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01-05-2017, 09:46 PM
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#1
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Commercial Member
Trailer: Winnebago
Posts: 214
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Casita with a slide out
Today when I was registering for a campsite at the Siesta RV Park in Las Cruces NM the guy behind the counter taking my information told me there was a guy with an unusual Casita there last week. He said it had a slide out. He said the guy that had it told him that it was a prototype and his son is an engineer for Casita. I only wish that I had been here to take photos. This information is second hand so I can't vouch for the accuracy of the information but it sure got my attention.
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01-06-2017, 12:02 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Name: Dave
Trailer: Casita SD17 2006 "Missing Link"
California
Posts: 3,738
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MMMM, wonder if that has anything to do with not building the 13'er anymore
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01-06-2017, 12:34 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Trailer: Escape 17 ft
Posts: 8,317
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Yup. Heard of that.
Advised to mix Coca Cola and Zep 1:3 to lubricate the slides.
__________________
What happens to the hole when the cheese is gone?
- Bertolt Brecht
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01-06-2017, 12:03 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Name: Tim
Trailer: '88 Scamp 16, layout 4
North Florida
Posts: 1,547
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo
Yup. Heard of that.
Advised to mix Coca Cola and Zep 1:3 to lubricate the slides.
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You sure that was not Coke & Bourbon to lube something else?
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01-06-2017, 03:11 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1988 16 ft Scamp Deluxe
Posts: 25,697
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No slam, but I can't even imagine Casita manufacturing having an engineer on staff. They haven't made any changes since the Independence in 2013. All other changes have been to options, brands of items and minor items.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward - 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Double Yolk - 1988 16' Scamp Deluxe
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01-06-2017, 03:41 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Name: Mike
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Oklahoma
Posts: 6,020
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Anything is possible. But unless Casita is worried about losing market share (and their production schedule seems to say otherwise) or else wanting to add production volume capability (a new factory, like Escape), I can't see them spending the R&D money on a major product change like that.
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01-06-2017, 04:21 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1996 Casita Freedom Deluxe 17 ft
Posts: 454
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Magee
Anything is possible. But unless Casita is worried about losing market share (and their production schedule seems to say otherwise) or else wanting to add production volume capability (a new factory, like Escape), I can't see them spending the R&D money on a major product change like that.
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It kinda boggles the mind how they would accomplish putting a slide out on a Casita since the trailer sides are curved. Not to mention having to strengthen the area around the opening. That would definitely take some serious engineering.
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01-06-2017, 04:54 PM
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#8
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Administrator
Name: Mary
Trailer: 2015 Escape 21; formerly Casita 1999 17 ft Liberty Deluxe
Posts: 10,941
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I wonder if it was actually Frank F's old (former) Scamp, that he modified with a rear slide out section. Here's some discussion of it, back when Frank had it up for sale.
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01-06-2017, 05:14 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
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Was it red?
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01-06-2017, 11:55 PM
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#10
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Member
Name: Denise
Trailer: Casita
Texas
Posts: 55
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I'd much rather see Casita come out with a 21 footer than one with a slide-out!
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01-07-2017, 08:11 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
Arizona
Posts: 11,925
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wellduh326
I'd much rather see Casita come out with a 21 footer than one with a slide-out!
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Exactly! A poor man's Oliver…
While they're at it, dump the old-school 16'er and roll out a modern 15'er with more height, a bigger bed and bathroom-or-bunks in front, perhaps taking some cues from Parkliner.
Both could be stretched or chopped versions of the 17' design, though adding a little width and height in a 21'er would be nice. Make a clean break from the Boler heritage.
Psst… don't tell Scamp...
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01-07-2017, 10:37 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon in AZ
Exactly! A poor man's Oliver…
While they're at it, dump the old-school 16'er and roll out a modern 15'er with more height, a bigger bed and bathroom-or-bunks in front, perhaps taking some cues from Parkliner.
