800-watt roof solar
Sun
Eight 100-watt CalSun panels—four on each roof side—turn the curved fiberglass roof into a serious charging source.
Meet Cozy · 2002 Casita Spirit Deluxe 17′
A smarterCasita.
Classic fiberglass, thoughtfully evolved for modern travel. Cozy combines a large 24-volt battery system, 800 watts of roof solar, two kinds of cooling and one connected dashboard for the whole camper.
Classic fiberglass. Modern energy.
800W
roof solar
15.36kWh
battery reserve
24V
power core
The mission
Preserve what people love about a Casita.
Then remove the energy limits, uncertainty and disconnected gauges that can shape where—and how long—a family can camp. The goal is not more technology to manage. It is a camper that quietly makes more places, longer stays and better-informed decisions possible.
Charge anywhere
30-amp hookup
Campground
The MultiPlus supplies Cozy's household-style 120-volt circuits while its built-in charger replenishes the main battery bank.
Charging while driving
The road
The Explorer's alternator safely charges Cozy's 24-volt battery system, making every travel day part of the energy plan.
Three charging sources. One coordinated reserve.
Explore the build
Every system has one clear job.
Start with the whole story, or go directly to the part of Cozy you want to understand.
01→02→03→04→05→06→07→08→09→
Story
How a carefully maintained 2002 Casita became a modern family basecamp.
Modifications
The practical, personal and inherited ideas that make a 17-foot camper work beautifully for family life.
Power
The large battery reserve, Victron equipment, three charging sources, cooling and the reason for choosing 24 volts.
Solar
Eight roof panels, their front-to-back layout and results measured in real conditions.
Connected
Friendly dashboards, Starlink and a sensor network that brings the whole camper into one view.
Trips
Fifteen trips on the family record, about 7,300 towing miles and a growing map of adventures.
Experience
What all of the changes mean for the family traveling inside.
Owner Resources
A growing Casita owner’s library of manuals, diagrams, trusted upgrade guides, specialists and field-tested lessons.
Manual Library
Search and download 41 verified Casita and RV component manuals by system, manufacturer and exact model.
One build · A library for every owner
Cozy is the case study. The Casita community is the bigger story.
As manuals, diagrams, project records and owner wisdom are organized, the site is becoming a searchable home for the information Casita owners usually have to hunt down one post at a time.
See how community knowledge is preserved →Power at a glance
Collect it. Store it. Use it with confidence.
Roof solar, a campground hookup and charging from the Explorer all feed one main battery bank. From there, Cozy can run efficient 24-volt cooling, supply normal household-style 120-volt power and keep the original 12-volt lights, pump and fans working normally.
Roof solarSmartSolar controller
Campground30-amp hookup
DrivingExplorer alternator
25.6V · 600Ah15.36kWh reserve24V quiet cooling120V inverter power12V original comforts
Real-world results · not a lab promise
4.2kWh
best measured solar day near San Antonio
750W+
repeated sustained full-sun output
836W
highest observed peak
300–500W
typical parked draw of the 24V A/C
The 4.2kWh day included morning tree shade; approximately 4.5kWh was projected without it. Production changes with shade, season, heat, clouds and parking orientation.
Sparky · the electrical dashboard
One screen. The whole camper.
Live solar, battery level, charging sources, electrical use, temperatures, weather and tanks come together in one friendly view. History reveals patterns, and alerts call attention to what matters. The result is a clear answer instead of another collection of gauges.
- Energy in context, not isolated numbers
- Off-grid and shore-power awareness
- Remote visibility through Starlink
Trips with Cozy
The real story begins after the hitch clicks.
Cozy’s evolution is best understood through the places she makes possible: New Mexico mountains, three campgrounds across Rocky Mountain National Park, six nights through East Texas, a New Year inside Big Bend and recurring Texas escapes. The family record currently includes fifteen trips, and it will keep growing as new journeys are added.
2026New MexicoCarson National Forest · Red River2026Big BendBig Bend National Park · January 1–62025Rocky MountainGlacier Basin · Timber Creek · Moraine Park2025East Texas3 state parks · 6 nights2022Texas chaptersBrazos Bend · Lost Maples
Open the travel journalBuilt for the people inside
More freedom.
Less uncertainty.
Cozy was built for two boys, a working parent and trips that do not have to end at the power pedestal. Smart technology should make camping feel simpler—then fade into the background.
See where Cozy has taken us →