Cost of 10.5 Years of Maintenance and Repairs on my RV (Casita travel trailer)
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- čas přidán 30. 03. 2015
- The itemized cost of all my maintenance and repairs while full timing for 10.5 years in my Casita travel trailer. Before I bought my Casita in early 2003 I read through ALL the posts on the Casita Club website so I'd know what I was getting into (literally!). There's a great community of Casita users as well as molded fiberglass RV folks out there in the links below. If you're considering a small molded fiberglass trailer, the value of the support and guidance these folks/sites offer is something you should definitely take into consideration!
www.casitaclub.com/
www.casitaforum.com/
www.fiberglassrv.com/
That's amazing for 10 years. I've spent that on my house most years, and sometimes much more, like when the furnace/AC went out.
Great video. Really informative. I'm impressed you kept all those records! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for sharing this! We have a similar era SD and hoping to full-time, this is very helpful in estimating costs.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I think this is one of the more helpful videos. Thank yo very much.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to and watching your video! You keep very good records👍. I have liked the Casita's for a long time. Coming. Back home to Cypress, TX from Dallas dog shows I would always tell my wife we need to stop and look at the Casita. One year I actually took the time to go through it. They had a Casita on display right on IH45. Never did actually get one. My wife said it was more convenient to stay in a hotel and leave the cleanup to someone else. It was probably true back then. But I am still enamored with them!
Hey Herb,
Hotels are convenient but with an RV you don't have to unpack every time you move, you can cook your own food and sleep in your own bed!
Hi Bill,
Thanks for taking the time to put this all together and share. Really good detailed break down on everything. For that amount of time that is not that much, especially with all the miles you have put on it. Crazy those little tires are so expensive!
This makes me want to get a Casita even more ... ha ha! I keep checking Craigslist but those Casita's sell pretty quick.
You are doing a great job with your videos :)
Take care,
Tina
tinabeane Hey Tina, Thanks. 12 plus years ago when I bought my Casita it was the same way, you just have to keep at it. People were buying them sight unseen, I would not do that. I think there is an advantage (especially if you aren't already RV savvy, to get a Casita because of the C Club and C Forum community available for help. I read all of the C Club site before I bought mine.
Good luck and take care,
Bill
So helpful and interesting. Thank you!
Good information and very informative. After seeing your video zthe good and The bad, I watched two videos on the Escape camper from Canada. I was very impressed with the quality of that brand. The full videos watched was interviews from Bob Wells - CheapRvLiving- and a Canadian retiree. Initial interview then an inside tour of the Escape. I recommend them if you haven't already seen them. Thank you four prompt reply. So glad I found your channel.
Good information. Thanks!
I did 11 years in my 2003 17LD . I spent a lot less on most things . No frig , stove or water pump problems . I may have spent more on tires . I became disabled in 2013 and bought a 31' Rockwood and March 1st 2014 made my last trip to Rockport , Tx ,where I still live . Last august , while in the hospital a hurrican destroyed my Rockwood and I now have a 2018 33" Puma ,which is more wheelchair friendly . In 2016 the VA put me in a aluminum ramp . The ramp did survive Harvey . Life goes on , I will always be a Casita fan . I remember working as a park host in Texas and meeting relly excited people spending their first night in the new Casita . Some times both of us host would be in our Casita's . That made the new owners ecstatic .
Hi Dave, Sounds like you've been around. Bill
it really is nice to listen to some one with a lot of common sense, and good ole fashioned know how happy wandering Dave and Elvira.
Elvira Durflinger Hey Dave and Elvira, Who are you talking about? Hahaha. Take care, Bill
Just found your site and I apreciate your willingness to share your experiences and learning with us. I believe you're providing a ton of expertise for those of us want to start or who've recently joined the ranks of light RV'g. As I oft say 'say safe keep warm have fun and whittle to keep your sanity.
ol greybeard dino
; - )>>
Great DETAILED INFORMATION !!! THANKS !!!
