Ready to buy an RV but need help!

I went with a toy hauler: https://coachmenrv.com/freedom-express-select/17BLSE/9224

I've since wired in a 2kW inverter/charger and added a second battery. Will also be putting a few solar panels on the roof at some point after I figure out how to mount a rail system to allow me to easily remove them for cleaning and treating the rubber roof, plus I have to get over my anxiety about drilling holes in the roof first...

Anyway, my V6 with tow package tows it just fine, generally 60-65 is the max speed even going downhill since it's like towing a parachute, plus single digit MPG is the norm, but that's fine. I don't go out a lot and my little Tacoma is wonderful so I won't be getting something bigger just to tow stuff. Perhaps I'll look into that supercharger to get +40hp some day...

 

Believe me, I know what I am seeking is the opposite of most. If I can figure out a way to post my "backyard", I will. I basically live in a national park at 6K elevation and zero full-time neighbors and 3 part-timers who come up a few weekends a year! so yeah, very different goal indeed but I am sure I'll spend a few days on BLM land anyway - just not 2 weeks at a time like I'd originally planned! In my previous life (before injury) I was a backpacker and lived in the city lol

 

My suggestion is to not overlook the used motorhome market. The wife and I picked up this garage kept 1988 Tioga with 42,000 miles on it for $4,300!!! The thing is built like a tank. We’ve had it all over Pennsylvania camping for 4 years now. Beautiful old units are out there. Do your homework, check listings daily, & have your cash ready. You can save a lot of money this way and a lot of wear on your Tacoma.

 

I boondock my pop-up a week at a time.

A few points: I agree with quality. My pop-up is not quality, but I make it work with maintenance. New lap seal every five years, new bearings every three, new anode annually. Every time a screw falls loose reinforce and replace. Obviously, the better your platform, the fewer repairs you make. But even with a cheap trailer like mine, you can keep it running if you are determined enough.


For boondocking - I have modded the hell out of my trailer. Most of my mods are convenience and comfort mods - but there are a few essentials that I'll list below.

Numbers one and two: A good battery and a good battery monitor (one that keeps a running tab on amps, not just volts). I run a LiFePO 120 amp-hour battery, which will last between 3 days and a week depending on how many accessories I run. Lighter is better, and that battery only weighs 25 pounds. That is a huge improvement over the 115 pounds of lead it replaced. I carry a pair of portable solar panels to recharge when on longer trips, and have never run out of electricity. The monitor really comes in handy on longer trips. Between it and checking the weather forecast, I can pick and choose on which days I want to deploy solar panels.

Number three: efficient everything. Most trailers come with LEDs these days; its a cheap conversion if not. Have kill switches on energy vampires. I have a master kill switch on the battery, and then I installed physical kill switches on appliances like the radio and rearview camera because they never truly turn off even when in "off" mode. The only two things that are not switched - the battery monitor and the CO detector.

Water management is easy - just carry an empty jerry can and use that to refill your onboard tank. Carry a porta-tote for wastewater. You want to be able to transport water both coming and going - you aren't always able to bring the trailer to the sources, so you need to bring the source to the trailer.







Carry a few basic tools. The unexpected happens sometimes. A socket set and a breaker bar protects you from most strandings.





Oh, and cheap organizers are invaluable.






Good luck, enjoy. I've been running that little camper since 2017, and still love it.

 

Wow.. you practically stole that ol' girl. Congratulations! I feel you got very lucky / fortunate with that deal. I too would encourage OP to take their time and check used listings across the country (it's worth traveling to save thousands $$$ for most of us.)

We too have evolved into a class c motorhome (towing the Tacoma). We towed a Casita beforehand and it was a wonderful set-up.. just a bit small for us on the road for 3+ weeks at a time.

A class c motorhome is a different cost class than what OP was originally inquiring about. Feeding/maintaining a second drivetrain is inherently more expensive.



I've owned 3 Casita campers since 2005. They were all extremely easy and inexpensive to own. I say own (not purchase) because the original investment is more expensive as they are frequently double the price of stick built campers ( @Radd post early in the thread was right on.) Most other trailers depreciate like a rock (resale on stick built trailers is bad for a reason.. they don't hold up.) My experience with Casita trailers was I sold two of them for more than I bought them for.. the 3rd was sold at ~8% less because I bought it new in Rice TX.

Cost of ownership is:

Purchase price + Maintenance costs - Selling price. This is where the fiberglass campers rule (Bigfoot, Escape, Casita, Oliver.)

 

Absolutely and right on! Pay more up front and enjoy owning a solid camper that still has value whenever you decide to sell it.

 

Ok gonna rat my Buddy out.. he’s got Nice trailer & think he’s pretty happy with it, even has slide out & think it’s under GVWR. He jus used last weekend hitting the Shlopes ..

 

You can’t go wrong with a casita or the like. Living in it means you like need more than the space of these popups but you might look at a Fourwheel. Second one I saw is this which is expensive but so sweet. https://uprootedtraveler.com/safari-condo-alto-trailer/

 

This thread is interesting, and has me looking at Casita trailers, but I'm not sure what the OP's budget is? I know she's in the Inland Empire, but I wonder if something like this is what they're looking for: https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2013-Casita-17+SPIRIT+DELUXE+17-5034854673#sid=309896

 

I'm on the Casita forum, have been active for 10 years and that price for that 2013 is a great price. If someone is interested in a Casita, join the Casita forum, no charge, just have to register.

We love helping folks interested in our trailers. They have been made by a family owned business for 40 or so years with just minor model changes through the years.

In a couple weeks about 200+ of the trailers will be arriving in Quartzsite for the annual winter get together.

If you want one you can only buy direct from the factory, no middle man. You drive and pick it up or they deliver. If you want to see one in person you call the factory and they will give you a list of owners near you who have agreed to show their trailers. Most of us have put ourselves on the show list.

Quartzite, many different fiberglass trailers attend.

 

I wish I could love an old Casita but it’s just too old. I’m not handy. I’m looking at 2018-2022, max budget 22k and under 3600 lbs.

 

definitely watch some of the new trailers coming out. with the bottom falling out of the rv market, many brands are starting to re-focus their efforts on the lower end of the market. i had been hoping to see more of a valuation drop on older trailers, but i think far too many people owe too much on their trailers for that to happen. i hadn't really expected to find myself in the new trailer segment, but with the market changes since covid, it seems the mfg's are being more adaptable to market forces than the used market.

like this coleman that's $10k, and will sleep 4. most interesting part of this one to me is that it's entirely electric-- there's no propane even installed on it.
https://www.theautopian.com/this-10...the-price-of-the-cheapest-new-car-in-america/

personally, i'm pretty well decided on getting a sunset rv trailer. i had been set on the sunray 139t, but they just debuted the sunlite ltd line, and the 13 bh, or 13 mj are both extremely interesting to me, though everything in that line(13' and 19' versions) i believe falls under your pricing and weight criteria.

 

I am definitely open to a new RV if it is within my budget. That one is pretty awesome for 10K!