Both could be stretched or chopped versions of the 17' design, though adding a little width and height in a 21'er would be nice. Make a clean break from the Boler heritage.
Psst… don't tell Scamp...
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I already have taken the liberty of telling Scamp about the Patriot.
It turns out that even while the 16 and the 5er have experienced huge increases in sales, the Scamp13 is even more popular than ever, now about 70% of production.
While other fiberglass makers are guzzling the bulgemobile KOOL-AID, Scamp seems to know where the core business really is, so I am confident that the mission is safe in their hands.
Considering the history, the new Oliver wannabee would really be a rich man's Scamp, and with a standard bathroom allowing the consumption of .... wait for it....
"Poupon Dijon Mustard"
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01-07-2017, 10:56 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Name: Dean
Trailer: Casita
Kentucky
Posts: 766
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Hi All,
Fun thread. Interesting to speculate. I am reading this thread to Laura. It is 11 degrees outside with a dusting of snow. I am drinking coffee and Laura is drinking tea and we are speculating about ideal lengths for egg campers if we had our egg camper company.
We are currently very happy with our Casita 17', but come retirement in several years, I can see wanting a little larger rig. However, I agree with Jon that length seems more logical than slideouts when it comes to egg campers.
Three lengths seem to make sense in our make believe start up company:
1. Small - 13' to 15'. The 13' units are just so darn cute, but 15' would add function without being too big.
2. Medium - 17' to 19'. We currently love the Casita, but the Escape 19' gives so much more elbow room and living space.
3. Large - 21' to 23'. Escape 21, Bigfoot 21, Oliver 23.5. I have been in the Escape and Oliver. Both would be ideal retirement length rigs for us. Would like to see a BF 21 since it has a dry bath. Wondering if the BF 25' would be a bit long (heavy) for our make believe start up company.
In the meantime, we will enjoy our Casita 17' and watch the egg camper industry over the next several years in terms of any innovation (length, width, slideouts, floor plans, etc). I am guessing 19' to 23' would be the ideal length for us in terms of a retirement rig.
Take care,
Dean
__________________
Laura & Dean | '05 Casita 17' FD | '09 Kia Borrego Limited V8 2WD
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01-07-2017, 11:02 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
Arizona
Posts: 11,925
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Quote:
Originally Posted by floyd
...Scamp seems to know where the core business really is, so I am confident that the mission is safe in their hands...
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I'll second that, Floyd!
Casita appears to be doing the same- concentrating on their core market. I'd guess a similar percentage of Casitas are 17'ers, maybe even higher. If they expand their product line, any new designs should evolve from the 17' model.
Dean, I can see a remote possibility of a 15' Casita evolving from the 17' model replacing the 16'er and using Liberty components, with a 54" or 60" transverse bed. If the loaded weight could be kept under 3000 pounds and the tongue weight under 325 pounds, it would fill a slot in their lineup for a trailer that can be pulled by a mid-sized SUV with a 3500/350 tow rating. But whether it would be profitable or not is another question. Realistically, it's cheaper just to let the 16' soldier on…
I can certainly envision the possibility of a larger model, though.
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01-07-2017, 09:41 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon in AZ
I'll second that, Floyd!
Casita appears to be doing the same- concentrating on their core market. I'd guess a similar percentage of Casitas are 17'ers, maybe even higher. If they expand their product line, any new designs should evolve from the 17' model.
Dean, I can see a remote possibility of a 15' Casita evolving from the 17' model replacing the 16'er and using Liberty components, with a 54" or 60" transverse bed. If the loaded weight could be kept under 3000 pounds and the tongue weight under 325 pounds, it would fill a slot in their lineup for a trailer that can be pulled by a mid-sized SUV with a 3500/350 tow rating. But whether it would be profitable or not is another question. Realistically, it's cheaper just to let the 16' soldier on…
I can certainly envision the possibility of a larger model, though.
