Hello everyone. I am having a tough time trying to decide which trailer to get. There are features on Scamp and on Casita that I like. I am looking at the 13ft models for my first fiberglass trailer (but the Scamp 16 has me thinking). Front bathroom, loaded with most options, I will be the only occupant. I have a Ford F150 V8 with tow package, so towing is adequate. Below are some of the features I like about one that the other does not have. I list them here to help me decide as well as any insight y'all have.
Casita
- Floor is enclosed in fiberglass
- Bathroom has a window
- Outside water/shower available
- High lift axle, 15" D tires available
- Rather like the idea of the front A/C rather than overhead.
Scamp
- Battery is outside - easier to maintain and saves interior space
- Having the option to not have a sink in the bathroom gives more shower space.
- From what I have seen in pictures, it appears there is a bit more storage.
- Like the white sink (I know most people like stainless steel, but I'm weird OK?)
- A bit more headroom
- 2 inch rear receiver available
- Screen door!!!
- Curtains are more cozy
- I live in Northwest Ohio - Minnesota is closer, but that is not really a huge issue.
There are probably some points I'm missing, but these are the biggies. So I don't want to start a war or anything, but I am hearing that Scamp customer service is more... errr.. friendly/accommodating.
I also am intrigued by the 16 ft Scamp in layout 5. This has the front bathroom and a storage room! It also has great counter space on both sides of the trailer. When I saw that, it is making my decision more difficult.I was kind of staying with the 13 since I wanted small and nimble not only for driving, but to be able to fit in small camp spots. If I go with 16, then Casita Liberty would be my choice from that manufacturer.
I have to decide soon! I at least want to order and get the trailer this year. I hear the build times are very long.
I can totally identify with your thought process. It is a difficult choice. I don't think there is a wrong answer as to which to purchase. I rarely see a Casita person deciding they would rather have bought the Scamp or a Scamp person deciding they would rather have bought a Casita and plenty of people who go on to buy a 2nd unit or more of either they started with. Over the years, what I have seen most of is the weight issue often being the deciding factor or the location factor. I have not been inside either one but have seen the outside of both. I am equally far from both if I were to purchase new. If a good and reasonably priced unit of either type came up today, I would already be waiting there cash in hand. To me, of all the units, the Scamp Deluxe has the most pleasing interior and I'm thinking if I were going to spend a lot of time out in it that it would make a difference. Seems it could be customized so the interior could be just anything you wanted. I know that sounds shallow but most things being equal, then I can be shallow about the decor and hominess.
I think when buying new, you feel an extra obligation to get it right which is understandable.
Cathy
Casita
Floor is enclosed in fiberglass - Some people have suggested that this is actually a negative since water can be trapped and remain unseen until damage is done, and they also say that a properly maintained Scamp floor is not a problem.
Bathroom has a window - which seems to be a want of more than a handful of people, but why I don't understand. Do you plan on sitting in the bathroom and gazing out the window for long periods of time? The VanAir powered roof vent probably provides more ventilation than a window when its turned on, and about the same when opened but with the fan off. And supposedly Scamp gave up on the front bath window because of leaks, and does not use a window in the side bath either,
Outside water/shower available - Not that hard to add later but so many campsites (around here at least) don't want you running outside water. Just using a two way on the water spigot works for me, and if you want warm water a solar shower works under the right conditions.
High lift axle, 15" D tires available - Good I guess if your going where it higher clearance will be needed, and better tires are always good.
Rather like the idea of the front A/C rather than overhead. - I don't like the weight of the AC so high myself, but roof air is more efficient and takes up less space in the camper.
Scamp
Battery is outside - easier to maintain and saves interior space - AND safer IMHO
Having the option to not have a sink in the bathroom gives more shower space. - Agreed, a sink in the bath with the kitchen sink two feet away is silly.
From what I have seen in pictures, it appears there is a bit more storage. - I don't know but having more storage space can encourage one to carry more weight than they need to.
Like the white sink (I know most people like stainless steal (sic), but I'm weird OK?) - So many important things to consider when buying a camper.. sink color and material is not one of mine ; )
A bit more headroom - Yes I can stand up straight in my Scamp! (Unless I am under the roof AC)
2 inch rear receiver available - Available, but not good for much. I have one but using it while on the road is iffy at best. I like it for mounting a mast when parked.
Screen door!!! - I wonder if this could not be added to a Casita. The Plisse screen door that Scamp uses now is supposed to easy to install in many different ways.
Curtains are more cozy blush - See note under sink color.
What I just said is my opinion only and other people will say different, so keep that in mind.
I agree 100% with Gordon's comments. The big selling point for my wife and myself is the 54" bed in the S-13 Std. and the S-13 & S-16 Deluxe models. I also feel the Scamp grey water system is a much better system.
