Fiberglass trailers are popular because of their longevity and durability and the Casita Travel Trailer is no exception. However, the purchase process is different than most trailers and you’re probably wondering, “How do I buy a New Casita Travel Trailer?”
How do You Buy a New Casita Camper?
New Casita Travel Trailers are purchased directly through the factory in Rice Texas. Call 855-892-9759 (toll-free) or 903-200-4981 to place your order. If you can’t visit the factory showroom, Casita Travel Trailers have a network of owners near you who are happy to show you their Casita.
How Much Does a Casita Cost in 2023?
$32,694 is the base price for the 2023 year model of the Casita Deluxe (with bathroom) with no options. The standard Casita Travel Trailer (no bathroom) price is $30,996. Options that improve the comfort of the trailer are available at an additional cost. Some people have asked, “Why are Casita Travel Trailers so expensive?” At less than $33,000, Casitas are quite reasonably priced for their durability, convenience, and longevity. A comparable traditionally-built trailer like a Lance 1475 will cost you over $60,000.
| Deluxe Casita (Base Price) | $32,694 |
| Standard Casita (Base Price) | $30,996 |
If you’d like to know more about a Casita travel trailer before you buy, read this article that I wrote.
If you’d like to compare Casita trailer models, read this article.
Financing
Financing for a Casita Travel Trailer is available. Casita has four preferred financing companies that will finance your Casita for up to 20 years. Click the link for more information on Casita financing. The link includes a handy payment calculator.
What are Some Popular Options for the Casita Travel Trailer?
Some popular Casita options/upgrades are as follows:
- Furnace
- Aluminum Cased Patio Awning
- 230W Solar Panel
- Microwave Oven
- Maintenance-Free AGM Deep Cycle Battery Upgrade
- Electric Tongue Jack
- Andersen “No Sway” Weight Distribution Hitch
- Casita Trailer Cover
- Video Entertainment Package
Here are some details about Casita Trailer options:
Furnace
Like other options, there are pros and cons to ordering a new Casita Trailer with the furnace. On one hand, it’s good to know that the furnace will keep you warm on cold nights. The furnace is fully capable of warming the entire interior space in a very short amount of time. Another advantage of ordering your new Casita with a furnace is so that it has a better resale value. On the flip side, the furnace takes up valuable storage space and storage space is at a premium in this compact trailer. In addition, the heater is quite noisy. We do have the furnace in our Casita and use it often as we travel in the winter and at higher elevations. We have become accustomed to the noise. As an alternative, if your Casita comes with an air conditioning unit, the unit also has a built-in heat strip. However, you can only use this option if you are plugged into shore power or can power the unit with a generator. Some owners have reported that the heat strip is not as effective as the furnace in heating at lower temperatures.
Aluminum Cased Patio Awning
On a warm summer day, it’s enjoyable to sit under the awning. However, this is one of the more expensive options that you can get on your Casita trailer. One of the drawbacks of having the awning is that it is susceptible to destruction by strong winds. We added an awning to our Casita after-market, and really enjoy it. However, we always put it away before we leave our camper and on windy days. Some Casita owners have reported that they rarely use their awning, but we use ours quite often. We polled a group of 113 Casita owners who have the awning and asked how frequently they use the awning:
230W Solar Panel
If you like to get off the beaten path, solar is a good option. If you’re mainly planning on camping at campgrounds with hook-ups, then you’re not likely to need solar. Casita offers the 180-watt solar panel and this option, the 230-watt solar panel. Our 2013 Casita did not come with solar, but we added it later because we rarely camp where we have electrical hookups and like the convenience of keeping our battery powered up while we are out.
Microwave Oven
A microwave oven is a great choice for a quick meal. If you like camping in campgrounds where you are hooked up to electricity and use your microwave at home frequently, this might be a good option for you. To run the microwave, you must be hooked to electricity, or have a generator to power it.
Maintenance-Free AGM Deep Cycle Battery Upgrade
The Casita comes standard with a 12-volt deep cycle lead-acid battery. Lead-acid batteries require maintenance. The posts need to be cleaned regularly and water must be added periodically. One advantage of the AGM battery is that it does not require this type of continual maintenance. If you aren’t willing to maintain your lead acid battery, the AGM battery might be a good option for you. Plus accessing the battery in the battery compartment of the Casita trailer is difficult.
