The Shasta Compact 16RE is a travel trailer by definition, but if you thought of this as a pickup camper on wheels, you wouldn’t be far off. While that might not really tell the whole story, it should give you an idea. At just 16 feet 9 inches in total length and weighing in at 2,983 pounds, its light, easy to tow, and lean. But despite its smaller profile and traditional build, the truth is that the Shasta Compact 16RE actually has pretty much everything you’d need in a travel trailer.
At a Glance: Shasta Compact 16RE
I gave the Shasta Compact 16RE three and a half out of five stars. This is a great little trailer for some campers, but it does possess a few oddities. The two sewer connections seem silly in a trailer this small. I’m also not a big fan of the latch in the 12-volt fridge on this unit. Other than that, for a camper of this size, this is a nifty little package.
Check the Specs
- Sleeping capacity: 4
- Hitch weight: 302 pounds
- UVW: 2,983 pounds
- CCC: 1,017 pounds.
- Exterior length: 16 feet 9 inches
- Exterior height 10 feet 6 inches
- Exterior width: 8 feet
- Fresh/Gray/Black: 40/30/30 gallons
Benefits
- Light, easy-to-tow trailer that keeps things simple
- Nice amount of counter space and storage, plus dry bath
Challenges
- Having two sewer connection points seems unnecessary
- Wood and aluminum construction not ideal for all seasons
Best For
- Weekend warriors looking for a traditional camper
- Single RVers who want to focus on the essentials
The RV Trader Process
RV Trader asked RV shoppers what was most important to them in their RV buying process. Potential buyers — like you — helped us to identify a list of six key areas that camping and travel enthusiasts always look at when they’re searching for the perfect RV: sleeping space, bathroom, living area, four-season capabilities, and storage space.
The RV Trader team then got to work providing you with an honest and unbiased evaluations. And that’s where I come in. I’m Tony Barthel, RV expert and enthusiast. I provide an honest look at RVs from RV industry insider perspective. That way, you can learn the good, the bad, and the intriguing about any RVs I review. I inspect each RV with the buyer’s perspective at the forefront. And I always evaluate those six key areas that buyers have told us that they have in mind.
So, that said, let’s take a closer look at the 2024 Shasta Compact 16RE.
Sleeping Space
In many ways, the Shasta Compact 16RE’s configuration reminds me of a pickup camper in that you enter from the back. The trailer is essentially a hallway with a bed on the front and that bed faces east-to-west. This configuration can scare away some buyers, but I can easily imagine this trailer being popular with single campers (as opposed to families, although in theory you can sleep four in here. The bed is an RV queen model, but if there are two people sleeping here, someone’s going to have to sleep against the wall. And that’s the primary reason some folks don’t like this configuration.
There is a wardrobe along the camp-side wall along with a space behind that for things like digital devices. (You know, the ones we’re not supposed to look at right before bed but many of us do. Guilty as charged.)
For additional sleeping space, there’s room for two on the sofa, but we’ll get there in a moment.
Bathroom
One surprise I enjoyed is that there’s a full dry bath in here. That means your toilet is not inside your shower. Shasta managed to get a proper shower in here as well as a plastic foot flush toilet.
The shower features the usual plastic enclosure and a shower curtain rather than a glass door, but this is what I would expect.
Living Area
On the camp side of this rig is a couch where the back can tumble over and form a bed. Truthfully, this won’t win any awards for comfort, but even so, it would work fine for a guest or grandchild, something like that. And let’s not ignore the fact that you have a trailer this small with a couch. Which is a win in and of itself.
Kitchen
Opposite the couch you have a kitchen that certainly has a respectable amount of storage and counter space — all things considered. If you’re a fancy chef, this kitchen might not work for you. But if you’re making meals in camp, this might be all you need. There’s a two-burner propane cook top and a microwave.
Somehow, Shasta has managed to put more counter space in this 16-foot trailer than in either of my first two campers, both of which were larger than the Shasta Compact 16RE. So kudos to Shasta. You’ll also find a decently large 12-volt refrigerator here.
Four-Season Capabilities
This is not the rig I would choose to a lot of winter camping with. There are no provisions for things like heated holding tanks. Nor are the knife valves enclosed or protected. As for boondocking, there are no options for solar but you could easily get some portable solar panels and a good battery and be set. This has a surprisingly large 40 gallon freshwater tank and 30 gallons each of black and gray water, which is more than some much larger trailers.
Storage Space
You might be surprised by the amount of storage on this trailer, especially inside. There is certainly acceptable outside but inside is where it’s at. Surrounding the bed, there are cabinets overhead along with hanging storage on the camp side. There’s also a storage cubby behind this for things like tablets and phones and even medical appliances like a CPAP.
The kitchen has some overhead and cabinet storage, but you’ll also find a place for things under and over the folding couch.
Closing Notes on the RV Model
A Few Things I Would Change
One of the things I saw was a head scratcher — that there are two connection points for the sewer system. In a rig this small that seems, well, goofy. I know that costs are important when working on something at this end of the price spectrum, but, really?
Admittedly, I also am not a fan of the latch on the Magic Chef fridge. I had this kind of latch in my own RV, and it let the fridge door fly open several times before I just replaced the whole fridge with a different 12-volt model.
A Few Considerations
This camper is a simple stick-and-tin model, which means traditional wood construction with an aluminum skin. That’s how many campers have been built for many years, and this being the Shasta brand means that they’re continuing as have for decades. The company is proud of their start in 1941. In the case of the Shasta Compact 16RE, they use a thicker aluminum skin for the nose that is not corrugated and then a corrugated siding. (Makes sense to me.)
While some people aren’t a fan of this type of build, I have nothing against it. Plus, it’s really easy to repair if something unfortunate happens. It should be noted that the uneven skin means uneven gaps on the windows so it would behoove the owner to keep an eye on the seals around any breaches in the shell such as for windows or doors, that sort of thing. With proper maintenance these can last for decades.
What I really liked about this camper is that it truly has everything you need. A kitchen. A full bathroom. A water system and even a couch for Pete’s sake! But that’s all in a small, light, and easy-to-tow package that might be within the capability of some SUVs and mid-sized pickup trucks. I can easily see this being popular with solo travelers more than anyone else. Since I know a lot of these people, I can imagine this being something many of them would consider.
And a Few Final Niceties
I was also quite surprised — and delighted — to see that the Shasta Compact 16RE includes a tire pressure monitoring system, which is a safety feature I think all towable RVs should be equipped with. This one is, but not all trailers are. Of course, this does feature entry-level tires and a very simple leaf spring suspension, but I would be shocked if it were otherwise.
Also of note, with the entry door at the rear, there is an awning across the back plus a second power awning over the camp side of this rig.
Overall, if you can get one of these for the right price, it might make a great companion for some wonderful outdoor and camping adventures.
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