Casita vs Bigfoot

[Marjorie M.]

I had a beautiful Casita and sold it to go back to college, but now I'm looking at getting a 17 foot Bigfoot to live in in the summers. I've found a couple that aren't too expensive. The only trailer I've ever had is the Casita, and I'm wondering how the two compare. I know the BF is wider and also more of a four-season trailer. Anybody know anything about these, how they compare? Thanks!

[Dick Smith]

I had a beautiful Casita and sold it to go back to college, but now I'm looking at getting a 17 foot Bigfoot to live in in the summers. I've found a couple that aren't too expensive. The only trailer I've ever had is the Casita, and I'm wondering how the two compare. I know the BF is wider and also more of a four-season trailer. Anybody know anything about these, how they compare? Thanks!

You have identified two differences. The Bigfoot doesn't use rivets for shelves etc.. I prefer the Casita floor plan.( I like the bed arrangement) The Casita is lighter.

[Robin G]

Your trying to compare oranges to apples in my opinion. I have only ever owned a Casita but did look at a 18 ft Big Foot. Beautiful quality, beautiful trailer. Just too big for my tow capabilites. Not that my truck couldn't have handeled it, just to much for me to handle. Both Newer units so comparing across the board I would say I would have a Bigfoot if I wasn't such a chicken $hit to pull it and if I were to be living in it for any length of time there would certainly be more storage options in the bigfoot. Now all that being said I love our Casita, but lets be honest it's small and not as open as a bigfoot would be. Again they are two different types of trailers so comparing them side by side doesn't really work.


If you want to compare Scamp/Casita

Or Casita/Burro those are certainly more comparible in my opinion.

[Marjorie M.]

Robin, I'm looking for exactly the kind of input you gave, such as the Casita not being as open or having as much storage. I realize they're quite different, but I've not been able to actually see a Bigfoot (ha, nor do I ever want to, not the animal, anyway), so your kinds of observations are very helpful.

[Robin G]

Oh good I wasn't sure if I would offend anyone by saying they are two totally different trailers. But in my opinion they are.


The Bigfoot is far more open and roomier. And I am sure it's due to the fact that it's more square, taller, wider, etc. You might want to add the Eggcamper to your list of possiblities as well. It's more like the Casita but wider and taller. The only thing I don't care for in an Eggcamper is the bathroom set up. Other than that it has tons of walk around room and storage as well. But less beastly pulling cause it's shaped like a Casita. Again, I love our Casita it works for us, but it's tiny and compact for a reason. It's just a different option. Good luck in your search. Enjoy whatever you find.

[Marjorie M.]

Thanks, I know there are tradeoffs. I actually didn't mind pulling a Casita, but I'm not real crazy about having a camper at all, I like being carefree, yet I need a place to sleep, the tent I went back to isn't cutting it. I'm not a kid anymore.

I'm currently bidding on a Casita on eBay, so we'll see, but I really do like that open floorplan of the Bigfoot.

[Jane P.]

I had a beautiful Casita and sold it to go back to college, but now I'm looking at getting a 17 foot Bigfoot to live in in the summers. I've found a couple that aren't too expensive. The only trailer I've ever had is the Casita, and I'm wondering how the two compare. I know the BF is wider and also more of a four-season trailer. Anybody know anything about these, how they compare? Thanks!

Time will tell if I made the correct decision, but after researching the Casitas (for many years), I purchased a '92 Bigfoot 19' pull-trailer at the beginning of the year.

My reasoning is that:

• I realized that I could get a used Bigfoot for about the same price of a used Casita.
  
• I preferred the Bigfoot's floor plan: I liked the idea of the dinnette set in the front of the coach.
  
• I like the idea of a 4 seasons trailer: I plan to use this trailer in the winter, and will probably be traveling over western mountain ranges in sub freezing temperatures.
  
• I like the more spacious feeling from the wider coach - my husband really disliked the Casita's narrow interior.
  