Electric Tongue Jack
While the standard hand-crank tongue jack may give you a workout, you can’t match the efficiency of an electric tongue jack. Typically, an electric tongue jack is faster than a manual tongue jack. One of the downsides of having an electric tongue jack is that it has the potential to malfunction. We purchased an after-market electric tongue jack for our Casita, which we love; However, there was a problem with the electrical connection making the tongue jack inoperable. Fortunately, the electric tongue jack comes with a backup hand-crank handle in case of malfunction.
Andersen “No Sway” Weight Distribution Hitch
Proper weight distribution is critical to help prevent trailer sway. The Andersen hitch helps distribute the weight to greatly reduce the chance of trailer sway, which can cause serious accidents. There are many factors that effect trailer sway. This video gives a good example of what causes trailer sway.
Casita Trailer Cover
Unless you have a taller garage or carport, you might consider the Casita Trailer Cover. Keeping your Casita under cover will help prevent UV damage and keep your Casita clean.
Video Entertainment Package
The Casita video entertainment package includes a 22″ flat-screen high-definition television with a DVD player, a TV antenna with an amplifier, and a cable-ready connector. If you plan to watch TV while camping, this is a good option for you. If you’d rather sit next to a fire than watch TV while camping, perhaps it’s not the best option for you.
Cost of Popular Casita Trailer Options
| Furnace | $499 |
| Aluminum Cased Patio Awning | $879 |
| 230W Solar Panel | $899 |
| Microwave Oven | $239 |
| Maintenance-Free AGM Deep Cycle Battery Upgrade | $279 |
| Electric Tongue Jack | $189 |
| Andersen “No Sway” Weight Distribution Hitch | $489 |
| Casita Trailer Cover | $299 |
| Video Entertainment Package | $499 |
Should you Purchase a Standard or a Deluxe Casita?
The main difference between the standard Casita and a deluxe Casita is the bathroom. The Casita Deluxe comes with a wet bath. A wet bath is a bathroom where the toilet and shower are in the same enclosed space. With the standard Casita, bunk beds are located in the front of the trailer instead of a bathroom. There are some other differences as well. One big difference is that, with the standard Casita, the air conditioning unit is an option. In addition, the grey water tank (wastewater for the sink) and the freshwater tanks are both optional in the standard Casita.
How long is the Wait for a Casita?
Generally speaking, the wait for the 2023 year model Casita trailer is approximately 12-18 months. In the aftermath of the pandemic, RVs in general has been difficult to obtain in a timely manner. One reason for this is that the demand rapidly increased as people could not easily travel outside of the country. The other reason is that, since the onset of the pandemic, there has been a shortage of supplies and labor. These two forces created a demand that the industry has not experienced in many years.
Do Casita Trailers Hold Their Value?
Casita trailers, like most molded fiberglass trailers, hold their value over time. There are many reasons for this, but the primary reason is that fiberglass is very durable and keeps the trailer looking new over time. When a molded fiberglass trailer is properly maintained, it’s difficult to tell the trailer’s age. The photo posted in this article is of a 2003 Casita trailer. Molded fiberglass protects the trailer from leaking and leaks are one of the main ways that travel trailers fail and break down over time. Casita trailers are not susceptible to roof damage because they have a curved roof and there aren’t many points of entry for water to penetrate.
Where Do I Camp to After Picking Up My Casita Trailer?
Some campgrounds near Casita in Rice, Texas are as follows:
| Campground Name | Miles from Rice, Texas |
| Liberty Hill Campground | 32 miles |
| American RV Park (Casita Recommended) | 15 miles |
| Mott Park – Army Corps. Of Engineers | 21 miles |
| Northside RV Resort | 34 miles |
| Waxahachie Creek Park | 20 miles |
| High View Park Campground | 19 miles |
| Fairfield Lake State Park | 52 miles |
Conclusion
Now that you have examined some of the factors about purchasing a Casita Travel Trailer, you should be able to make a decision about options and pricing.