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Old 07-14-2013, 08:23 AM   #1
ATHiker
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Default Trailmanor vs Casita

I'm curious if any Trailmanor owners considered Casitas. They both are tow vehicle friendly and have excellent value retention.
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Old 07-14-2013, 09:16 AM   #2
Dchisenh
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Good morning ATHiker!

It's funny you mention both TMs and Casitas because that was the choice I had whittled my options down to as well. Obviously, you hit the nail on the head why, ease of towing and retention of value. They're both marketed towards folks who want a camper but cannot afford a traditional-sized one, but they have their clear differences. Now, just a disclaimer, I haven't physically been inside a Casita myself, but I have done quite a bit of research on them.

A Casita has an advantage in that it is more 'sealed' within its fiberglass shell, where a TM uses flaps and seals. It also comes with a small black tank as opposed to the recirculating Thetford in a TM.

I consider their ease of towing, resale value, insulation ability, and supportive fan base a draw.

Now, this is where the TM takes the cake: Floor space. Even the smallest TM opens up into a bigger footprint than the largest Casita. Combine that with the dedicated bed, larger bathroom, actual counter space to prepare food, and greater floor plan options...the TM wins hands down in my book!

I'd suggest that you do some looking around and find a few Casitas and a few TMs to look at and decide which one you would rather spend more time in and which suits your needs the best.

Good luck in your search!

-Dan
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Old 07-14-2013, 10:08 AM   #3
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We looked at a number of smaller trailers. Casita, Scamp, MPG, R-Pod, Alpine, and Chalet were all considered. We were impressed with a number of models but I don't think any had free standing shower. You had to use the entire bathroom as a shower stall. We just didn't like that idea for a number of reasons. I think it came down to them feeling too small for extended periods of time. They would be great for a weekend or maybe a week.

We were getting this because we have retired and wanted to be able to travel for whatever period of time it took us to get homesick. It seems like that has turned out to be about 6 weeks. The TM feels like a home away from home. When we are traveling we spend most of our time out of the trailer. We like to hike, sight see, socialize with neighbors and just enjoy new places. It is large enough that we never feel cramped after dark or if the weather forces us in. There have been times where a lot of the day or a few days have been spent inside. Like when we went razor clamming in the winter. It is our second home at the beach, mountains, desert, and river.

There were a few drawbacks to the TM. I had to do something about the chemical smell of the toilet as DW has a nose on her like a bloodhound. The water was a bit of a pain when boondocking. And having to crawl over someone to get out of the bed is not ideal. The first two were fixed with modifications and the last is just something we live with. You can see my modification in my pictures & albums.

We have had it 3 years now and feel the 2720 SL TM is perfect for us and have no regrets having made the decision to buy it. The couch and chair setup in the front is ideal for 2 people. It makes the trailer feel very roomy. It works for 4 just add a camp chair, but it is a bit tight for sleeping. Not only that but there is this wonderful forum with great participants that makes any questions you might have easy to answer. Oh, and the TM will store in our garage.
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Old 07-14-2013, 11:27 AM   #4
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I looked at Casitas, the factory is near where I live. They're quite attractively designed, but they are small. I have a TM 2619, and when we go camping, and there are Casitas around, I say to myself, I'm glad I did not get one of those ! Of course, I'm 6'3". I even find my 2619 cramped. It seemed a lot roomier at purchase time !
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Old 07-14-2013, 11:41 AM   #5
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We went camping for several days last week. Two sites over from ours was a Casita 17. Nice camper. We've seen several that got our attention. The Casita owners were friendly and invited us in to look. Over the 5 days and nights we were camping near each other, it appeared that they spent a lot of time outside due to limited space. Our TM was great and allowed us to live in it for days. They had guests come by and visit and there was no space available inside. They towed it with the same vehicle as we. If I were to downsize, I might consider the Casita.
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Old 07-14-2013, 01:57 PM   #6
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We were interested in buying a Casita too. We were serious enough to visit the factory. I actually really liked them. Two things ruled it out for us:

1) Casita doesn't have dealers, so they have a program where owners can show their campers to prospective buyers. We did this, and unfortunately one of the owners had let their camper get mildewy. HUGE turnoff to DW.

2) Casitas won't fit in a standard garage.
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Old 07-15-2013, 04:57 AM   #7
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We looked at both Casita and Scamp they were ruled out because you get more room with the TM, and lower profile when towing.
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Old 07-15-2013, 07:10 AM   #8
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Thanks for your comments. I've only had a chance to tour one Casita and two Trailmanor's and your comments are very similar to my impressions. I like the build quality (fiberglass) of the Casita, but they are small. I think the wife and I would be ok spending time, but visitors would be very tight. I'm looking at the 2720SL and feel that it would have just enough extra room to make to move livable, plus the dedicated bed.

One question about breaking camp in the rain. I'm not worried about getting wet myself, but do you worry about the walls being wet when you collapse the TM?
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Old 07-15-2013, 07:25 AM   #9
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TM thought about the rain, you will discover that if you are level there is very little rain that gets inside unless it is a driving rain that blows in. I have done it several times and you will also be surprised how much time you spend under it the bed areas staying dry. Not the nicest part of the day, but not the nightmare either.
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Old 07-15-2013, 09:30 AM   #10
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I live in Oregon and do worry about putting the trailer away wet. Setup and take down are not that big a deal once you get it down; you really can get it done without being out long. It just kind of drizzles here most of the time when it rains though. I think I might wait out a thunderstorm. If it were pouring rain all day well I always bring a rain coat anyway.

Concerning putting away wet, I have put covers on my vents so I can have them open in a rain storm and I always leave them open if it is wet. I am not sure how effective this is for letting it dry out. When we get home it seem like we always have to open the trailer anyway. Most of the time we have been able to wait for a dry day to put it away. This is probably over kill but I do carry a small long handle squeegee. If we are not going to be opening the trailer for an extended time for some reason I will wait for a break in the rain and use it. There isn't standing water on the trailer but I try and get it as dry as possible.

We have never had a problem with anything being damp inside the trailer or mold growing on the covered shell. These are my main concerns with folding up wet. I am interested as to what others have experienced as I too wonder if it could be a problem and how careful one should be about it.
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TM:2006 2720SL
TV: 2010 Tundra w/ tow pac.

Dealer Options:swing tongue, sink cabinet, awning, air conditioning, tile

Modification: 15“ tires & monitor system, WDH, Prodigy B.C., 2-6 V. batteries & clipper monitor, LED's. Additional modifications can be seen in albums.
Pictures of campsites and places we visited can be seen at https://www.flickr.com/photos/101899116@N06/sets/.


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