Going from Port Aransas, Texas to Key West and need suggestions.

[Woodbutcher]

Well my last child just graduated high school here in Port Aransas and we decided to go on a camping fly fishing adventure from Texas to the southern tip of Florida.
I got him a used canary yellow Nissan Frontier 4wd 4 door with SnugTop fiberglass bed cover for graduation and we plan to put a RiverHawk boat on top.

I have never owned a travel trailer but need one Super Quick. I'm loosing my mind doing the research......I own boats both aluminum and fiberglass, build furniture for a living, and live on an island in South Texas. Soooooo.... Through real life experience I have determined a fiberglass rig is the way to go.

Now for the things I need help with..
1) I think a 14'-18' "egg" style,(Casita, Burro, Scamp, Egg, etc), is what I need.
Yes? No?
2) I am not affraid of "fixer uppers". I love to rebuild classic boats. (Particularly old 31' Bertrams) I have my furniture plant right near me so this is a plus.
Good idea?
3) where can I find one quick? We are leaving the end of July to time our trip with certain fishing seasons in South Florida. I don't mind driving but don't want to go too far.

[Donna D.]

Hi Herb, to FiberglassRV, we're glad you're here.

Quick? Humm, we have folks that have waited for months to find the perfect for them trailer. Unlike stickbuilt trailers, there is no dealer sales, new trailers come straight from manufacturers. You might find one on a stickbuilt dealer lot turned in on a trade-in, if you're really lucky.

Best thing I can offer you is to keep an eye on the member For Sale forum here and the Referrals. In addition, check out: Molded Fiberglass Trailers | Fiberglass RV's For Sale

If you feel up to it, also join the CasitaForum and the CasitaClub so you can check the classifieds and correspond with sellers.

Remember, this time of the year, if a trailer is a good buy it will go to a new home QUICKLY. You snooze, you lose.

Good luck on your egg hunt!

[Woodbutcher]

Which forum should I ask about the Scamp 19' gooseneck,(or what ever neck)?
I see a few for sale here in Texas and one in Louisiana for a LOT less than the conventional bumper pulls. Could be they are older models, but what is the consensus on the Scamp 19'?

[Jared J]

It all depends on what you want, and you price range. There are no known big problems with them. Check the floor for rot, and the plumbing for leaks.

Be forewarned they are not fifth wheels, or a gooseneck. It's a goofy hybrid of a 2" bumper pull style coupler welded on at fifth wheel height, requiring a special hitch for your pickup.

I chopped mine off and just made it a real fifth wheel, personal preference.

I have a fairly detailed thread on the rebuild of mine, if you want to know more about the inner workings.

[Roger C H]

You want to go from Texas to Florida? Go east, young man! and take sunscreen.

If buying used, be sure to use the "Buyer's Checklist" in this forum:

http://www.fiberglassrv.com/buy-sell.html

Good luck getting a unit at such short notice.

If money is no object, you could buy new. The two nearest manufacturers to you:

Casita - Rice, TX; 393 miles

Trillium, Florence, AZ, 1100 miles

[stairman]

Buying used it seemed most for sale were in Texas. And new thats the only place. As far as advice on the keys..... stay away from Miami! use the toll roads and bypass that armpit. I dive in the keys annually and Miami just stinks on all accounts.