Shock Absorber Mod - 06/27/14

Friday – June 27, 2014
Shock Absorber Mod
Chicago, Illinois

I just completed the installation of the shock absorber kit from the PerfectCasita.com website. I must say this company does a first class job in designing and manufacturing products for Casita Travel Trailers. I also have their hitch receiver and spare tire carrier that Little House Customs in Rice, Texas installed on our Casita last year. The spare tire no longer rubs up against the fiberglass and we now carry our bikes on a bike carrier mounted to the receiver hitch.

The installation of the shock absorber kit was very straightforward, thanks to the excellent instructions that came with the kit, and most importantly, the installation photos provided by a member on the Casita Travel Trailer forum. I chose to remove the wheels, as this provided more room to work at getting at those four nuts on the bolts extending out of the backing plate. I applied liquid wrench to the bolts and nuts on the backing plate and the bolts and nuts on the axle. All four nuts on the curbside backing plate took a considerable amount of time and effort to break loose. I used a steel pipe, 1-1/2 inch diameter by 12-inch long, over the 11/16" end wrench, as a breaker bar. I then tapped on the pipe with a sledgehammer to break the nuts loose. The nuts on the street-side backing plate came off quite easily, using only the steel pipe as a breaker bar. All of the axle nuts came off very easily using a 24" breaker bar with a 15/16" socket.

I installed the curbside Thursday afternoon in about 3 hours and installed the street-side Friday morning in about 2-1/2 hours. I am really pleased with this installation and looking forward to our first road trip with these shock absorbers.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

The Perfect Casita Shock Absorber Kit

Shock Absorber Installed

Maintenance Projects - 06/20/14

Friday – June 20, 2014
Maintenance Projects
Chicago, Illinois

This past week was spent working on several projects on our Casita Travel Trailer.

• Installed a dual hitch extension on our hitch receiver on the Casita.
• Painted the bike rack.
• Installed a safety light-bar on the bike rack.
• Installed a 4-pin connector wire that will connect the safety lights to our tow vehicle.
• Painted the frame on the Casita.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.

Safety Light Bar

Dual Hitch Receiver

Maxxtow Towing Products 70070 Dual Hitch Extension - 4000 lbs. GTW Capacity

Equipment Shelf Mod - 06/12/14

Thursday – June 12, 2014
Equipment Shelf Mod
Chicago, Illinois

Just about every time we arrive back home from one of our extended trips, I have a list of "improvements" I want to add to our Casita. Some are minor and some are major projects. Sharon, on occasion, will cast a skeptical eye on some of these so-called "improvements," but in the end graciously accepts my overwhelming desire to constantly be tinkering with something.

This week’s project involved building and installing two suspended shelves under the ceiling cabinet in the rear of the trailer and installing a Premier Mounts FLIP Flip Down Mount 10 to 18" LCDs (FLIP)to attach to our television set. The shelves will be used to house our DISH ViP211K receiver, DVD Player and WD My Book DVR.

This was a fairly inexpensive project. The only item I had to purchase was the Flip-Down Mount. I had leftover shelves from another project, so I just had to cut them to size. I made the risers from one-inch diameter PVC pipe I had on hand.

I get quite a few ideas for new projects from three fiberglass trailer forums I follow:
Casita Club Forum
Casita Travel Trailer Forum
Molded Lightweight Fiberglass RV Forum
I believe I found the idea for the suspended shelves on the Casita Travel Trailer Forum.

The television is attached to the Flip-Down Mount, the shelves are installed and all of the electronic equipment is neatly in place on the shelves. Sharon inspected the installation, gave me two thumbs up: Project Complete!

Tomorrow another adventure begins!

Water Container - 06/09/14

Monday – June 9, 2014
Reliance Water Container
Chicago, Illinois

We spent a few days at the Davis Bayou Campground in Ocean Springs, Mississippi in March 2014. A fellow camper showed me some really nice 6-gallon water containers he used to fill the water tank in his Hi-Lo Travel Trailer. They looked to be well made and should work quite well for filling the water tank on our Casita Travel Trailer.

The water containers are manufactured by Reliance Products. Model: Desert Patrol 6 Gallon. It is a traditional Jeep style rigid water container with an angled handle for two-handed gripping which makes the container easier to lift and pour.

I purchased two of these containers for use while dry camping in the desert in the southwest this winter.

Just thought I would pass this along to other campers who are looking for extra water storage capabilities.

Tomorrow another adventure begins.