2024 Casita 17' Spirit Deluxe

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

I just re read this string and apologize for starting a discussion that has already been addressed. This is a cool rig. Love how you pulled all decals. I believe you have your 33 ko2s and upgraded lift and a think suspension. I just installed ko2- 33 . 10.5/ 15s on my trailer. Got 2.5 more " of clearance. I had a rock or branch break my gray valve cap and gray tank pee trap. I know have 19" of clearance and gray cap sits at 14" (lowest hanging fruit) . I use my trailer as a base camp like you but live and camp in high mnts of Utah/ID/MT/WY. So some steep rocky roads for sure. Just curious how low your pluming hangs. Why doesn't anyone that I can think of build a fiberglass trailer with high ground clearance and independent suspension. Also I looked at those Cortz trailers and they are not built like yours. No ground clearance. Less the 10"

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

FYI- 2025 Lexus LX 700h Hybrid Overtrail with triple locking diff is the real deal. My goal is to obtain one asap!

 

[ITTOG]

I think it’s hilarious that guys think a fiberglass hull of which millions of boats are built can’t handle the rigors of driving down gravel roads at 5-10mph. If you think an aluminum skinned bolted and/or welded together frame will hold up better to any kind of stress then I have some ocean front property in Arizona to sell you.

Yeah that is crazy. I have a 24' fiberglass boat and the beating it takes on Lake Conroe is way more severe than any road can create. Even more crazy from the perspective of the two SeaDoo's i have. I often am amazed when they do not start sinking after some of the waves/jumps I hit.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

BRS and Arb are fiberglass and I believe carbon fiber but they are small

 

[Tex68w]

I just re read this string and apologize for starting a discussion that has already been addressed. This is a cool rig. Love how you pulled all decals. I believe you have your 33 ko2s and upgraded lift and a think suspension. I just installed ko2- 33 . 10.5/ 15s on my trailer. Got 2.5 more " of clearance. I had a rock or branch break my gray valve cap and gray tank pee trap. I know have 19" of clearance and gray cap sits at 14" (lowest hanging fruit) . I use my trailer as a base camp like you but live and camp in high mnts of Utah/ID/MT/WY. So some steep rocky roads for sure. Just curious how low your pluming hangs. Why doesn't anyone that I can think of build a fiberglass trailer with high ground clearance and independent suspension. Also I looked at those Cortz trailers and they are not built like yours. No ground clearance. Less the 10"

Yea Cortes I believe has moved over to a frameless design so that might explain why theirs sit so low. I've never seen one in person up close, just passing by them on the interstate. From the videos I've seen they look like they make a nice trailer though, maybe a touch above Casita, up there with the likes of Escape and Bigfoot.

The axle is by far the lowest part underneath and it sits at 13.25", I believe my clean out tank spouts sit about 3"+ above that but I'll have to get a measurement next week when I pull her out for the Big Bend trip. I am only sitting on 30's but I could easily move up to 32's and gain another inch of clearance.

The trip next week will be the most consecutive nights that my wife will have spent in the camper. I told her when we head home at the weeks end that I want an honest opinion on the trailer from her perspective. Should she desire more room then we might look into moving up to an Escape 21 or 23 or maybe I'll take the chance to finally move up to an Oliver Elite II.

 

[Tex68w]

I used the electric heat strip in the Coleman Mach 8 Plus this weekend. Temps dropped into the upper 50's at night and that put the interior of the Casita around 68F so it was relatively easy work for the electric heat strip to get the interior warmed back up to 72F. For conditions like those I don't see the need to fire up the furnace but should temps dip into the low 50's or colder I'd be running the furnace instead.

We are heading out for Big Bend on Wednesday, I am excited to hear my wife's feedback at the trips completion. Who knows, maybe we will be getting a new camper in the coming months!? If the Casita gets to stay I plan to install the inverter, possibly solar and Starlink on the roof and I'll ditch the connected shore power cord in favor of a QD in its place.

 

[Gravelette]

If you don't have an electric site you'll appreciate the gas furnace! We love Big Bend and like to stay at the Chisos Basin campground. We had the Casita out last week, up on the Cumberland Plateau in TN, and temps dropped to low 40s. The heat strips worked well.

 

[Tex68w]

If you don't have an electric site you'll appreciate the gas furnace! We love Big Bend and like to stay at the Chisos Basin campground. We had the Casita out last week, up on the Cumberland Plateau in TN, and temps dropped to low 40s. The heat strips worked well.

I ran the furnace for a night back in the spring and it's definitely much appreciated when the overnight lows dip into the 40's and below. Temps for this week in Terlingua are still quite warm, the furnace won't be needed this trip but glad to have it as an option.

 

[FordGuy1]

Ya I was just asking. My guess is that a fiberglass hull has to be 20 times thicker then a trailer side wall. Maybe most off road builders don't use fiberglass because the molds are so expensive. Plus a fiberglass hull does not have to attach to a metal chassis. Yes 5-10 miles and hour off road but add the pot hole slam at 80 mph on the highway getting to the off road to the mix.

You nailed it. Fiberglass trailers are strong as hell. The cost of makings the molds is why there is not a ton of them on the market. It can be north of 8 figures per mold.

 

[Tex68w]

You nailed it. Fiberglass trailers are strong as hell. The cost of makings the molds is why there is not a ton of them on the market. It can be north of 8 figures per mold.

Hence why the cost of a FGRV for it's relative size is considered pricey.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

You nailed it. Fiberglass trailers are strong as hell. The cost of makings the molds is why there is not a ton of them on the market. It can be north of 8 figures per mold.

Just realized your KK S3 is a full fiberglass shell so that answer my question.

 

[Tex68w]

Terlingua basecamp.

 

[Obsessed2findARuggedHybid]

Terlingua basecamp.

Rig looks so clean especially with no decals.

How's the wife liking the rig. Did you bring wine and flowers. Be careful not to wake her when you get out of bed at night. Volunteer to do all dishes

 

[Tex68w]

Rig looks so clean especially with no decals.

How's the wife liking the rig. Did you bring wine and flowers. Be careful not to wake her when you get out of bed at night. Volunteer to do all dishes

Thanks! I much prefer it without the decals but I'd be ok with a small gray-scale Casita decal on the nose. No flowers or wine, that's not her bag but she's enjoying it. We plan to discuss the weeks trip on the way home along with her thoughts on the camper and we will go from there.

 

[Tex68w]

Well post trip discussions have led us to the decision to keep it for the time being. The wife really enjoyed the camper, she said she was comfortable and felt it had everything she wanted/needed. Her only real complaint was the width and possibly the desire for some more room for clothing storage but the latter is easily rectified by her approach with packing the camper instead of bags (I told her to do this but of course she didn't listen lol).

At the moment I'll continue to browse the Escape 21/23 plans in anticipation of a possible move to one next. That said, I am very pleased with the Casita over 24 nights at this point and I look forward to continuing the build as well as the next trip out.