Eddie
I do not know if you already rejected this option, but you mentioned you have an F150. That could also pull the Scamp 19 with equal ease. The overall length when hooked up is the same as with the 16, because of the overlap, so it still fits in small spaces. The 19 is really like the 16 just with the loft added. Just a thought.
-Paul
2004 Scamp 19 Deluxe,
2021 Tacoma, Double Cab, 6 cyl. 4WD
Colorado
A couple things you might want to consider -
1 - The Scamp 16' with side dinette allows you to keep the table/bed made up permanently as a bed. I talked myself out of a 16' because of tow vehicle concerns but am having buyer's remorse. It's a pain to make up the bed in the 13' every night. I even made modifications that gives me a "living room" during the day with the bedding stored in the back of my van, but have now decided that I want a memory foam mattress for a permanent bed which leaves me with 44" by approximately 36" floor space. That's why the awning and folding table are also needed.
2 - The Fantastic Fan is almost a necessity if camping in open areas like our bluegrass festivals. My husband installed solar panels on the roof of the 13' so the fan doesn't draw battery power. He has the sandwich board style of solar panels for the big camper.
Have fun with your shopping. You can see that it really comes down to your preference and when the right camper becomes available. If you watch the ads on fiberglass-rv-4sale.com, there are some great looking campers out there, one of which may have your name on it.
MarilynB
13' Scamp w/bathroom and 2013 Subaru Outback
The Scamp 16 Deluxe Layout A has a front dinette so you can leave the bed made in that one too... thats the trailer I sometimes think I should have bought.
I was going to leave the bed made too, esp since some added foam is really needed, but I found I like the table space at times.
We're out with a 13' Scamp this winter for 2 1/2 months and we've decided we need to step up to a 16 or 17. We went out of our way a few hundred miles to visit the Casita plant in Corsicana TX as we didn't want to pass up the chance to really look them over. Our impressions were that the exterior fit and finish was superior but after being inside the models we came to some personal conclusions, for us. Just for us and our perspective.
1. No Casita has a large galley and/or countertop. It is just their designs. We decided we need more food prep space. This is OUR need, YMMV.
2. The basic layout of the Casita leaves a very narrow center aisle. Again, like the small galley, this doesn't really vary much from model to model, it's just integral to the basic design. We have found we need to be able to better "pass" each other and those aisles simply wouldn't allow that well.
3. We also noticed the differences in cabinet height and depth. Different slightly. There was far more similarity than difference. We tried not to get distracted by those minor differences and stayed focused on the main ones, which for us, was the center aisle and galley sizes.
So, in balance, we will likely be considering another Scamp and the layouts of 3,4 are among our choices, mainly because of the much, much wider center aisle and the "double galley" design, if you will. This simply meets our personal lifestyle choices better. That the Scamps tend to be a few hundred pounds lighter is also a plus for us and our TV. In fairness, we'd dearly, dearly love to see an Escape 17 but alas, being east of the Mississippi, it seems like a far-away dream. Saw one in our RV park in Natchez and tried to walk around that site often without being creepy about it. LOL
We're unique in what we want, what we use, and what we find matches our "style" the best. For example, just mention a micro wave on forums and everyone tends to impose their ideas on others. The biggest discussion starter? Fiberglass trailer bottom and floor rot. This is hugely a red herring as floors rot from leaking windows, seams and plumbing and they rot from the top down, not the bottom up. So that issue is a non starter for us either way.
The real "hot button" issue is the bath. My goodness, there is so little tolerance for others' point of view. We know we're "odd" and want nothing to do with the plumbing, the space commitment or the extra weight. But saying this on forums is a kind of heresy that forces many evangelists for baths to try to convert you, with near religious fevor, to their point of view. hahaha The good thing about being older and experienced is you don't pay much attention anymore and you get what you want and you need. LOL
If everyone liked or wanted the same thing,we'd have no choices in life:-) I say go for what you want and what fits you the best.We have a 16ft Casita because we like it and thats what works good for us,and I would want everyone else to get what works best for them,good luck on finding just what fits your needs and enjoy
Launey and Earlene
Thanks everyone for your thoughts. Seems like I just have to make the decision and go for it. I fixed the spelling on the "stainless steal" LOL. I am not opposed to selling the initial trailer and moving up to the 16 or 17ft a few years from now. In fact, that is very much in the back of my mind. I am used to pulling a small pop-up, and love that versatility so that is why I wanted a graduated approach.
Thanks so much for that Plisse screen door link!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2016 Scamp 13ft Standard w/bath.
Tim - Maumee, OH
While you are trying to decide between a Scamp and a Casita trailer, you might check out the Escape trailers on Google. They are made in British Columbia, Canada. They have a fiberglass 17 footer, very deluxe and with the excellent exchange rates they are also affordable.