Hi All, so much fantastic info on this board, it's amazing! My head is swimming with all the different makes of eggs but so far I havent found exactly what I'd like and it may be b/c it doesnt exist. Is there an egg in the 15 ft range (vintage or new) that sleeps 3 (1 short adult and 2 kids) and has an inside shower? It seems like a 15 footer could accomodate that even if you have to replace a closet with a shower. A 2X2 ft space would be fine as my home shower is only 3X3 ft. It's more for the kids when they are too tired to go to the bath house or when there aren't facilities available. I'm only 5 ft tall so I could use it too. If an egg doesnt exist already, could one be modified? If so, which brands? The only 15ft eggs I know of are the Trilliums, Surfsides and Escapes. If I'm leaving any out please tell me.

Thanks for the input,
Melissa

Hi, Melissa -

There are many 15', 16' 17' trailers that would fit your needs. Casita, Scamp and Escape are in current production and there are a lot of older models, Burro, Fiber Stream and many more that would work. Many eggs have two sleeping areas and wet baths. some have kids bunks over the larger beds.

Go to the Helpful-Links page for Casita's, Scamps, and Escapes web sites and check out the floor plans. The search function on this site will get you to threads and photo galleries.

I know that many more members will be signing on with great suggestions.

Welcome and have fun!

Escape'sClick to view attachment

Escape's
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The iCamp Elite has the bathroom and shower you are asking for in a 15' or so package, but your husband won't like the 5'11" interior height. It is also quite heavy at 2400 lbs dry weight, and quite expensive at $16,000.

Melissa's husband is no shorter than I am, and the only Casita that is tall enough for me is the 17'. Unfortunately it's much too heavy for my tow vehicle and too big for me to store conveniently.

Melissa, if I remember correctly you have a tow cap that you need to stay under. I just want to add that bathroom models tend to weight more, so if your trying to stay under a certain weight a bathroom model may not work.

There are shower tents that are available at wallie world that may give you that shower option with out the weight of a bathroom model. It would be a pain to drag with you and set up when needed. But it could be a solution.

Scamp 16 side dinette

Here's a link to a list of trailers and their interior heights:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/index.php?showtopic=34031

And another for bed sizes:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/index.php?showtopic=25101

BTW, the one thing I forgot to mention about the Compact/Hunter/Campster-style trailers is their very low doors. It's only 54" high, and you get quite a whack on the noggin if you forget to stoop down. After the third whack it's no longer an issue -- somehow I no longer even think about it....

Thanks for all the suggestions. Yes, I'm trying to stay around 2400 lbs ready to camp. My tow vehicle is a minivan with a 3500 lb capacity and I like being way under that so a 16 or 17 foot is pretty much off the table. I was hoping if I stretched it from a 13ft to a 15ft maybe a shower could be squeezed in. I thought maybe the 15ft would have a taller ceiling for Hubby (6 ft) when it's just us two camping and I read the Trilliums have wider beds. I need to be able to sleep 3 when it's just me and the girls. When it's all four of us I'll take the popup and Hubby can get that darn door off the popup ceiling, lol.

How do you collect the water if you use an outside shower tent? I know a lot of placed dont allow grey water to run on the ground. I thought about using a kids blow up pool but then dont know how I'd get the shower water out of the pool and to the dump station.

Thanks to all who dont mind educationg newbies to the FG world, lol.

Melissa

Same with the Casita, but I am a person who learns pretty quick. Only took once to smack my head before I learned to dunk................ Hubby still smacks on occasion .

About the tent shower, I don't know cause I have never needed to have one, But I believe it has a water bag that you would fill (warm in the sun) from campground water

Or Scamp 16 with side bath.

my 1994 Casita SD is 16' , sleeps three with the side dinette down and has a shower/bath and air conditioning up under the front closet.... It weighs in at about 2300 lbs loaded as per cat scale and the tongue weight is 260 lbs (measured with one of those fancy rv tongue scales) the newer ones may weigh more...i'm not sure.
Joe

Thanks for that info, Joe. I think I did read a discussion here somewhere that the new Casitas are heavier than the older ones. If somebody else could "weigh" in (lol) on this topic I'd be appreciative. Maybe we could narrow down when the extra weight came about. On a side note, where do you get a trailer weighed? Does every city have a place? I'd like to weigh my popup ready to camp.