Great video. Yours are so very helpful for someone considering this life. I have a little rental studio in my backyard that helps me pay the mortgage and I've spent about $13,000 on maintenance in the past 2 years. New roof, carpet, hot water heater, HVAC. And I'm just stuck in one spot spending that money! Of course I have an income from it but I've lost about 2 yrs worth due to these costs. As I age, I'm considering alternatives. Realistic, common sense videos like this are so very helpful. Thank you from Durham, NC
Hi Dian, Good luck. Bill
Great video, thanks...!
Im just seeing this as im considering getting a small trailer for future traveling. In truth...268 a yr in maint isnt squat in comparison to other units out there. You're maint repairs are basically within normal use wear n tear w the occasional mishap which everyone needs to factor in. Excellent information thats greatly appreciated!
Great video. I may be preaching to the preacher, but 3 things I wanted to mention was number one, try Armor all for tires on the rubber window trim. Some of these tire protectants have a UV filter in them and will help to keep them from deteriorating. Number 2, I have had experience with Scamp, Casita and the Burro campers, 2 things they all have in common is the frames are lightweight metal, you should periodically check them under the camper for rust as they have been known to rust to the point where they actually break. If you see any rust, best to wire brush the rust off and put several thin layers of Rustoleum on them or better yet you can get in aresol cans undercoating and also, these campers are known for the screws in the door hinges to get loose without you knowing it. Best thing is to make sure the screws are in good shape and put lock-tight on them then seal them with clear fingernail polish. If maintained properly, these little campers will last for years and retain a great re-sale value. Sounds like you are doing everthing right. I wish my home expense were that low!! LOL
Hi Wm, I am almost done repainting my frame, I've gone over every inch and weld very close. I'd probably have it done already if it wasn't such a miserable job! But I'm going over everything very closely during my "refit" I'm doing and repairing or replacing anything that needs it. To get your home expenses that low all you have to do is live in a trailer and travel! Hahaha Take care, Bill
Not bad for 10+ years brother. Next please do a detail on how many smiles per mile you got traveling the country too many to count I'm sure :)
On the gray & Black sewer valve stem I'll spray some WD-40 on the metal stem to keep it pushing in and out freely. I'll do this about every 4-5 dumps. All my rubber seals on my door, slide and storage compartment doors I'll spray some (Wal-Mart red can) silicon spray once a month or two. My trip to AK. later this year I'm going to upgrade my load range C tires (4) to load range D tires to handle the chuck holes the Alcan will throw at us.
+jay super
Wow that sounds like a lot of work, don't forget to have fun! Haha. I'd probably use the silicon lube on the dump valve as well so the dust doesn't stick. That's an excellent lube for RVers that most folks don't know about.
B
outstanding...
Thank you extremely helpful
Glad you enjoyed it Juan!
Thanks for your travelogues!
We are soon departing from Florida on our Casita 17 SD, for a two year National Parks tour, wondering if you have or use a Casita specific maintenance schedule? If so that would be a good video topic. Best Tim
Excellent
Thanks!
**Good one Bill! Tip..Try this in your Title.. Scamp Casita ...Maintenance Repair.
Bill its the (Title Words that get your vids going)
Use these words First ( Scamp Casita) in All your vids so people can Find it!
..ps love The Shirt!
Jimbo hymlog Thanks for the tip Jimbo, it looks like even having Scamp in the description will work. I'll play around with it.
Holy money savings Casitaman! That's cheap upkeep for your home!
Hi Patrick, Yes very cheap! I prefer to spend my money on what I want to do, not on what allows me to do it (when I can). Take care, Bill
The sounds 👍great
I wonder how much it costs to eat each month and the cost of caraintenace plus gas.
Great Video, thinking of purchasing a Casita, how are they in cold, cold weather and hot hot weather---is it expensive to heat/cool this small space----is there much insulation?