• The Bigfoot has a bigger galley - 4 burner stove, oven and bigger refrigerator and freezer.
  
• There is much more storage in the Bigfoot. I was particularly attracted to the idea of a basement area for my towing equipment.

I did have a discussion with a forum member who moved up from a Casita 17 to a Bigfoot 17CB.

He agreed with my list of list of Pros for going with a Bigfoot.

But, he also added the following Cons regarding the Bigfoot vs Casita:

• Things needing repair - like wiring and plumbing - are harder to access in the Bigfoot.
  
• The Bigfoot's bed is not as comfortable as the Casitas. That wall in the back of the Casita is extremely comfortable to lean against when reading or watching TV in bed.
  
• You really cannot sleep 2 adults comfortable in either of the Bigfoot's 2 "beds".

His recommendation, interestingly, was to try a Casita first to get use to trailering, then move on to a Bigfoot.

I pretty much decided that I was going with a Bigfoot 17. However, as I read descriptions of the new Escape 19, I started thinking that the best of both worlds would be a Bigfoot 19 footer. Then, out of the blue, an ad in Craigs' list appeared for a Bigfoot 19, and I jumped at the opportunity.

The extra 2 feet length really added a feeling of spaciousness in the cabin. And I have a full refrigerator and freezer.

Regarding the tow. I have not owned a travel trailer, and wanted something that I could set up easily and tow with piece of mind. I find the Bigfoot very easy to tow. And I really am comfortable when sharing the cabin with my husband. Plus I love! Love! LOVE! the basement storage areas.

As I said, I originally wanted a Casita, and researched it for several years. I went to a Casita rally to decide on the best floor plan for me, and saw the Bigfoots for the first time. It was a Casita-turned-Bigfoot owner who encouraged me to think about my trailer needs, and I spent the rest of the day talking to the Bigfoot owners at the Rally. That's all she wrote.

Hope this helps.

[Marjorie M.]

Helps tons! Exactly the kind of info I need.

I did some winter camping in my Casita and stayed warm, even at what the weather radio said was 16 below. But I did get a bit of cabin fever, felt kind of cooped up. It was too dang cold to go outside. That was one of the reasons the Bigfoot appealed to me, it looks like it has a more spacious feel to it, but I know you sacrifice with that wider body, I loved towing the Casita cause it was narrower than my TV and I didn't have to watch out for it much.

I also like the fact that the Bigfoot has insulated tanks. I ended up dry camping because of that, I didn't want to freeze anything, even though Casita told me it would be fine if I left the cupboard doors open, I didn't want to chance it. If I were to spend more wintertime in my trailer, I think having the enclosed heated tanks would be nice.

I have a bid on a Casita on eBay coming up in two hours, if I get it, it's a good deal, but if not, I think I'll look at more Bigfoots (Bigfeet?). I have found they're a little pricier than the Casita, though, even the used ones.

Thanks for the comments, keep 'em coming.

[Tamid]

Please be aware that not all 17' Bigfoot are insulated for winter. I think they only started doing that early in the 1990's. Perhaps someone can confirm this. My 85/17' Bigfoot is not set up for winter camping but will do nicely down to about -5 Centigrate nightime temp although I have to be careful with condensation and ensure daytime temp is above freezing.

[Marjorie M.]

Didn't get the Casita, decided not to snipe it. LOL

Thanks Tamid for the valuable info.

Now the hunt begins for BIGFOOT <cue eerie music>

[Time K]

Please be aware that not all 17' Bigfoot are insulated for winter. I think they only started doing that early in the 1990's. Perhaps someone can confirm this. My 85/17' Bigfoot is not set up for winter camping but will do nicely down to about -5 Centigrate nightime temp although I have to be careful with condensation and ensure daytime temp is above freezing.

