Hi, I'm new

[tstorm5]

Tom here... I have 1022 days (about 2.75 years) until I retire and hit the road. By that time I will own a F-250 Diesel with all the bells and whistles. Finances will not be a problem once retirement day hits. I have been investigating Casitas and have just now begun researching Oliver's out of Tennessee. I definitely want a fiberglass trailer and zero interest in slide outs. I want a simple, long lasting trailer. I am learning many things thru forums like this. If you are a Casitas fan or an Oliver fan I would love to hear why. I realize the price difference, but Oliver offers a full 6 foot longer tandem axle. Anyway, I am certain you folks know tons more than I do at this point. Feel free to offer any information.
Oh yeah, thank you FiberglassRV for making the registration process so simple and thanks to anyone offering info to a relative newbie like myself.

[Kevin A]

Welcome and best of luck in your search! We recently bought a 28' fiberglass Bigfoot Silver Cloud and really like the dual axle setup and ample inside space. I hope you find something to your liking!

[Glenn Baglo]

Tom,

You might also like to explore Escape. There are 36 members in the Texas Owners Group on the Escape Forum ( not owned by Escape ).

Escape Trailer Owners Community

[tstorm5]

Thank you, I will be searching the web and trying to find what I think will make me happy. I'm a no frills kind of guy but know I will need more than a tent and camp fire to keep me happy. Have now added Bigfoot to my list of research material. Again, thank you.

[DeBreez]

Hi Tom,
With your TV, you can pull just about anything in the fiberglass trailer world. We love our Casita 17SD, but the Oliver is a step up, especially when you compare the interiors. The Escapes and Bigfoots are also nice, and both come in larger sizes. The Casita factory is in Rice, TX - you should consider a visit. Also lots of owners all over Texas.

[Mr Lynn]

We have a NTU (new to us) Casita 17, which we're still adjusting to. I wish it were larger, but we can carry our outdoor camping gear in our Ford Expedition.

Here's an hour-long video wherein a new owner goes over all the goodies, inside and outside, of the Oliver:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWTL...wincrasher2007

It's really a gorgeous piece of equipment, and if I could afford one, I'd certainly consider it.

But I'm coming to the conclusion that the ideal personal towing setup is a fifth-wheel rig, because the hitch is directly over the truck's rear axle, hence fewer problems of sway and weight distribution; your F-250 should handle one easily. Escape, Bigfoot, and Scamp all make molded-fiberglass 5th-wheel models. The Scamp is less money.

If you have a full-size bed in the truck, Bigfoot makes a line of slide-in truck campers, too.

/Mr Lynn

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Mr Lynn

...Escape, Bigfoot, and Scamp all make molded-fiberglass 5th-wheel models...

With Bigfoot it's "made," as in past tense. They haven't manufactured a fifth wheel for quite a few years.

[Mr Lynn]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

With Bigfoot it's "made," as in past tense. They haven't manufactured a fifth wheel for quite a few years.

Oh, right. My mistake. Thanks, Jon.

That leaves Escape and Scamp, I guess.

/Mr Lynn

[Jack L]

Bigfoot trailers are wider than most which makes it nice when I'm inside the trailer but I have to pay extra attention to the width when towing in tight situations. As far as the other brands you mentioned, I would say YES to Oliver, Escape, and Casita if I was thinking of making a change. If you are looking for a used trailer, it's best to be flexible and consider all brand options.

[Herman M Parker]

Welcome Tom. When you retire if you have time come on over to Florida for a visit. Florida has many state parks and like the ones we stayed in in Texas they are all nice. I would tell you July and August is not the best months but with the heat in Texas in those months you already know that. I hope you find the perfect trailer for your retirement.

[Mitzi Agnew-Giles]

Look at Parkliners in NC and Lil Snoozy in SC also. They have the bottoms of the rig engineered to reduce turbulence and do away with the need for sway bars. Lil Snoozy offers the convenience of being all electric also.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Mitzi Agnew-Giles

Lil Snoozy offers the convenience of being all electric also.

That's one way of looking at being tied to the power grid.