Casita motorhome

[Mike Lewis]

You can do this with your Escape when you're tired of towing it. Spotted at my local Walmart:

[Mike G]

Someone finally got a 'rear bath' Casita. Looks like it takes a ladder to enter the door, though.

[HABBERDABBER]

Motorcycle on the back, a kayak up there too. Slick. My similar 1996 16' Casita served me well for a decade.. They hold up well too....25 years old now, and still standing.

[Effie]

Not a bad idea if you can get your hands on a fiberglass shell for cheap. Looks like a true off-roader rig.

[Brian B-P]

I don't think I would want the RV door on the driver's side, but perhaps when they use regular campsites they drive in forward instead of backing in, and it works out.

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Effie

Looks like a true off-roader rig.

It certainly appears to be of the "expedition camper" style, with a conversion to single rear wheels and wide tires - it's likely 4WD as well.

[Iowa Dave]

I believe I had that same chassis on one of my garbage trucks in a past life. Very dependable.
Iowa Dave

[HABBERDABBER]

With a ladder, too. Saw this one and a Toyota at Fort Pickens, FL awhile back, both traveling together. Shipped by boat from Hamburg to Canada, they were touring thru Canada, USA and Mexico. A year long voyage, I believe.


The Casita is on, I believe, an Isuza chassis, assembled back in the day by GM in Janesville, WI.



No Dave, not a garbage truck.

[Iowa Dave]

That’s what I was driving at Tom I had an Isuzu chassis with a garbage packer mounted on it. Bought it locally through the International truck dealer who is now my neighbor. We then equipped most of our facilities with 3 yard dumpsters and reduced our refuse costs about 40%. Less time at a stop, more stops, less injuries, better maneuverability, better operator comfort and better visibility, better fuel economy. Before the Isuzu we used a huge hand me down ( worn out) municipal packer for a few months out of the year and used ton trucks in the off season. Ever dump a garbage can with a sleeping skunk in it over the side of a ton truck? Good times.
Iowa Dave

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by HABBERDABBER

The Casita is on, I believe, an Isuza chassis, assembled back in the day by GM in Janesville, WI.

Not Isuzu, but similar.

It is a late 7th generation (2009-2012) Mitsubishi Fuso Canter. The Canter is popular with builders of expedition campers of this size because of the forward-control cab (more camper length for the truck length) and the availability of factory 4WD.

[Iowa Dave]

Ours was about a 2005 Isuzu. I just recognized that flat front end and odd shaped door. As you say Brian, the Mitsubishi is very similar.
Thanks
Iowa Dave

[AndNeitherDoI]

I applaud the creativity and resourcefulness! Not that easy on the eyes.

I think this is a clear exception to the rule of “ if it’s stupid but it works, then it’s not stupid.”

[Doug2000]

I think a small motor home is the next logical step for Escape. Build it on the next generation Toyota Tundra.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Doug2000

I think a small motor home is the next logical step for Escape. Build it on the next generation Toyota Tundra.

I would love, love, love a small all-fiberglass motorhome. Scamp and Sunrader did it too, wish Escape would!

[HABBERDABBER]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

Not Isuzu, but similar.

Bravo! I stand corrected.
Just a test.


The Fuso does have the OP's image door window style/angle.

Gazette file photo
2005

Workers build the 50,000th Isuzu/GM gas low-cab forward medium-duty truck while preparations are under way for the new GMT900 line of products. The Janesville plant produces its 16 millionth vehicle. In the picture above, GM workers roll out the 50,000 Isuzu/GM Gas Low Cab Foward commercial truck at a press conference at GM on April 13, 2005.

[Iowa Dave]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I would love, love, love a small all-fiberglass motorhome. Scamp and Sunrader did it too, wish Escape would!

Here’s a rig I saw at St Malo a few years ago
Iowa Dave

[Ian and Sue]

Originally Posted by Iowa Dave

Here’s a rig I saw at St Malo a few years ago
Iowa Dave

My step father's parents had a stickie built on one of those Toyota dually 1 ton frames...a total gutless wonder driving around the hills of the Finger Lakes Region of NY but it got us there and back! 2.4 l 4 cyl I think. His parents took it all over the eastern US too. Too bad they don't make that set up anymore. It would be perfect for a lightweight fiberglass body.

[Brian B-P]

Do-it-yourself custom rigs are interesting, and I applaud anyone who goes to the effort of building whatever specifically suits them.

On the other hand, building motorhomes just seems like an effective path to ruin for a successful travel trailer builder. Building on stock chassis-cabs doesn't make a good motorhome, suitable cutaways (for Class C) or bare chassis (for Class A) are not available as-needed from the local dealership, and the cost of carrying an inventory of chassis can easily kill a company. On top of that, the RV builder has to deal with the complications of integrating with a chassis over which they have no control. This is not a simple business, and not to be entered without substantial technical and financial resources.

Bigfoot learned their lesson after their last bankruptcy, and no longer builds motorhomes.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Doug2000

I think a small motor home is the next logical step for Escape. Build it on the next generation Toyota Tundra.

Love the idea ! Pat

[brain]

Here you go:
https://www.truckhouse.co/