Living out of my Western Flyer and other musings about RVing TB style

[dorayme]

I mentioned last week when we were packing to leave for the beach that I was going to take my WF to use for my folding clothes. Now that we're back, I can address the usefulness a bit more. The MBR in our Travel Trailer has no drawers. It has a set of cabinets over and around the head of the bed. Two that are squarish actually over the bed and two that are suitable for half length hanging clothes.



There really isn't a great place for me, being the shortie that I am, to put my folding clothes, and keep them and the space looking nice. . . that is until I decided to bring my WF.
It fit perfectly under the hanging wardrobe onto what Jayco describes as the "chest" which in reality is a counertop area. My WF is a perfect fit width wise and there is plenty of room in front of it to store my Little Swift, iPad, iPhone, wristbrace (stupid camp injury that won't heal) and 1 lb bag of Red Hot candies. That was when I was feeling organized.



When I was feeling less organized, there was room to cram other things here too, but I'm not going to delve into that.

The WF kept my folded pants and tops wrinkle free and my undies and swimsuits contained (in my PCSB) and organized. I had no problems finding what I needed and since this trip was business and pleasure, it was essential that I could remain organized.

In the RVing setting, TB bags are super useful. We also brought along the Shop Bags and UT for everything from carrying materials for the children's program to and from the convention center, to shopping, toting our towels, keys and iPhone to the beach & pool, carrying shoes, packing and unpacking the TT and carrying extra water bottles on our bike ride.

My LS was the perfect purse for all of our outings from eating out to shopping, to conference meetings and didn't hold any sand or show any dirt. My Imago was my mobile office holding my iPad, reading, reader and knitting in the car and on various outings.

Without even trying my TB bags helped me to feel put together and organized which saved me from a lot of stress and frustration. Thanks TB!

Anybody else use their TB for RVing? I would love to hear your thoughts.

My only "complaint" if I can have one, is that TB doesn't have a larger variety of color in the packing cubes. I use packing cubes to keep the kids organized, and I need a different color for each of them, as well as myself and Rocky. Steel won't cut it when I need to quickly sort cubes and find something for one of the kids.

[TavaPeak]

Looks like a nice rig layout! I like the bunks. We have a Coleman Caravan with bunks (a 25' trailer), and that worked great until 14-year-old son grew taller than 6'. Guess he can pitch a tent now when we camp. Or we could cut a foothole out the back end of the trailer. I think a WF would fit really well in the cupboard I use for clothes, and would save me loading/unloading.

Ditto on the packing cubes. I color-code stuff for my kids too.

[dorayme]

Speaking of color in packing cubes, was there ever a WF/TS PCBP in UV? I have only seen Steel, Iberian, and I think Solar, though it's not currently available. I am interested in the PCBP, but only if it's UV. . .

[Darcy]

Speaking of color in packing cubes, was there ever a WF/TS PCBP in UV? I have only seen Steel, Iberian, and I think Solar, though it's not currently available. I am interested in the PCBP, but only if it's UV. . .

I'm pretty sure we've only made it in Steel, Iberian, and Solar. We'll make it in Ultraviolet next time, most likely.

[AVService]

You are killing me here!

All that room and no place for clothes?

It's funny that you would post this as I was getting ready to post something similar.

This is me:

Casita Travel Trailers - Our Showroom | The Patriot, Spirit Deluxe, Freedom Deluxe, Liberty Deluxe | Call 800-442-9986

I do have the 17' model and believe me that extra foot does not hurt.
Traveling by RV does require some creative thinking "Inside" the box but I agree a Bihn or 2 always rides along with me used as a Bin..

I am going out this weekend actually and am trying to limit myself to the Synapse as my " One Bag" but we will see how that goes?

I have a tough time loading the trailer like it is my suitcase and instead bring luggage which make little sense as it is mostly in the way.

Live and Learn.

Ed

[dorayme]

I'm pretty sure we've only made it in Steel, Iberian, and Solar. We'll make it in Ultraviolet next time, most likely.

♥ thank you Darcy, any idea what time frame that new batch would possibly be in?

[Darcy]

♥ thank you Darcy, any idea what time frame that new batch would possibly be in?

Wish I could venture a guess, but I wouldn't want to be wrong. Probably early 2012 sometime.

[dorayme]

Ed, I've always thought the Casita's are cute. Will you be solo, or do you have a Ms.AVService, or another traveling companion?
We didn't start RVing until we had kidlets and we wanted plenty of extra room at that point. There actually is adequate room for clothes. That wasn't what I was saying. There just isn't the type of room for how I desire to store my clothes, lol. I found the WF to be perfect, and useful in the space I have! I've never brought a suitcase RVing, even when we were traveling to our TT parked on our seasonal site. I've always brought a duffel bag, previously my non TB versions of course.

Rocky is of normal height (taller) so he doesn't mind using the overhead compartment for his Brain Bag/packing cubes combination. I keep my leglounger and extra blanket in my overhead compartment. I don't need to access them frequently like I would my clothes so the height isn't an issue.

