Need Help On A Decision between 2 TT's

Check Outdoors RV if you're looking for quality, reliability. They can be heavy, but start with the Black Rock which is their starter trailer. View the video and specs. We have researched for two years for our rv which we expect to buy in a couple months. It will only be an Outdoors product. In my opinion, one of the best out there.

Have you considered Oliver Travel Trailers?

here is a post from a forum member who ordered one - complete with cool pictures starting on the third page.

The Escape 5.0TA

The 21 Foot Escape

If we had to downsize to a really small (by my standards) trailer, I think I could be happy with the 21 footer, and with a GVWR of 4,500 lbs., it can be towed by quite a few vehicles.

Do look at the Escape fiberglass campers. They have a small fifth wheel that is really interesting. We met a couple that owned one and they really liked it.

I wouldn't be quick to eliminate the RPod line. We saw quite a few of those on our trip out west, and their "lifetime" warranty could be a possible bonus.

scbwr wrote:
My suggestion would be to look for a used Starcraft and use for a while to see how you do in a smaller trailer. Then, if you sell it, you will minimize any loss. Or, buy a used Casita, knowing that if you don't like it, you can sell it and lose little or no money in the process. As others have stated, you do need to do some camping in a trailer to see what will meet our needs. My wife and I manage quite well in our Minnie and we just got back from a six week trip. Prior to the Minnie, we had a 29' Sunline TT and prior to that, we camped in popup trailers for about 13 years.

If you buy a traditional trailer with a rubber roof, you can really minimize maintenance and extend it's life by keeping it stored inside. Depending on where you live, the difference in cost between the Casita and a traditional trailer may pay for a lot of storage. We bought our Minnie in the fall of 2013 and it has been stored inside when not in use and I can really see the difference in how all the caulking on the roof is holding up and how the roof stays cleaner compared to our last trailer that was stored outside for half the year.

I am intrigued by the Casita and Escape trailers, and would consider one if we really felt we needed to downsize for whatever reasons. But, I think I would also consider a B class camper. Although more costly, with a B class camper, you can eliminate the hitching process and the camper is easy to use as a site seeing vehicle when traveling (no need to tow a car).

Good luck in your search and enjoy whatever unit you decide to purchase!

Everyone is throwing in some good advice! I do appreciate it!
In part of researching all of this I did send off for some literature from Casita and they have a referral service which sends you a contact name and number to a nearby Casita owner which had agreed to be part of their referral service.
The DW and I are going to see one this Sunday afternoon...its actually just about three miles down the road.
I have been an outdoors person all my life...the wife less so but is tired of getting soaked by hotels and home rentals, she is realistic of what a camp ground entails and is a willing participant if it will stretch our " traveling dollars"....she has seen the home rentals at a North Carolina area just keep going up and up; now at around 900-1000 dollars a week and even that rate is about a block away from the ocean. We have never been the type who needed to be right on the water, when we could simply walk there and simply save a bunch of extra dollars. However, we pass a campground going into the area several times a year and low and behold they want about 250.00 for seven days for full hook up.
Since she is a former bean counter she was satisfied at the economic sense a TT can bring to the equation.
It is down to a Castia and the StarCraft AR series, with the Forest River R-Pod a distant third...but I keep getting drawn back to the Casita for some reason... I guess for the water infiltration issue and later resale value it we decide to toss the whole ball of wax away.
Unless the Casita is very cramped as some say it might be with three people, I am leaning hard towards that one...I guess I will know more after Sunday afternoon if we will be staying in a Torpedo.
All the best everyone!
Gavin

Retirement can mean different things to people. Some have the extra time to go on longer trips. Some don't want to be bothered and put their TT on a site for the season. 2 years ago we went from a 24' TT to a 28' TT with a slide because we wanted more room, and knew we weren't going to be taking long trips. If I get to retire and decided to go on long duration trips, I'd either have to upgrade my TV or downsize my TT.

But I don't believe I could ever downsize to an 18' TT, even if it were just my wife and I. We want a dedicated bedroom, and a bathroom sufficient in size. I don't want to have to rely on a CG bath house.

But everyone has different needs and desires.

My suggestion would be to look for a used Starcraft and use for a while to see how you do in a smaller trailer. Then, if you sell it, you will minimize any loss. Or, buy a used Casita, knowing that if you don't like it, you can sell it and lose little or no money in the process. As others have stated, you do need to do some camping in a trailer to see what will meet our needs. My wife and I manage quite well in our Minnie and we just got back from a six week trip. Prior to the Minnie, we had a 29' Sunline TT and prior to that, we camped in popup trailers for about 13 years.

If you buy a traditional trailer with a rubber roof, you can really minimize maintenance and extend it's life by keeping it stored inside. Depending on where you live, the difference in cost between the Casita and a traditional trailer may pay for a lot of storage. We bought our Minnie in the fall of 2013 and it has been stored inside when not in use and I can really see the difference in how all the caulking on the roof is holding up and how the roof stays cleaner compared to our last trailer that was stored outside for half the year.

I am intrigued by the Casita and Escape trailers, and would consider one if we really felt we needed to downsize for whatever reasons. But, I think I would also consider a B class camper. Although more costly, with a B class camper, you can eliminate the hitching process and the camper is easy to use as a site seeing vehicle when traveling (no need to tow a car).

Good luck in your search and enjoy whatever unit you decide to purchase!

We have an AR ONE 18QB and we love it for the price and with a two year warranty I don't think you can beat it.

We looked at the Casita also and it is nice but was much smaller and no head room I am 6'2".

From a quality standpoint I think the two year warranty is a big selling point for me. Although we have made two 1000+ mile trips and have done 6 weekend trips with no issues that were not minor fix it yourself stuff. And those are going to be needed with any trailer.

trailer for retirement-
If your goal is to buy a trailer now AND want it to last into your retirement years, then I would be looking for trailer as if I retired today! Buying a used trailer now and using it 7 years and then expect not to have any major RV repair issues is not realistic. i.e. you will have to replace tires appox. every 5 to 6 years, refrigerators, heater units etc etc. For example, if you buy a 10 yr. old trailer to day, by the time you retire, your trailer will be 17 yrs. old and you will want to start taking longer trips for greater periods of time, greater use means greater wear and tear. At some point we all reach a point of deminishing returns! When your normal maintenance costs start to get exceeded by REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT incidents----we start to explore trading in for a newer RV.

You want a TT when you retire in, you hope, 7 years. I would get that trailer in 7 years not now. Get a TT to try out and use now. No one could know what will be in 7 years, that's a long ways away.