When we picked up our 2024 Casita Spirit Deluxe, we drove our 2019 Toyota Tacoma SR5 about 1,000 miles each way to get it. That trip taught us a lot and most of what we learned came from the gear we added before we left.
A stock Tacoma can tow a Casita. But towing it confidently, with proper visibility, safety gear, and peace of mind? That takes a few additions. Here’s everything we added to our Tacoma, roughly in the order we’d recommend prioritizing it.
1. Brake Controller — REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty (~$160)
If your Casita has electric trailer brakes (the Spirit Deluxe does), you legally need a brake controller in most states and more importantly, you need one for safe stopping, especially on highway driving or downhill grades.
There are two types: time-delay and proportional. Time-delay applies trailer brakes on a preset ramp regardless of how hard you’re braking. Proportional controllers measure how hard your truck is actually stopping and match the trailer brakes accordingly. The result is smoother, safer stops with no push or pull from the trailer.
We went with the REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty after a lot of research.
Installation on the Tacoma was fairly straightforward. The unit mounts hidden under the dash, and only the small dial is visible. It looks factory.
REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty on Amazon →
2. Clip-On Towing Mirrors (~$90)
We went with clip-on mirrors rather than full replacement mirrors for a few reasons: they’re cheaper, easier to put on and take off, and you’re not committing to permanent hardware. Our concern was whether they’d hold at highway speeds but they held solid through our entire NC to TX trip without loosening once. They did fall off when one of us hit tree branches, so don’t do that.
Clip-On Trailer Towing Mirrors on Amazon →
3. Casita Backup Camera (~$200)
Backing into a campsite with a trailer is one of those things that sounds manageable until you’re actually doing it in a narrow spot with trees on both sides.
A dedicated camera mounted on the Casita itself gives you a true view of what’s behind the trailer when reversing.
Once you have it, you won’t want to back without it. The difference in confidence when parking at a site is significant, especially when you’re doing it solo or in tight campgrounds.
4. ScanGauge SG2 II (~$160)
This was one of our better purchases. The ScanGauge plugs into the OBD2 port under the dash and gives you a real-time readout of things your truck’s stock gauges don’t show especially transmission temperature.
Transmission overheating is the main risk when towing in heat, on grades, or in stop-and-go traffic. With the ScanGauge, we can pull over and let things cool down if we see temps creeping up.
Beyond trans temp, it also tracks:
- Fuel economy (useful to see how much towing is actually costing you per trip)
- Fuel cost tracking per trip
- Various engine readings
It mounts anywhere, just use velcro. Easy to read, not in the way. Install is just plugging into OBD2, no tools needed.
5. Dashcam with Rear Camera (~$160)
A dashcam is just worth it. You’ll wish you had one if you’re ever in an accident without it. There are a lot out there and it’s hard to tell which are reliable.
We spent significant time researching this one and have had ours for a few years now. It’s held up well. The rear camera installs on the back window of the truck topper (if you don’t have a topper, just the back window of your cab). We had to buy a longer cable and cable-tie it under the frame and snake it into the trunk.
Dashcam & Rear Camera on Amazon →
6. Mud Flaps (~$80)
The front face of the Casita sits directly behind the rear tires of the Tacoma. Without mud flaps, rocks, gravel, and road debris get thrown directly at it.
We got a set of plastic mud flaps for all four tires. Installation was a little awkward (one of the mounting points didn’t cooperate) but they’re holding on fine and doing the job. We haven’t had any rock chip damage to the front of the Casita since adding them.
Mud Flaps for Tacoma on Amazon →
7. Portable Jump Starter — NOCO Boost GB40 (~$100)
We haven’t needed to jump our own truck yet, but we’ve already used ours to help others. That’s exactly the kind of situation you want to be prepared for when you’re hours from a town.
Definitely worth grabbing for $100.
8. Tire Plug Kit (~$20)
We bought this and almost immediately had a nail in our tire on the road. It didn’t fully puncture, but we were very glad to have the kit with us.
A tire plug kit takes up almost no space and costs next to nothing relative to the situation it saves you from. Especially if you’re boondocking somewhere without cell service or a nearby shop.
9. Roadside Emergency Kit
We keep a few things specifically for roadside situations:
- Warning Triangle Set (~$15) — Standard for truckers, useful for alerting traffic if you’re pulled over on a highway shoulder
- Rechargeable LED Road Flares (~$15) — We preferred these over traditional flares since they’re reusable and safer to handle. Good for nighttime breakdowns
- Fire Blanket (~$10 for 2-pack) — One lives in the truck as part of the emergency kit, one in the camper.
None of these are exciting purchases, but you want them before you need them.
10. Off-Road Traction Boards (~$88)
We haven’t gotten stuck yet, but we’ve pulled into a few soft or muddy spots where we were glad to have these. If you’re boondocking on forest roads, desert sand, or anywhere off pavement, traction boards are good insurance.
They also double as a jack stand base if you need to jack up a tire outdoors.
Off-Road Traction Boards with Jack Base on Amazon →
11. Catalytic Converter Shield (~$200)
Tacomas are some of the most targeted trucks for catalytic converter theft. It takes less than two minutes with a reciprocating saw.
The shield adds a layer of protection that makes it significantly harder and louder to cut. It’s not theft-proof, but it’s enough of a deterrent that most opportunists will move on to an easier target.
Catalytic Converter Shield for Tacoma on Amazon →
Bonus: Cab Organization
Small stuff that makes long travel days easier:
- Hanging seat storage bags (2 for $8) — We use these on both front seats for charging cables, snacks, small items. Keeps the cab from turning into a mess on driving days.
- Front seat covers (~$28) and rear seat covers (~$35) — We have two cats. Seat covers are non-negotiable. They also protect from general road grime and gear hauls.
Full Setup Cost Breakdown
| Item | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|
| REDARC Tow-Pro Liberty brake controller | $160 |
| Clip-on towing mirrors | $90 |
| Casita backup camera | varies |
| ScanGauge SG2 II | $160 |
| Dashcam with rear camera | $160 |
| Mud flaps | $80 |
| NOCO Boost jump starter | $100 |
| Tire plug kit | $20 |
| Warning triangles + LED flares | $30 |
| Off-road traction boards | $88 |
| Catalytic converter shield | $200 |
| Cab organizers + seat covers | ~$71 |
| Total | ~$1,359 |
We didn’t buy all of this at once. Some came before the pickup trip, some after. If we had to pick the ones to do first, it would be: brake controller, towing mirrors, backup camera, and ScanGauge. Everything else can follow.
See Our Full Gear List
Everything mentioned in this post and more is on our Recommended Casita Gear page, including our solar setup, kitchen gear, and cat gear.
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