EXPO Casita pulled by Cruiser on 40s

The rug is there to provide sound and thermal insulation. I've toured some older ones and my wife (who has a very sensitive nose) didn't comment on that point at all.

Think about it this way... in order to have molds, you need humidity. The bathroom has a vent fan, and if you do the "shower curtain mod" to the bathroom door, then you can also use the big "super fan" in the main cabin. The doors and the windows all have screens, so most evenings one or more of those are open with the big fan running. There's simply no way for humidity to build up during use.

I guess it could be stored in a wet place and you could get mold that way, but that could happen to any improperly stored trailer.

People have all sorts of ideas about what might happen until they tour one.

 

I really think you got that backwards, my friend.

Started out wanting a Scamp too, until I read the ads. Seems a lot of them need the floor replaced after several years becasue the plywood floor is exposed to the elements (and splash from the wheels) on the underside. So the one place to start your inspection on a used Scamp is the underside of the floor.

The Casita on the other hand also has a plywood floor, but it is totally enclosed by the fiberglass body. No water can ever get to it. That's one reason you see 20 year old Casitas for sale with no issues.

If you want something between those 2 (e.g. more weather resistant than Scamp, but lower priced than a Casita), then look for a Park Liner, which is a Casita-like copy made in NC. http://www.parkliner.com/

 

Really? Good info here! I’m not too serious about buying yet but I do want a small camper in my future. Thanks for this though! It will help me someday.

 

Not trying to start a pissing contest but, as a Scamp owner for the past twenty years, suggest you do a bit of research before buying in to the merits of Casita vs Scamp floor design. Floor rot almost always comes from leaks ABOVE the floor; usually from windows that have debris blocking the weep holes. The encapsulated OSB system used by Casita often makes them much harder to detect and definitely more difficult to repair. This http://www.casitaclub.com/forums/topic/10055-floor-repair/ is a link to the topic on a Casita board or just google 'casita floor rot'. A couple of other boards of interest https://www.casitaforum.com/invboard/ and http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/ If you want to get a first hand look at several different brands, check out the 'rallies' section of the last link and attend one near you.

Casita makes a great trailer as do most other molded fiberglass trailer mfrs. Parkliner was sold recently and I'm not sure if they're still in production. If you're really concerned about leaks and floor rot or rusting frames, check out an Oliver
https://olivertraveltrailers.com/travel-trailers/ but be prepared for a price somewhere north of $60K.

Props to the Casita owners who've posted here. Those are some nice looking campers.

 

I just saw this up on Craigs. Why are you selling it?
https://cosprings.craigslist.org/rvs/d/casita-17-spirit-deluxe-2010/6658619137.html

 

Love your Casita and the black wheels! I have a 2009 Casita Spirit Deluxe 17' and I absolutely love it! I was just wondering what are the specs of your wheels and tires. Where did you purchase them?

 

Picked up our 17’ Spirit Deluxe last Wednesday.

 

I just found this Toyota forum and as a new Casita owner who is contemplating buying a new Tacoma to tow it with (I currently have a 2005) find this thread interesting. Having put 175k miles on a Chevy 2500 HD with a Pastime slide-in truck camper on, it since 2006, we are not new to travelling and rough country. My 2014 Casita is a 17' Independence and I'm curious about others experiences in towing that size (3000lb+) trailer with the newer 6 cylinder Tacomas with the 6 speed automatic transmission.
Thoughts and observations from those with first hand experience would be appreciated.

 

Towing my 17’ Spirit Deluxe was a piece of cake. Barely knew it was there. I did get the Andersen weight distributing hitch...I’m sure that helped.

 

I just got my brake controller installed on my 2019 SR the other day but, due to snow, have not hooked up the Casita to the new Tacoma, yet. I got a WDH set up and anti-sway bar along with the trailer but would like to eliminate the hassle of having to hook them up and un-hook them if I could. I did not use either when towing the Casita home to WV from TX with my 2500HD chevy. I've seen a bunch of Toyotas towing without these additions to the tow systems over the years and wonder if they are really necessary. The Casita only weighs around 3K Lbs. wet.

Comments?

 

We pulled a 16' Scamp across the country a couple of times and up and down the east coast for several years with only a friction type anti-sway bar and had no issues. Keeping the tongue weight at 12-15% of trailer weight is key. With all our gear, the trailer came in at around 2,850 lbs - your Casita may be a little more. We now have a 19' Scamp with the hybrid fifth wheel/gooseneck/bumper pull hitch and it tows just as well and maybe a bit better.

Let me know how the new Tacoma handles the Casita. I plan to trade the 12 in the not too distant future and would be interested to hear how your's does in the WV mountains. Hope to see you on the road some day.

 

I only have experience towing my Casita with the Andersen. Tows great, and hookup is simple...not a pain at all.

 

My Andersen is the new model with chains instead of solid bars. I leave the chains connected to the “wing plate” (my term) and just loosen the tensioning nuts. Then I drop or connect the plate to the bottom of the ball using the connecting pin.

 

We got a WDH from the previous owner as well as a sway bar set-up. The ball hitch he gave us must weigh in at almost 100 lbs. He towed the Casita with a FJ. We will try towing the trailer with the truck "as is" with a normal Reese/ball/hitch with a 2" drop for starters. Would really like to be able to not use the bars/chains/ slider anti sway bar etc. We will see.

 

Would you happen to have a picture of the hybrid hitch set up? I'm curious

 

Link to a thread I started a few years back. If you have questions, just let me know. Still have the same camper but moved the hitch to the 12 when I bought it.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/modified-gooseneck-19-scamp.223474/

 

Subbed because getting a small camping trailer is definitely a bucket list item for me. Until, that day I can live vicariously.

 

I'm following too. Nice Casita. We have one and have been modifying it quite a bit too. How do you drain your grey tank with just a cap on the drain? Or does it have bayonets too so you can move the sewer hose between the two to drain?

 

@expomax came to ask this question. what size tires? picking up 2021 casita next month. comes with 3" lift. any recent pics?

 

How did you do the 4" lift?