A New Lifestyle with the Casita Travel Trailer

I've been planning on this for a long time - how to get out of Phoenix during the hot summer months. Of course, you can buy a house or apartment somewhere cooler like in San Diego.  But that would mean you are stuck at one place all the time.  My solution a few years ago, was a recreational vehicle or motor-home.  That way I can travel from one location to another and see the country as well.  I was bent on getting a Class B Motorhome, usually a converted Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van that is equipped with all the niceties of a motor-home like bed, dinette, kitchen, refrigerator, bathroom, toilet, air-conditioning, etc.  Some of the manufacturers are Sportsmobile, Airstream, Roadtrek, Coachmen, Winnebago, Pleasure Way, etc.  They range in price from $100,000 to $150,000.  It was a lot of money to put into something that I may use for only a few weeks out of a year.  Besides, I may have to pull a smaller vehicle so that it is easy for me to get around a town or city.

Coachmen Galleria with Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis

In a casual conversation with my neighbor, he mentioned that it'd be easier for me to get around in a Casita Travel Trailer.  He told me that it is small and it'd be easy for me to get around.  I went to the  Casita Website and read all the details and layouts of their trailers.  Then I went on the internet to read more about it.  I was very impressed, especially with the price and the popularity.  I found very few in the used market and the ones available sell near the price of new trailers.  I called their phone number and spoke to a sales person by the name of Jonathan.  He told me that the model that fits me best is the 17 feet Spirit Deluxe.  I looked at the floor plan and the options.  Including all the options, I was still below $22,000.  This compared to similar vehicles from other companies that cost twice as much. The wait time is about 4 months, which is okay with me because I would be traveling the next few months anyway.

The trailer finally was delivered on June 13, 2018 on a hot summer morning.

Casita 17' Spirit Deluxe in my backyard

Here is look at the inside of the trailer.

The rear dinette that collapses into a full-size bed.  TV/DVD Player hanging in the rear

Side dinette that folds into a twin bed

Ceiling fan and A/C

2-stove gas burner, sink and 4.1 cu ft refrigerator. Microwave above fridge.

Toilet and Shower

Full-size bed after putting away the dinette

This is not a big or fancy trailer by any means.  But it has all the amenities that you'd need in a trailer.  It fits me perfectly for someone owning a trailer or recreational vehicle for the first time.  It gives me the opportunity to learn this new lifestyle and get adjusted to traveling and sleeping in one.  We need to learn how to shower in a small shower, cook in a small kitchenette, drain black and gray water, hitching and unhitching the trailer, etc.

As of August 2018, we've camped at the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff and Payson.  The experience was wonderful, getting away from the heat and going hiking and biking in these smaller towns in northern Arizona.  During Labor Day week, we'll be camping on the beach in San Diego.   We have plans to take it on a longer trip up the coast of California, Oregon, Washington and maybe all the way to Alaska.  It's going to be a fun and tough life but somebody has to do it.  Happy Camping!