Two members of the isostructural R2CoGa8 intermetallic series, Er2CoGa8 and Tm2CoGa8, have been studied by powder neutron diffraction. Antiferromagnetic ordering of the rare-earth sublattices was confirmed to occur at 3.0 K and 2.0 K, respectively. Furthermore, determination of the critical exponent showed Er2CoGa8 to adopt a three-dimensional universality class. In spite of a common magnetic easy axis and similar structural characteristics, the antiferromagnetic structures were found to be different for the erbium- and thulium-based compounds. The corresponding magnetic space groups were determined to be P2ammm′ and PCmmm. The difference in magnetic structures is discussed based on crystal electric field effects that are known to be prevalent in such materials.