Hi Frank, it's cheap to heat and cool because it's so small. The insulation is just ok, in the sun in Florida it challenges the AC and in the winter, if I have electric, a small space heater keeps it comfortable to about 30 degrees then I supplement with the built in heat. There's really only about a half inch of closed cell foam and some carpet for insulation. It's definitely not a four season camper. Bill
We cleaned the jet orifice from our refrigerator and did a good job thanks to you, do you have any hints for the water heater, for no reason after a while first thing we know it's off
Thanks again!
Your videos are very well done, we do appreciate them
Therese & Gilles from Quebec
That's real cheap repair costs.
Shows the quality of a Casita.
Bill, thanks for your time. I am just starting to search for a scamp or casita. My class C Sunrader was destroyed in an accident last month and I want to switch to pull behind. Do you have a Blog we can follow?
Roy Vannoy Hi Roy, That's too bad about your sunrader. I saw one a couple years ago at a pow-wow that was still in pristine shape, they were very nice rigs. I do not have a blog right now, I'm still trying to get a handle on the vids but I'll definitely make note of it here when I do. Good luck with your shopping! Bill
Where did you get the window gaskets?
Is your Honda Generator powerful enough to run your air conditioner?
Robert,Window gaskets are found at interstatervmetalandsupply.com/cat_windows2.htm the model number is #009-057 and yes the 2000 will run my 8,000 BTU no problem.
Bill
Bill, where is the best place, in your opinion, that you found to take your Casita for repairs and general maintenance? You seem like a very honest person. Dave
DAVE M Hey Dave,
The best place is where it happens to be and to do it yourself, that's why I try to do the How To videos when I have to do repairs or maintenance. It is much more convenient and saves the time and hassle of finding a RV repair place to have the work done. It's been over ten years now since I've taken my trailer in for repairs at an RV shop.
I do take it in to get the bearing done, but I take it to a regular (boat, utility) trailer repair/manufacturer shop. When I can wait to get it done in Florida I use Triple Crown Trailers in Ocala, Florida. Trailer repair/Manufacture is all they do so they know axles etc. and have all the parts on hand. Regular trailer repair places are also less expensive than RV shops. If you can't figure it out using the internet and/or do the repair yourself I'd probably check the reviews of local RV shops on Yelp. Good luck!
Take care,
Bill
After listening to the entire video and your stories about Boondocking the Alaska Hwy, Canada, and the amount of rough terrain you've covered on dirt / gravel road connected to what looks to be a fairly capable 4x4 tow vehicle... I wondered what your thoughts would be about how trail capable a platform like this could be if you remove the entire stock axle and springs and replaced them with an upgraded larger diameter axle tube and spindles... and mounted this axle to a longer travel air bag assisted springs?... And axle and spring setup like that could be purchased for under 500-600 dollars... After looking into the way these single axle Casita trailers are constructed it seems like they could be upgraded into a fairly capable 4x4 trailer capable of trailer when your required to travel under less then ideal road surface conditons... BTW, with all those Canadian / Alaska Hwy Miles on your trailer with stock hardware i would like to know how the fiberglass floor pan held up.. Any signs of stress cracks or damage? ... If not then thats a fairly good durability testament for that sealed fiberglass sandwich floor pan..
rainmechanic
My truck is a 4X2 I didn't want the added weight and headaches of a 4x4. There is a mod the factory will do and a Casita shop called Little House Customs (I believe that's the name) that will flip the axle and add more height and you could also add spacers in to raise the axle more. You can swap out any axle that would fit also. As far as the fiberglass, there is the usual cracks in the gelcoat at stress points but nothing substantial.
I just found your video. Good information. Would you purchase a 2003 model again??? A 2003 model in mint condition is coming up for auction and wondering is there any problems inherent to that vintage. Thanks in advance.
Hi Gary, Yes but I'd go for the 17' not the 16'. A 2003 would be fine though, no problem. Take care, Bill
Do you have stabilizer bars, tow package, transmission cooler installed by chance?
bster13
Hey Bster13,
Nope, I just have a sway bar.