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I can imagine a larger Casita... maybe a 19.
Casita may feel threatened by Escape and a 19 would be something that suits the market they are after.
The real difference is that Casita has discouraged the sale of their 13 and their 16 for some years now. They are proud of the 17, and for pretty good reasons.
Scamp has never tried to push their customers toward any particular model and they are confident enough not to feel intimidated by their competition and for pretty good reasons. They still sell all they can build.
While the general market seems to be trending larger, Scamp has a solid audience for their 13.
In fact it is pretty clear that while the 13 holds a solid demand which will remain solid, its the tweeners which are loosing market share to their larger siblings and cousins.
The Scamp13 reminds me of the Mustang which seems to appeal to generation after generation, keeping its character, changing only where necessary and oblivious as a world of change swirls around it.
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01-18-2017, 09:01 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Trailer: Bigfoot 21.5 ft (25B21RB)
Posts: 309
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An easier way to create interior space is by making a wider trailer body. In molded fiberglass, only Bigfoot makes trailers that are 8+ feet wide. All the others are around 6 1/2 feet wide. It is amazing how much perception of spaciousness this creates. When Bigfoot went out of business for a couple of years, I was seriously looking at Escape and Oliver as possible replacements. But I was disappointed that they were offering longer models, but not wider. On the down side, of course, is the increase in wind drag and weight is precisely what most FGRV owners want to avoid.
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01-18-2017, 09:18 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
Arizona
Posts: 11,925
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Escape does add both height and width as length increases. The 17' is 6'8" wide, the 19' is 7'0" wide, and the 21' is 7'4" wide.
I think, aesthetically, it's easier to add width to a boxier shape, like Bigfoot and Escape, than a rounded shape, like Scamp and Casita. I recall Airstream's wide body series. More space... but they just looked misproportioned, even ugly. The market ultimately rejected them (as it also rejected Airstream slide-outs).
If Casita were to introduce a longer trailer, a few more inches of width and height would be welcome, and probably wouldn't detract greatly from the exterior proportions. But from an engineering and production standpoint, it's probably easier and cheaper just to stretch the 17'.
I myself don't mind the railway car corridor vibe of long, narrow trailers- I love trains!- and for me the "perception of spaciousness" is best accomplished with windows. My wife would probably disagree, though...
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01-18-2017, 09:22 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Name: Steve
Trailer: 2018, 21ft escape— 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie
NW Wisconsin
Posts: 4,500
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To build a fiberglass trailer with slide outs would require a redesigned and "engineered" trailer From what I've seen / read / heard none of the FG trailer manufacturers have an engineering dept , staffed with a competent trained engineers. The present day FG trailers appear to be more like "Seat of your Pants , Backyard Engineering " from the 60's & 70's.
I can't imagine any of the FG trailer manufacturers spending the time and capital to develope a trailer with slide outs when the FG trailer market is so small and limited .
I wish they would make a wider FG trailer but that would only lead to endless threads on how to add towing mirrors to someone's Chevy Cruz or Ford Focus , so never mind.
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01-18-2017, 03:56 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2002 19 ft Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel
Posts: 3,640
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon in AZ
Exactly! A poor man's Oliver…
While they're at it, dump the old-school 16'er and roll out a modern 15'er with more height, a bigger bed and bathroom-or-bunks in front, perhaps taking some cues from Parkliner.
Both could be stretched or chopped versions of the 17' design, though adding a little width and height in a 21'er would be nice. Make a clean break from the Boler heritage.
Psst… don't tell Scamp...
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Streach, highten and widen even more and add a hot tub and wood burning stove.
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01-18-2017, 04:18 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 1,704
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Have you ever thought about trying to get inside a Scamp/Casita with the slideout retracted??? Best hope it doesnt fail when you get to a campground.
I'm not without my grievances on Scamps/Casitas, but I WILL hand them this on their "design"-
Longevity and simplicity= survival. That my friends has been proven.
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