Travel trailers, or bumper pulls, are little homes pulled behind a vehicle that date back to the days of European gypsy caravans when Romanian gypsys pulled their wooden homes behind horses. Today, lightweight trailers can be towed behind nearly any vehicle on the road.
In 1901 “Caravaning” became an increasingly American activity with the invention of the motorized vehicle. Clubs were founded and groups traveled together to experience this ‘on the road’ sensation.
Over the years, travel trailers have been as small as the 9-foot teardrop, and as large as a 45-foot Holiday. They have been built from wood, aluminum, and back by popular demand, fiberglass. That’s where the Casita travel trailer comes into the story.
Founded in 1981, the family owned company takes pride in their super lightweight bumper pull. The Casita looks a little like an egg. Its rounded corners make for aerodynamic towing and people simply adore the easy to clean, easy to love aspect of these units.
Starting at 13 feet long, Casitas are small compared to many other travel trailers. There are no slide outs, and they max out at 17 feet. Still, people are passionate for these little homes on wheels. In fact, at most Casita dealers their travel trailers are completely sold out. A quick look on RVTrader.com yields only 5 for sale including using models.
Casitas come in four different floor plans. The 17-foot even offers a king bed option, which often surprises people. The 13-foot unit always gets the most curious customers, but in fact the three largest units sell the best. The units all include a mini kitchen and a wet shower bath. A few of the models offer two sitting areas and everything folds down into beds.
There are 14 new Casitas built every week, and it takes about two weeks to make one. At the Texas plant the units are sold in the front and made in the back, making it easy to take a tour and see the entire process. (M-F 8am-1 pm)
In a Casita everything is compact and well thought out. Prices range from $14,000 to $20,000, and most units are special orders. The unique fiberglass shell is bonded in two places from top to bottom much like a boat. Each inch of the trailer is checked for leaks and the construction of these little campers is legendary!
The most recent features available for Casitas are a portable solar power kit and increased water tank option. These two features work together to help RVers explore the great outdoors without hookups. Basic boondocking is easy in a tiny Casita travel trailer, which helps make this a great first time RV purchase.
If you are interested in exploring the Casita you can get more information on their website or by visiting them in Rice, Texas.
If you are intrigues by the world of fiberglass travel trailers you might also be interested in the Scamp and the Oliver. Scamps are offered in 13, 16 and 19-foot options, and they even make a tiny 5th wheel. They are made in Backus, Minnisota.
Oliver Travel Trailers have double fiberglass, higher-end finishes, and are larger than Casitas at 19-24 feet. Ollies are made in Hohenwald, Tennessee and are considerably more expensive. No matter which brand you are interested in, used units are very hard to find.
Want to learn more? Check out the website FiberglassRV.com for an active forum and lots of helpful information. You can also join their Facebook page and ask a ton of questions. One of my favorite things on this site is their tutorials on using solar, winterizing, winter camping and an awesome buyer check list to help you pick the right rig. They also list ALL the fiberglass travel trailers that have been available past and present. With over 12,000 members you are sure to find the plenty of helpful information.
If you are looking for a particular rig, ask around. You never know what resources people might share to help you find your fiberglass dream! Also, this is one of the best places for finding used units. Members list their travel trailers and sell them to other members. There are no commercial dealers so the prices are usually fair and the owner can give you the history of the trailer, it’s quirks and it’s updates. Believe me, this is so important to know BEFORE you buy! Another great thing about working directly with the owner is you can learn how the trailer was stored.
So what do you think? Does the Casita travel trailer interest you? Do you like the idea of pulling a trailer that is less than 2,500 pounds and easy to store? Add your thought to the comment box below. You might also want to share this story with your friends. Casitas are gaining popularity and you never know who might be waiting to see this RV! Thanks for reading.
