Casita Forum

Home base

Fri, 18 May 2012 05:49:55 +0000

After I retire next year I'm going to whip my house and yard in shape so I can put it on the market. In the meantime, I will have already obtained a Casita, so when the house sells I can hit the road.

But I really want to have a home base, so here's my plan: I'll use some of the proceeds from the sale of my house to buy an acre of two of unimproved land about ten miles out of town where I can pour a slab, erect a 20' by 40' steel building, put solar panels on the roof for power, and have a well and septic. The steel building would serve as a shop, a Casita shelter between road trips, and -- most important -- a place to store extra belongings I'll want to keep. While I'm gallivanting around the country in the Casita, a pygmy goat can keep the tall grass and weeds under control.

I think it would be an ideal home base -- secluded, secure, functional, permanent, and relatively inexpensive. Furthermore, after the Apocalypse, when roving bands of mutants are foraging for food, my off-the-grid, self-sufficient home base will also serve as a heavily armed fortress. And you folks will wish you had followed my example. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Exterior Plumbing Leak from the Black Water Tank

Fri, 18 May 2012 05:39:21 +0000

We have a 2003 SD. We have had it going into our sixth year. We have a fast dripping leak at he elbow coming out of the black tank. More specifically it is the connection of the elbow with the long pipe that runs to the release valve. The previous owner may have had a leak, there was a big thick glob of silicon going around that connection. I had pulled some of it off more that a year ago on the topside of the connection. A month ago I pulled the rest of it off. I now have a rather fast dripping lead at that location. There are no visible cracks in either the elbow or the long pipe.

How do I repair it? Am I going to have to disassemble most of the exterior plumbing going to the release valve and then re-glue it with some sort of pvc pipe glue. Or can I/should I attempt to place another thick bead of the dreaded silicon around the outside? I know silicon is reviled by many/most on this forum. I am open to suggestions on the best approach. I loath the thought of having to take everything apart to fix this leak. If it was on the gray tank I would probably ignore it. However, being on the "stinky" side of the equation I can't ignore it.

Clover

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Electric pressure washer

Fri, 18 May 2012 05:00:36 +0000

Hello all, looking for an electric pressure washer. Any suggestions out there? Can't believe would ever need hot water only cold, but if it is a feature it isn't the end of the world either.
Searched our Forums without finding any previous posts which surprised me.

Thanks
Frank M.

New Tow Rig, Yay! F150 Ecoboost

Fri, 18 May 2012 03:05:32 +0000

Traded in the Excursion for an F150 XLT Super Crew with an ecoboost. Haven't towed anything yet (just got it yesterday).

Sure is smooth and powerful. No more deisel.

Plastic step mod

Fri, 18 May 2012 02:50:21 +0000

Quite a while back I got one of those heavy plastic aerobic step exercise things to use as a bottom step for the trailer. It is about 12" x 24" and I can put a welcome mat or whatever on it to clean shoe soles off before stepping into the trailer. It is exactly what I need and I finally got around to doing a mod I've thought about, usually when on a trip. I drilled a pair of holes on 2 sides and ran a bit of rope through them to make handles. Now I can pick it up with out having to get my fingers under it. Simple and handy.

applying acrylic coating tomorrow

Fri, 18 May 2012 02:36:50 +0000

I am going to coat my 01 sd tomorrow using something a little different. Ive looked at poli glo red max and some others. They are mostly the same thing accept that poli glo has what they call uv protectants. I am using an acrylic concrete sealer that does have the same uv protectant as poli glow. But it is only $28 gallon. Ill post results once its done . I was a concrete.contractor for 27 years and used to stain concrete for commercial applications. Should be interesting.

GPS Locations of Campgrounds in SW

Fri, 18 May 2012 02:11:23 +0000

I just found a free file for my GPS that gives me location and all the details for over 3000 public (USFS, etc) campgrounds in CA, AZ, NM, NV, UT, CO with some in WY, ID and MT. As far as I can see, my local CGs are accurately described.

I did have a problem getting the file to display correctly in my Garmin 650. In order to make it run, I had to do a "Find and Replace" (under the edit menu) on all the breaks (
) and I left the replace field blank, which ends up deleting all the breaks. Then it ran perfectly. This looks like a great resource for those of us who like public CGs!

Try it, you'll like it. http://www.poi-factory.com/node/11126

Loring

We're Part of 'Da Gang' Now

Fri, 18 May 2012 01:42:27 +0000

Hello Everyone,

Just a quick message to let y'all know that we placed our order yesterday for a 17' Spirit Deluxe. We need to thank ALL of you for your fabulous contributions to this site, as many of our decsions revolved around careful consideration of your comments. We did take your advice and ordered most options, but did not make any other changes to the order. We will travel and camp a bit before deciding on modifications, but feel certain we will jump right in there with things we want to do. We will continue to watch this site to learn more and to share. Thank you for being such an active, professional, and caring group. See you on the road (after September.)

Continental Vanco 2 in 225/70R15D...opinions? info?

Fri, 18 May 2012 01:22:39 +0000

This is the tire I'm considering. Any experience with these?
Thanks.

Led third brake light

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:38:07 +0000

I would like to install a 3rd brake light on the ledge on the out side of my Casita. I would need to drill a hole for the wires .
Is it possible to get the wires from the outside ledge and behind the carpet on the inside, down to the tail lights of the trailer ?

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Got windows tinted

Fri, 18 May 2012 00:10:08 +0000

When we picked up our casita in Rice (after camping at Navarro lake) we headed down route 45 to Huntsville TX ..(about 118 miles)
On Powell road we found ---Performance Tinters II. ------ Ask for Rusty Wood. He has done many Casitas and we were very happy to get ours done.
Its a very friendly place and the price was very reasonable. We turned our fishbowl into a private place. # is 936.291.0525.
Dennis

Casita Frame Rust

Thu, 17 May 2012 23:36:57 +0000

Hello. My 2002 17 FD has some rust on the frame. I have been out in the driveway with a wirebrush knocking off the rust and preparing the surfaces as best I can. There's not a lot of room under a Casita!

The question I have is which process to use after I finish brushing and scraping: prime and paint, or convert the rust and then paint? I have primed and painted a frame before, but never used any of the products for rust conversion. I have been online and read about Corroseal, IPI 1-Step, CRC Rust Converter 18418, and OSPHO. Each of them use a different chemical to convert the rust to a different, inert iron compound. Online reviews are mixed.

I also have read or watched videos of directions for use of several of those products. However, crawling around under a Casita with the surfaces overhead and vertical in some cases, it is not clear to me how successfully the conversion products will work on the Casita surfaces.

My question to the group, does anyone have any personal experience using any the foregoing products on a Casita who can attest to the feasibility and effectiveness of the product ?

Thanks.

Charlie