Oldelevatorman

Your payload is what the truck weighs at the scale subtracted from the GVWR. You can add all your stuff before or after and subtract it from the GVWR to get your payload and go from there. That sticker is pretty useless if you ask me!

thrifty biil

The Casita is not just shorter, its narrower. Casitas are much narrower than traditional travel trailers. Helps as far as mirrors, but it sure limits inside walk around space. Our Liberty model has twin beds which makes access easier. (although currently set up with a King sized bed, so zero walk around right now).

17 foot Casita is 6 foot 8 inches wide versus the 8 foot width of the Joey.

My 2010 F150 is 6 foot 7 inches wide, excluding mirrors.

If I was going to buy a new "egg" fiberglass trailer, I would buy an Escape. IMHO, they are the best value right now. They are wider than the Casita, but still narrower than a traditional trailer.

Velosprout

At one time I was convinced a Casita or Scamp was the trailer for me. After seeing them in person, they are to confining for my taste and too small for a family. A hybrid like the Rockwood Roo with the slide-outs and fold out bed ends give the advantage of pulling the equivalent of a 30 foot camper in a 21 foot package, without the weight and with an open, closer-to-nature experience.

thrifty biil

I would consider a Casita sized for just a couple, not a family. And its best if you are coming from a tent or similar. That way, you won't miss features you don't have. Compared to my dome tent, the Casita is very spacious indeed!

Its also best suited for a trip where you move every day or two. If you are going to go to one spot and stay there for a week or two, its really tight. Move every day or two, and you will appreciate the small compact size.