Hey, if you talked of the Casita purchase earlier, I missed it. I knew you were interested in RV'ing when I talked of my class C purchase.
We bought the used Casita a couple of years ago and have made a few trips. I owe a big thanks to Travelover for showing me the ropes regarding these "egg" RVs.
I'm thinking this is the way I'll go next time. It will require an upgrade to an SUV or van or pickup though. The Camry can't tow much.
I saw Scamp on craigs list. I stopped in less than an hour after it was posted and already sold. Those fiberglass trailers have a big fan base.
These trailers do have a devoted fan base. The trailers stay together well, and people want that. The fiberglass shell (on a metal trailer frame) constitutes the "structure" of the trailer, unlike a "regular" trailer that has a wooden frame with metal exterior skin and a composite interior skin. There are just fewer places to leak and (especially) trap water, fewer seams to eventually let water in, and fewer parts and fasteners to rattle apart.
While the prices for a nice molded fiberglass trailer aren't low, they aren't unreasonable. Knowing I could sell it quickly if it wasn't a good fit for us made it an easy decision for me.
A good place to find out more is the
Fiberglass RV Community (owned by the same company that owns ER.org). A site that does a good job of searching Craigslist and other sources for fiberglass RV ads is
Fiberglass-RV-4-Sale. (I have no financial interest in either site)
I use an RV to travel, not to camp. I need comfort, but mobility is important too.
I had not seen as many class B motorhomes as I did on this Alaskan trip. Even my class C towing a car was cumbersome on occasions.
Next time going there, I probably will get a class B, but one larger than the common Roadtreks. Too tough to downsize from a class C.
We looked at Class B's, and for traveling as you mention (staying each place just one night), they might be good. But if staying somewhere for a longer time, I personally wouldn't consider one. Not having a separate "local use" set of wheels means I'd have to break camp and put everything away (electrical, sewer, power, re-stow everyhtin in cupboards, etc) just to drive into town. And fitting everything into a van's footprint (even a long van) drives compromises that aren't shared by a small trailer.
If we are still talking about
low cost RV ownership, especially for an "intermittent" user I think some things to consider are :
1) Reduce depreciation.
2) Separating the "prime mover" from the living space has some significant advantages.
If you have another use for a truck, SUV, or large van, then getting an RV that is a trailer or 5th wheel can be a smart move. I bought a used Honda Pilot and use it to pull this trailer when we travel, the rest of the time it is my daily driver. That means it stays in good shape and I know it is in good shape. If I had a Class A, B, or C RV, my RV's engine, transmission, suspension, etc would be sitting unused for weeks or months at a time, which is not great, especially if it isn't of recent vintage (see "reduce depreciation" above). In 5 years or so when the Pilot wears out, I'll get another one and all the sophisticated "running gear" of my RV rig will be new (or, at least "less old"). Plus, having a separate tow vehicle makes it simple to see the sights in the local area--just unhook and off you go (so the benefits of a "toad," but without the hassle and dead weight).
My used 2009 Pilot and used Casita trailer came to about $21K. If we'd spent the same on a Class B, the drivetrain and mechanicals would have been 10 years older, there would be less space for sleeping/living, and I would not have a vehicle with as much daily utility as the Pilot. If I'd spent the money on a Class C, it would have more room, but it would have very limited utility the 95% of the time when we were at home. I'd be registering and insuring another motor vehicle, maintaining another vehicle drivetrain and suspension, etc. And, no convenient "local" vehicle when traveling unless I bring a toad. Class A: I don't know what I could get for $21K, but it would be old and otherwise have all the other attributes of a Class C.
A molded fiberglass trailer or molded fiberglass 5th wheel isn't right for everyone, but it was a really good fit for us. We'd probably go a different route if we were full timers or going on trips longer than a month or so. It's great to have choices.