Maintenance & Restoration

JimG-8 · 05-08-2022, 12:57 PM

Hi - we're newbies Jim and Kim and we're looking into fiberglass RVs. We're long time campers - tents, Coleman pop-up, and a Keystone Outback 25 foot travel trailer. When our kids left home, we ended up buying a beach house in Cape Charles VA and then moving there, selling the Outback in the process. We have been lightly researching trailers for when I retire in a few years.

Until....Kim saw a Casita on the road!! Now we're looking into fiberglass RVs, starting with Casitas, thinking about short (max 7-10 days) excursions with our two small dogs around the mid Atlantic, maybe the Appalachians/Smokeys/Blue Ridge mountains.

One issue we have is lack of a tow vehicle. We're buying a 2022 Toyota Sienna minivan, which might be OK in the flat terrain of our area, but not to go over mountains. We're researching that, maybe looking at an older 4Runner or Tahoe. Looking forward to learning from all the great wisdom on these forums!

Jim and Kim

AlanKilian · 05-08-2022, 01:04 PM

I see on the Internet that a 2022 Toyota Sienna has a tow rating of 3,500 pounds, so you'll be just fine with a 13' Scamp/Boler/Casita if you're willing to tow 55 MPH and go slower if it gets mountainy.

Great fun awaits for you!

JimG-8 · 05-08-2022, 01:18 PM

Thanks Alan! We're early in our research, but so far have liked the Casita 17' Liberty Deluxe, about 2500 lbs. I do think that the Sienna could pull it, but not sure how comfortably. Our former Tahoe could pull our former Outback safely, but after a 3 hour trip, my hands were cramped from fighting the wheel. We ended up buying an 8.1 L Suburban 2500 - easy days after that. My general philosophy is that you can never have too much tow vehicle, so we're looking at 5000# or more rated vehicles.

Dave Fish · 05-08-2022, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimG-8

Thanks Alan! We're early in our research, but so far have liked the Casita 17' Liberty Deluxe, about 2500 lbs. I do think that the Sienna could pull it, but not sure how comfortably. Our former Tahoe could pull our former Outback safely, but after a 3 hour trip, my hands were cramped from fighting the wheel. We ended up buying an 8.1 L Suburban 2500 - easy days after that. My general philosophy is that you can never have too much tow vehicle, so we're looking at 5000# or more rated vehicles.

I think a 17 foot Casita would be pushing it. Our 2009 FD weighted 3300 at the camp site with a 315 pound tongue weight. Many Casitas have a heavier tongue weight than ours because we had a couple of bikes hanging off the back when it was weighted.

If you haven't committed on the Sienna, you might look into the Highlander which has a 5000 pound tow xapaicity.

JimG-8 · 05-08-2022, 04:06 PM

Thanks Dave! We're already committed to the Sienna, so we're most likely looking at another vehicle. Kim is extremely petite, and there are very few vehicles that she can drive (believe it or not!) - she couldn't reach the pedals or see the right front corner of the Highlander. The Sienna will be her primary driver, and we'll just accept that I'll be the tow vehicle driver.