I think your comment of thinking outside the box, is very applicable when RVing because it is such a different way of travel. In one respect, you have your home on wheels, so you can bring along things you may not ordinarily bring, on the other hand, storage spaces furniture pieces and layout consists of built in furniture and non standard shapes so creativity is paramount to fit in the things you bring. You also have to use storage to bring along the things you need to live, linen, food, cooking supplies, etc. I have found myself finding solutions in the RV in ways I never would in our home.

[AVService]

Interesting isn't it?
I would even suggest that there is a lot in common with us here and in an RV regarding the efficient use of space and keeping order in our travel lives.
It has been pointed out to me more than once that my "Hobbies" all have a lot in common and I do think this is one illustration of that.
I am also a Ham Radio operator and my Niche in that hobby seems to be emergency preparedness and in specific designing and building portable radio stations that can be deployed without notice in almost any location and are self-contained.

The Casita is one of a handful of Molded Fiberglass RV's in the market that also aspire to present a different kind of value to the camper......Like Bihn of course.
Using Different materials and construction than most other RV's out there they are built more like a boat really and have very little wood or wood product in them to deteriorate over time. There are 30 year old rigs on the road that are indistinguishable from a new one.
And the use of space is hotly debated as there is not much there to work with which can lead to user modification and really looking at what is needed vs the all too common"Bring it All!" mentality.

I really am trying to learn to force myself to pack and camp out of the Casita like it is a home but old habits are tough to break. At least I seem to be evolving somewhat?

There is an active group of us in that hobby too at www.fiberglassrv.com where we discuss and compare every aspect of the Fiberglass "Egg" and camping in them.

I actually buy them and Flip them and move up the ladder each time to a nicer one than before and they hold their value better than most RV's too.

Oh and I am mostly camping alone. When I work down in Florida for extended periods I like to take the Casita down and park at an RV park there and then I get to work and camp which can be fun.
There are also Fiberglass RV rallies all over the place,it is quite a group!

Since 9/11 I have a tough time flying to a job with all that I will need to get the work done and figuring this system out has made it easier and more practical for me to work out of town.

It is also nice to be sleeping in my own bed and not in a hotel so I just bring it along!

Ahh,Too many interests too little time.

Ed

[Jenne]

I think the Casitas are adorable! I keep seeing them on the road. Someday...

[backpack]

What kind of vehicles are able to tow the Casitas?

AVService You say: "I am also a Ham Radio operator and my Niche in that hobby seems to be emergency preparedness and in specific designing and building portable radio stations that can be deployed without notice in almost any location and are self-contained." would you mind keeping us up to date on your design progress?
I live in a multiple hazards area and this type of radio, might one day, come in handy.

[dorayme]

We also have flipped several RV's. This is he first one that we didn't plan to flip. It was hard to let the last one, my Avion go, but to have kept it, would have been just keeping it to have it. We had outgrown being comfortable in it. We sold it to a newlywed couple living on the side of a mountain in Asheville just starting their homestead with a baby on the way! I was happy it was going to a couple who were going to make it a home.

I too am interested in the concept of your emergency radio.

[AVService]

What kind of vehicles are able to tow the Casitas?AVService You say: "I am also a Ham Radio operator and my Niche in that hobby seems to be emergency preparedness and in specific designing and building portable radio stations that can be deployed without notice in almost any location and are self-contained." would you mind keeping us up to date on your design progress?
I live in a multiple hazards area and this type of radio, might one day, come in handy.

Mine is the biggest and heaviest of the Casita line and I tow with a 1st Generation Tundra long bed pickup truck.
People tow these with everything from a Mini Van to a Mid Size SUV like a 4runner or Pathfinder and some with even smaller vehicles but I wouldn't go much lighter myself.

They also make them in 16' and 13' models which still can be fully self-contained but are considerably lighter.
I have seen people tow the little ones with a small car.

Subaru Outback and Forester seem popular for the 16' and one friend uses a Ford Flex with his 16'.

They are in general lighter than more traditional rigs due to the total Fiberglass construction which requires no additional framing inside to support the interior. Even the interior fixtures and seating and cabinetry are fiberglass.

There is a lot of new interest in these smaller easier to tow rigs since they tow easier than most and really hold their value too.
There is also another domestic manufacturer named Scamp that builds similar rigs but there models can be somewhat lighter still and they are nearly identical in design really.




Talking about the amateur radio thing really deserves its own post which I will have to make later as time permits.
But I am always eager to talk about it.

Ed

[backpack]

Thanks AVService! Both subjects need their own posts in Not About Bags even if we always find a way to link our experiences and hobbies with Tom Bihn bags.

[Moose]

We also have flipped several RV's. This is he first one that we didn't plan to flip.

dorayme, oh my, when I read you'd flipped several and didn't plan to flip this one, I thought my goodness, how many accidents have you survived? :)

Until we have access to different colors for each family member, can you tie a different colored ribbon on each zipper pull for each family member? Seems that would make it pretty easy for everyone to spot their own bag. Maybe different colors of your handspun yarn would be nice.
Take care,
Moose