Bill
Incredible! $268/year on maintenance... I knew I made the right decision - I have the same model only mine is a '97 I bought a year ago (in fabulous condition). Curious about the stove vent, you found a metal one with the little latches to keep it closed? One latch has broken already, desert dwelling unit so the plastic degrades even quicker. Boondocking is the only way to go ☺. Thanks for the affirmation
Christina Coloradoan
Hi Christina,
I just replaced my stove vent with another plastic one it's easy to do. I looked for a metal one and couldn't find one. I did replace my roof vents with metal ones though, they really get nailed by the sun. If you have a 16' I would strongly recommend you get a spare door latch, when both springs break there is no way to keep the door shut from the outside.
Take care,
Bill
The Willful Wanderer actually, this is the only problem with ours, we are using heavy duty bungee cords & have installed a masterlock system at the bottom of the door.
Christina Coloradoan
I'm looking for new springs for mine because I'm tired of replacing them $$$ every year and a half or so. At some point I'm going to do a video on just how I manage the door latch/striker deal (I'll probably have it unlisted and provide a link over at the Casita Club/Forum sites and have it in a playlist so non Casita 16' folks won't be bothered with it). Is your latch and striker worn so the door doesn't close well?
Bill
Yes, we've had people tell us that the door was open driving down the road - even with the bungee cords... We are the third owners of this unit - someone before re-mounted the door because the screws show just outside of the closet. Outside you cannot tell but I know Casita didn't put the door on so sloppily that we could see the screws. Since we're camping in SW Utah primarily it isn't such a problem now, but I want to start taking lengthy (not full-time but months) road trips through northwestern & southwestern US. Since I don't know what the door looked like when new, I have no idea what it's supposed to look like. Someone out a shim between the door & latch and the door doesn't stay closed/locked while we sleep so at night we've secured the door with a leather belt & the door handle along with a carribeaner for quick release in case of emergency
Oh, I also noticed you have no cover for your AC, has the debris while traveling prevented it from working? The little screw latches that held the AC cover broke & it hasn't had the cover on for the last 6 months. Probably not going to use the AC but concerned about the dirt etc that has probably gone into the vent. Hope all of that makes sense... We call her Lolita ☺
Hi Bill, would you be open to showing what your total budget is? including your tow vehicle, gas, maintenance, etc?
bster13
Hey bster,
Between this video and Full-Time RV Travel Costs and What it Will Buy that's my total budget except for Insurance and the cost of my tow vehicle which I had paid off already. My gas expenses and oil changes weren't broken out from my daily expenses though but they are included in my total expenses.
Bill
The Willful Wanderer Oh wow, how did I miss that one? Thanks so much.
way cheaper than a mortgage plus house repairs
Did your Casita come with mini blinds? I have a Scamp and would love to put Mini blinds or Pleated shades in but I have been told you can't drill thru the shell of the Scamp or you'll get leaks.
Hi Susy, Yes it came with mini blinds. The attach to the frame of the window with an l bracket, no through holes. Bill
Try commercial dual sided tape. Very strong, just a thought
What kind of tow vehicle do you use for your Casita?
John Sherman
Hi John,
I tow with a Ford Explorer Sport, with a few exceptions it's done great.
Bill
Trailer Bearings and Hubs are DIRT CHEAP if you know the sizing and order them in advance online.. They are also some of the easiest repairs to learn how to make on your own.. you dont need many tools and its a very simple repair... And to avoid getting RAPED by these scumbag shops who exploit people they know are hundreds of miles from home i would keep one loaded ready to install Hub in your trailer at all times... a few extra cotter pins and an extra spindle bolt and retainer... All can be purchased online for 50 bucks. A litttle research on the Casita message boards should connect you with someone who knows the correct universal hub to order or can at least give you the dimensions you will need like Spindle Diameter, bearing size, and tire stud spacing... At the very least keep a set of spare bearings already packed with grease in a zip lock bag with a few spare cotter pins, ect... I hate getting ripped off and being charged 200 dollars for a simple repair...
rainmechanic
Hey rainmechanic,
I travel really light and all I have is the small bottle jack for my truck that I use on my trailer. It would probably be do-able. I just don't want to carry the stuff needed to do it safely and deal with the mess, something I do and somethings I leave for others. The bearings and oil changes I get done by someone else. I pay
Yeah carrying a spare is a good idea when your on roads like the Alaska Hwy.. Otherwise i guess i see your point.. If you LIVE in a 16x7 foot space i guess a lot more thought has to go into what you bring along and a capabilities to storage equation.. How much insurance can i bring and where do i put it... what gets left behind and what is an absolute necessity.... I guess when all the "Absolute Necessities" are accounted for there is only a limited amount of space left for the "I would like to have along's"
rainmechanic
Actual 13' x 6.5'!
