to keep other items.
Chassis/Suspension: 6/10
The basic function of any suspension on an RV is to reduce vibration and harshness that is transmitted to the cabin of the RV. This RV is really meant to be taken to a location and live out its life there, although it would be possible to tow it around.
As such, the entry-level suspension and tires on this RV are not something that concerns me greatly. If the intention for this model was to travel frequently, that would be a different case. However, since these destination trailers typically make a one-way trip, it’s not a big deal.
Off-Grid/Sustainability: 6/10
I would guess that almost all these destination trailers like the Catalina Destination 42CONDO live out their lives hooked to shore power and pressurized water systems. There is a solar hook-up on the side of this RV, but that’s effectively a connector to the battery. This type of solar isn’t going to provide any power to the household outlets. There is no inverter provided in this rig.
While it would certainly be possible to use this RV off-grid, and it does have holding tanks, owners should be aware that the tankless water heater can only operate on propane. So, an owner would always have to have a supply of propane on-hand to achieve hot water. It used to be common that these kinds of RVs had electric-only water heaters, which, to me, makes more sense.
Further, the Catalina Destination 42CONDO is outfitted with a residential refrigerator, which would require a source of 120-volt household power. But I don’t know of any destination trailer that comes with an inverter which is a device to turn battery power into household power.
Build Quality: 6/10
There are a variety of ways of building any RV, but the most traditional is probably with a wooden structure covered with aluminum skin. That’s how this RV is built. There’s nothing wrong with this methodology whatsoever. However, the uneven corrugated aluminum skin does mean that the sealant between the skin and the window structure and baggage doors should be checked carefully for leaks. All RV exteriors need to be checked regularly for leaks, but this type of RV can present more challenges. But it’s also far less expensive to build RVs this way. With proper routine maintenance, this type of construction can last for decades.
I have to say the drawers and cabinets in this RV felt very cheap. Perhaps it was because I was looking at a variety of RVs that day, but the build quality of the drawers, in particular, really felt like 1970s quality, not something you’d see today.
Value: 8/10
The value of an RV like this varies greatly based on the use case of that it’s intended for. If you compare this to building out even a “tiny house,” the cost of buying one of these is significantly less than that of even a small traditionally-built home.
That’s especially true if you consider that this comes fully furnished and rather nicely appointed. So, I would say that there is definitely a strong value proposition to the Catalina Destination 42CONDO.
Closing Notes on the Catalina Destination 42CONDO
I really like the layout and functionality of this trailer. With the huge windows and open-feeling main living space, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to use this as a permanent residence. That idea gets credence with the residential appliances and bathroom.
But, as stated, those with aspirations to bring one of these to a property should consult local zoning laws. Not all jurisdictions permit this use case, and it’s better to find out before you own one of these and are now responsible for it.
Of course, plenty of people also put these as permanent residences in RV parks. The large windows, again, make the interior really feel spacious, but the views in an RV park wouldn’t be as pleasant (unless you’re like me and just like RVs) as they would at some lake-front or mountain property, of course.
But, still, considering what it would cost to build a custom home that was comparable in function and size this is a relative bargain with some really good living features.
A Note on the RV Trader Review Process
RV Trader asked RV shoppers what was most important to them in their RV buying process. Potential buyers — like you — helped us to identify a list of six key areas that camping and travel enthusiasts always look at when they’re searching for the perfect RV: sleeping space, bathroom, living area, four-season capabilities, and storage space.
The RV Trader team then got to work providing you with honest and unbiased evaluations. If you’re wondering, that’s where I came in. As an RV expert and enthusiast, I provide an honest look at RVs from an RV industry insider perspective.
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