Hi Steve, welcome to the cult!
We have a 2015 17SD which we purchased used in March. It has every option except:
- power jack
- factory
microwave (previous owner installed a small micro)
- sink cover (planning to stick rubber feet on a plastic cutting board so that they are held in place.)
-
LED lights (I recently replaced them - they can be had a lot cheaper than what Casita charges.)
We live in S. Florida and have only camped locally so far, so the A.C. gets a workout.
Regardng some of the items you mentioned:
Vinyl floor - we are very happy that the floor isn't carpeted (then again our entire house is ceramic tile, so....) However, the vinyl looks fine - doesn't make a statement - and is easy to keep clean. Have read about people adding wood floors, but seems like a lot of work for something you won't see that much. I recommend a small rug or two.
Awning - we love it and find it very convenient. You can extend it for a couple of feet and attach the posts to the trailer to shade the side of the trailer. Fully extended it makes a very nice shade area. I would never leave it extended if there were any question of high winds, but if you tie it down it can be pretty secure against all but the biggest gusts. We also bought a Clam screen shelter but don't consider it a replacement for the
awning. This is a small trailer, and the
awning and shelter more than double your "living space."
Furnace - haven't used it yet, but glad we have it when we head farther north. Note that the A/C does have a heat strip.
TV - we use it more than we expected - I sometimes go out in the Casita when it's parked in our yard for a siesta or to watch a movie. Also, if you get rained in, it's not a bad thing to have. The antenna that comes with it is crap and will be replaced soon. I do like that it's a combo TV/DVD. You can probably find a nicer one on Amazon, however.
High lift
axle - a must, imo. Otherwise, I don't think i would be able to back the trailer into its spot in my back yard.
Sway bar - you can use an existing bar. You just need the "mini-ball" welded on the frame and next to your TV hitch. Pulling the trailer with our Tundra, it feels the same with and without but it's good to have. Can be added later.
We're very pleased with our purchase so far. The only thing I've needed to do to it is to replace the
battery.
If we were ordering a new one, we would get it pretty much as ours is equipped. Maybe go with the slate cushions. Also, I would choose not to mount the tire on the back. We are currently carrying it in the bed of our pickup but are looking at other options.
In terms of aftermarket, I strongly recommend the receiver hitch from OMW. The bumper on the Casita is not fit to hold anything, and the hitch allowed us to move our bikes out of the TV and onto the back of the trailer. It's a custom fit for the Casita and is a bolt-on install. If you don't bike, you can carry anything that will fit in a 2 inch receiver.