Thanks again!
Melissa

Melissa....
Most truck stops have a scale (Cat Brand is my favorite as you can weigh it in sections at one time in a single weigh) go on a sunday when truck traffic is minimal and ask them if you could unhook and just weigh the trailer...... if thats not possible weigh it twice... once with the tow vehicle and trailer and second time with just the tow vehicle and simply subtract the difference. If you get lucky enough where the scalemaster says you can unhook the trailer put the trailer wheels on one section of the scale and put the front crank down on another section of the scale so you can get a hitch weight and an axle weight ...... just take a good look at one of those scales and you will see what i mean......cat scales are recognizable from the highway because they have a picture of a black cat on the sign.
Hope some of this helps.
Joe

Thanks, Joe. I'm not sure I've seen any truck scales on my stretch of I-95 here in Florida but we are headed to Ft. Bragg in North carolina over T'giving so I'll keep my eye out for them there.

Hi Melissa! We travel in a Scamp 13 with no shower. When available, we use campground showers, but for boondocking we have a 4x4 shower tent by StanSport (a wonderful Christmas gift from daughter). These are available from Cabela's and other outdoor retailers. We adopted the shower methods decribed in other posts ... here's how we do it:

We carry all our shower stuff in a covered tub in the tug - the tub is our "shower pan" to keep (most of) grey water contained.

We use a Coleman hand-held shower with battery-operated submersible pump - $20 at WalMart

When it's shower time, heat the water in a large kettle on the range or camp stove, place the kettle on a small table/milk crate in the cabana, the tub on the ground inside and the pump in the kettle of water

Once you're ready to shower, it works much like a small RV shower ... wet down, soap & scrub, rinse - adult can be squeaky clean in less than 2 gallons of water! Your girls will think it's fun!

When finished, carry the tub to the sewer hook-up spot at your site, or pour into a 'blue-boy' type portable wastewater container for later disposal.

This has worked well for us ... indeed we are using our shower cabana now (that's another story). This procedure has even been used by brave souls INSIDE a 13 footer using tension rods and shower curtains, but we've not been that brave yet!

Sounds like you are really 'doing your homework' and we wish you success in finding the Egg just right for your family.
Take care - L 'n D

Joe, my understanding is that the 16' Casita's interior height is only 5'10" -- at least that's what the Casita site says. Is your Casita's inside height more than 6'?

Melissa's husband is 6' tall -- he may object to having to always stoop when standing or walking.

Hi Melissa,

I tow an EggCamper 17ft. that weighs in at about 2000# dry. It has a side dinette that would work as a short bed. It has a shower and double bed and ample head room. I tow with a 2002 Toyota Sienna (3.0 V6). I think there's one in Florida somewhere. If you get in touch with Jim Palmer out at the EggCamper factory, I'm sure he could put you in touch with the owner so that you can see one in person.

Ron

My inside height is 5'10" which i am short enough to fit under but i did bring a few friends in there that are about 6'2" and they said it didn't bother them at all..... I thought for sure they would say this is annoying but for the light weight and all the amenities inside they said they would have no problem.... I don't walk around much inside. It's too small....... sitting, sleeping or outside.... LOL
Scamp 16' are supposed to be taller inside and may even be a little lighter..... maybe someone on this forum could chime in on that?
Also what ron says about the "EggCamper" I didn't realise they are that light for a 17' wonder what the tongue weight is on them?
Joe

Hi Ron, that would be great if there is an EggCamper in Florida. I do want to get to the next Rally here which I think is held in Sebring around Feb or so. I'm going to look at the schedule on this group.
How does Jim keep his 17 ft so light when e'body else's is much heavier? Does being all electric accomplish that in itself or are there other weight saving methods he uses? Have you weighed yours ready to camp? Any idea how wide the rear bed is?
Living in Florida most of our camping is in flatter territory but my folks just moved to Wyoming so we are beyond excited to be spending summers traveling in that neck of the woods to Yellowstone and all the fabulous sites out that way. I just dont want to strain the Sienna (3.5 V6) in the mountains etc.

Thanks for this info,

Melissa

Hi Melissa,

My wife and I are going to be at the Sebring meet in February (2/8-2/13), together with Darald and Pat (also EggCamper owners). So, if you don't see one before then, you're welcome to tour ours.

I think that Jim has really worked hard at eliminating weight without sacrificing function. I suspect that a lot of eggs use particle board for cabinetry, and things like roof-top A/C that adds pounds. The EggCamper A/C is a standard "window-type" unit that probably tips the scale at 50# instead of a heavier roof-top. The frig is 12V only, so I suspect it weighs less than a 3-way. It all adds up. I haven't weighed our camper loaded for a week of camping, but I doubt that we add 400 pounds of clothing and food.

Ours is the electric version, but we do bring along a propane stove that we used for cooking outside.

I admit that I haven't taken it over really big mountains, but here in New Hampshire we have many small mountains and I haven't had any problems hauling it up hill.

The double bed is quite wide (tall). I think I put the measurements out on the forum a while back. I'll have to go look for them. I haven't ever measured the side dinette made up as a bed. I've never made it into a bed.

