Hi-I'm Keith in SW Colorado

[Colorado Keith]

Have never had a travel trailer before-Looking for a small, well built, reliable, trailer that I can tow with my Nissan Frontier 4x4. I may need to live in it full time-just me.
Is there much difference between Scamp & Casita as far as quality & construction? Any brands to avoid? I need to buy used and have an "Arctic Package". Any thoughts, advice, suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks!

[GregandTeresa]

Good morning Keith, welcome to the forum. If an Arctic package is required, you may want to consider a Bigfoot.

[Colorado Keith]

Thanks for the info-I've seen a few of those around. Where in Tenn. are you? I went to school near Sewannee & in Memphis.

[GregandTeresa]

We currently live about an hour south of Nashville in Lewisburg. But I grew up in West Tennessee, about 85 miles east of Memphis in Henderson TN.

[Jon in AZ]

Plus one on the Bigfoot. Know that not all Bigfoots have the four-season upgrades- only the newer (and heavier) 2500-series units. Don't know whether you could pull one with a Nissan Frontier. Looks like the small 17.5'er would weigh close to 4000 pounds loaded.

Garden variety molded fiberglass trailers have minimal insulation, exposed plumbing, and single-pane windows. Escape offers foam insulation on the belly and thermal windows as an upgrade for better shoulder season performance, but it is still not a true "Arctic" trailer. The only other four-season molded fiberglass trailer is the Oliver: limited production and high end.

Scamp and Casita is kind of like Ford and Chevy. Many differences in details and each has its proponents and detractors. You can do a Google site search (blue bar at top of screen, "Search," scroll down to bottom) on "Scamp and Casita" and you should be able to pull up many previous threads.

[Colorado Keith]

Thanks for the info, Jon-good advice- I'm not sure I need an "Arctic Package" but the local RV park owner here said I should try to get that on whatever I buy- we've had an exceptionally cold winter here so far--below zero temps for over a week ;lots of single digits. But there are quite a few people living in RV's here year round (southern Colorado)
I'm leaning toward something light weight and small if I can find it-something I could live in year round if need be. I'll check out the sites you suggested. Where in Az are you? I've lived all over the state. Thanks again, Keith

[Jon in AZ]

Your call, but for myself I wouldn't even think about living in something like a Scamp year round... unless I could relocate to a warmer place in the winter, like the Sonoran Desert. I live in the White Mountain area of eastern AZ at about 5300'. For winter camping we head to the low desert.

Many years ago I spent 3 years in a travel trailer year-round in the same place I live now (winter nighttime temps in the teens, occasionally single digits, below zero rare, sunny and mild daytime temps typical). It was a four-season unit- enclosed tanks, ducted heat, good insulation. Even that used a lot of propane and power. Something like a Scamp- you'd be trying to heat the whole neighborhood. Possible, but very inefficient and expensive.

[GregandTeresa]

Escape does offer a thermal package with dual pane windows and extra insulation. That still does not really make it a four season trailer, but might be a step up from Casita and Scamp.

[Jon in AZ]

This is one of the four season Bigfoots:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=73009

Here's a thread on what it might take to keep a Scamp or Casita going through the winter:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=72905

[Colorado Keith]

Thanks to All for the advice, info & suggestions. You raise many valid points that I hadn't considered. Will continue doing research & rethink my plans! Envious of you all

[RogerDat]

Lot of good information from the thread link posted. Propane draws heat from surroundings to become a vapor from the liquid in the tank, the colder it is the slower that "boiling" will be. At cold temps and high demand a small propane tank won't be able to keep up.


Used a propane heater in the garage. In really cold weather the 20 lb. tank could only run it for short periods before tank got frost on it and pressure dropped to the point the burner would die out, might even cause the pilot to go out. Larger 100 lb. tank would work, work lamp pointed at tank to help it stay warm would keep it going. Otherwise I had to run it for a short period, turn it back down for pressure to build up, then run it for a bit until tank got cold again and I had to shut down burner to allow gas pressure to build up to sufficient to run it some more.


What he factory does for winterizing may or may not be enough. Heat tape on plumbing, aux electric heat and skirting, making sure your propane can deal with the cold are all after market but known to work too. Having done a fair amount of winter camping without an RV I'm easily pleased, get it up to 50* inside and I would probably be fine.

[Colorado Keith]

Thanks for the tips & info, Roger- I'll check out the thread on propane. It seems like a lot of the year rounders here have the local propane co. deliver a large tank & run off that for the winter. I'm sure you still use tons tho if your trailer isn't well insulated.