Tamid, you're referring to the winter kit that was "optional" on 17 footers...insulated and heated holding tanks and Solar Reflective Thermal Pane Windows....lo and behold the "new" Big Foot Industries still lists those as an option on 17 footers..good luck on you quest Marjorie.

http://www.bigfootrv.com/bigfootrv_travel_...0_features.html

[Marjorie M.]

More good info, thanks, Mike.

[Jane P.]

Please be aware that not all 17' Bigfoot are insulated for winter. I think they only started doing that early in the 1990's. Perhaps someone can confirm this. My 85/17' Bigfoot is not set up for winter camping but will do nicely down to about -5 Centigrate nightime temp although I have to be careful with condensation and ensure daytime temp is above freezing.

That is correct. I do believe that the Bigfoots have insulated cabins, including double paned windows. As a result, the Bigfoot cabins don't suffer from condensation problems and are "comparatively" warmer than a Casita. However, to verify that the Bigfoot is a true "4-seasons" trailer (has the winter package) you need to look under the frame to confirm that the pipes are encased in fiberglass.

[Donna D.]

That is correct. I do believe that the Bigfoots have insulated cabins, including double paned windows.

I can't think of a trailer (other than owner modified) that doesn't have some sort of insulation.. even if only dead airspace in a double-hull. But I have been in plenty of Bigfoot trailers that DON'T have double-pane windows.

[Marjorie M.]

Are Casitas insulated? I was under the impression they weren't, just the carpet on the walls.

[Donna D.]

Are Casitas insulated? I was under the impression they weren't, just the carpet on the walls.

This page on the Casita Travel Trailer site says "Deluxe Insulation." whatever that means...

Casita Travel Trailer Features You'll find that info under "Interior" the fourth item from the bottom.

[Marjorie M.]

My Casita was a 2010. It didn't seem like it had anything special in the way of insulation, but I will say it kept me warm in the very cold temps, but the heater ran a bunch to do that. The main problem was condensation, even with the carpet on the walls I'd get some dampness around the cushions and such, but nothing major (and I'm in the dry desert). One morning I woke to ice totally covering the windows and ice on the vinyl floor under the throw rugs, they were frozen to the floor. I think it got to about minus 20 that night, though. I was pretty happy with it. But like I said before, I dry camped and had no water in the tanks or hoses.

[Jane P.]

I can't think of a trailer (other than owner modified) that doesn't have some sort of insulation.. even if only dead airspace in a double-hull. But I have been in plenty of Bigfoot trailers that DON'T have double-pane windows.

Watch out for the Internet!!

I did make an assumption that Bigfoots had insulated cabins. I do know, for sure, that just because the Bigfoot Cabin is insulated (including double insulated windows), it does not follow that the pipes underneath the trailer are insulated (encased in fiberglass). To say that the Bigfoot has the winter package, the cabin, windows and the pipes need to be insulated.

I will say, that every Bigfoot owner I have communicated with has double paned windows in the cabin. Maybe we need to isolate the model year. I have researched the '88 - '95 Bigfoot 17 model years.

I certainly don't want to pass on bad info.

But ... I did want to caution .... "Buyer beware" ... You need to know what you are looking at.

[Steve Dunkel]

None of the pipes on the latest Bigfoot trailers are insulated. They are however protected from freezing by the cabin heater with ductwork that extends to those areas where piping exist including the enclosed holding tanks. There is a good amount of foam insulation sandwiched between the fiberglass exterior and luan paneling inside, which is very effective in containing the heat in the cabin. Dual-pane windows were an option and I've seen at least one 2008 trailer that had heated and enclosed holding tanks but did not have the dual-pane windows. I don't think a 4-season trailer necessarily requires them. They certainly help but the cabin heater can overcome the difference in heat loss. Lastly, I have to say that insulation of pipes or tanks alone wouldn't do any good in some circumstances unless there was some heat applied.

[Phil Underwood]

We had a a few casita's before we bought our Bigfoot. We loved the Casita's but the bigfoot just suits our needs better for a family of four.