Ron

Melissa,

Here's an excerpt from a previous post:

The overall length is 17 ft. tip of tongue to rear bumper. Excluding the dogleg to the door, the main (open) floor space is 40 1/2 in. x 73 1/2 in. Toilet/shower is approximately 38 in. x 30 in. Our's is a permanent bed, which measures approximately 50 in. x 86 in. Headroom is 79 in. The Fridge is Norcold model DC0040, and the label says it draws 2.5 A at 12V. It is small, and has an aluminum cooling unit at the top that holds a ice cube trays, but I wouldn't exactly call it a freezer.

Ron

Thanks! It definately is going on my list to investigate. Where is the Rally in Feb? I couldnt find it on this site. Do you have reservation info? I'll be bringing my Popup if that's ok.

Thanks!

Melissa

From the SOI website:
"ScampCamp 2010
- February 9 (Tuesday) to 13 (Saturday), 2010. Plan to join us early by calling exactly 11 months to the day to make your reservation. Call 800-326-3521 to make reservations, then email or call Alice Vernezze, the host, to report your information. The sooner you do this the easier my job is. Even if you have to cancel you won’t lose all your money - the park withholds only one day’s fee. Alice’s email is: ezzeal[at]bellsouth.net, Phone number are: 321-773-2676 (home) or 321-501-3181 (cell), and address is: 610 N. Robin Way, Satellite Beach , FL 32937. We travel during the summer, so the cell phone works then. If you have a GPS system, Highlands Hammock State Park is located at 5931 Hammock Rd, Sebring , FL 33872. Come join us for a great experience."

Yes, I don't walk around much in mine either. But when cooking, washing the dishes, washing myself, getting dressed, combing my hair, and etc. it's really nice to stand up straight.

If Melissa's husband doesn't spend much time standing inside (cooking, etc.) then the reduced height probably won't bother him much either. For me, I don't know which is worse -- trying to wash myself or wash the dishes while ducked down under a too-low ceiling -- either one is an annoyance that becomes a back ache.

Hi Joe,

I set up the height of hitch for a tongue weight of 250#, which is what the manufacturer recommended, and the trailer sits pretty level at that height. I don't use a weight distribution hitch or sway bar. It tows very nicely at highway speeds.

Ron

250# tongue weight on a 17' is fantastic along with your approx. 2000#overall weight. However you did it.....Nice ?Going
Joe

Joe,

I just took Jim Palmer's recomendation for tongue weight. Jim sent me the tongue height, and then I loaded 250# on the tail end of my van and had the hitch ball set to the height that Jim sent me. I haven't actually weighed the tongue, but I suspect that it's pretty close based on the way the trailer rides and tows.

Ron

I know when I stood inside the 16' Casita I couldn't deal with it. I had driven a few hours to check it out for myself just to determine if it would bug me or not.
I had a 16' Scamp at the time and I have no problem standing straight in it.
I have just gotten a 17' Casita and it seems a little taller than the Scamp.

I decided the low height in the Casita 16 was a deal breaker.
Nothing as frustrating as getting up and not being able to stretch out,at least to me.

Also I will plug again for the Fiberstream with big headroom and the biggest bed going I think?
If it will just be you and the kids the three of you would have no problems sleeping on the big bed I think.

Melissa,I pm'd you about seeing the Casita if you are interested?
I am in South Florida right now but will not be for long.

Just a thought
Ed

Hi Ed, I'm new to forums etc and thought I had most of it figured out but can't find your PM. Under my controls it says 0 messages so are the PM's stored some place else? I feel like a moron, lol.
Our local Air Force base (Patrick) rents Casitas. They aren't sure if they are 16 or 17 feet. They are volunteers who work in the office. We are going to the base tomorrow and plan on stopping by to check them out if one is there. Being a weekday I wouldnt think they'd both be rented but you never know. I know what you mean, Hubby has no interest in stooping. I guess that is one advantage to me being "vertically challenged", lol. If it turns out they are the 16' ones I'll see if I can catch up to you to see your 17' one. Thanks for the offer. I was reading the thread on Scamp vs Casita and thought it interesting that the Scamp isle is wider. That would be handy as Hubby is around 280 lbs so squeezing by is a way of life for us sometimes. We do like each other at least, LOL.

I sure hope nobody else has PM'd me b/c I cant find them if they have.

Melissa

Melissa, if you're just viewing the 0 messages from the main forums pages, it doesn't mean you have zero messages, it just gives the number of unread messages. Click on the massages window to go to your inbox

Thanks Donna, I guess I havent recieved any new PM's then. I did email Ed to let him know I didnt get his message and to let me know whether he got my message or not.

Melissa