What is your mileage tank range when towing?
bster13
It's 275 miles, it's a small tank.
Bill
Another user had the frame fracture. How is your frame?
Hi Stephen, It's fine, I'm just about done treating the surface rust and painting it. Bill
Your boondocking trailer cost's averaged less then 25 dollars per month over the course of the last10 years... The only way to beat those accommodation costs is to live in a wood shack built of construction debris..
rainmechanic
Yep, it has proven to be cheap!
How many miles during this 10 years ? Thanks nice video
About 150,000, less miles than I averaged when I wasn't traveling constantly!
The Willful Wanderer thanks
How large a car or truck do you need to pull a 16 footer?
Hi Donna, I towed with a small Explorer sport V6, I just bought a V8 Chevy Silverado which is more than plenty. Check out the Casita Club forum and folks list what they use to tow and that should give you a good idea. Bill
did you get an extended warranty mine is five years for 2500.00 Is it worth it? Its a 2017 Coleman ca,per 17rd. I think I should cancel it.
That's a lot of money. Extended warranties are rarely worth it unless you are unlucky! Bill
Hello, what is your tow vehicle and what sort of MPG do you obtain? Thanks!
bster13 I have a Ford Explorer Sport V6 and I get 16.5 MPG.
The Willful Wanderer OK, so you would say your MPG is on par with a modern Class B (stressing modern, as the older ones get much worse I read). Then it comes down to preference of which setup you like better, but the purchase price of a used tow vehicle and TT would still be lower. Would you agree?
bster13 I think you'd be hard pressed to find a class B that gets 16.5 MPG except for the Sprinter based one or other diesel models...big bucks either way. A draw back to traveling in a class B is that you won't have a car/truck to tour the area in unless you also tow a car (cutting back on your MPGs while towing of course!). There is no perfect setup.
Bill
OK, so a Class B would be nice stealth camping in a big city with good mass transit, but for anything else, the MPG hit may hurt too much vs. just getting a campsite and parking your TT while you explore with your tow vehicle.
If you're moving fast all the time a class B would probably be better but if you're going to stay places for a while I think a TT is a better choice. I could have bought two new tow vehicles and two trailers for the amount a new class B would have cost me!
I was sold after just tires being the highest expense in a decade.
Hi Leslie,
It's been very cheap to keep on the road. I'm in "dry dock" now refitting for another 12 plus years!
Bill
$268/year real good----------how about for the tow vehicle?
SKPjoe Coursegold Hey Joe, I'll have to work on that one, I really only had two issues though. I had a clutch and master cylinder that needed replacing (I think a bad master cylinder took out the clutch) and I broke a couple bolts on the hitch, so I had the hitch welded on. (That seriously fixed that problem!). Bill
The Willful Wanderer
Seems like it's really cheap for an RV
Hi Michael, Very cheap and I hope it will be roughly the same for the next 10 years. I'm spending a couple thousand now on replacing and upgrading some of the systems along with improving the "decor". I'm doing it basically just to add more comfort and the fact that I'm really tired of the generic RV look inside. The trailer is still very solid, I'm sure I'll have to replace the fridge and axle at some point but other than that I don't see any major issues. Bill
Even at that, you are still really ahead of the game. A new 17 deluxe is going be around 20,000. A guy I know with a large A class rig spends 1,000 every year just at the shop prepping his rig before he takes it out.
Have not noticed if you mention what the mpg is with towing vs just your Explorer....