Casita sat for 16 years - what to look out for?

[ccol265]

We have a new to us 2000 Casita. The original owners purchased it, used it a bit the first year, and then it sat. When we bought it the 2000 license plates were still on it. It has absolutely no evidence of wear anywhere but does show yellowing on some of the plastic bits from age/heat. The shower curtain falls to pieces when you breathe on it The tires have already been replaced. We're in the process of checking out the systems - replaced the AC shroud, replaced the vent cover, replaced the water heater anode rod and drained the tank, testing the water pump, replacing the battery. We need to take the propane tanks in and have them checked & filled.

If you were us, what else would you recommend we check/replace? What bits of a Casita need replacing just due to the passage of time?

[BARNEYCONE]

Pull the wheel hubs off, check bearings, brakes for rust and operation and repack bearings, also check inside grease seals. Many things decline from lack of use, just like our brain.
Happy casita'in!!!
Bbc ii

[cmartin748]

Check any rubber propane hoses for cracks, dry rot . I would replace them anyway.

[kootenaigirl]

Wow, thats amazing it sat that long after they bought it new, how sad.
Was it left outside, how is the gelcoat?

[Kevin A]

You will probably need new propane tanks because those will be too old to be re-certified, too.

[ccol265]

It appears to have been outside for a considerable time - don't know if all the time but it's definitely not shiny. We've got some work to do there.

[RogerDat]

Would expect water to have condensed in wheel bearings at bottom and caused rust. Also check lowest point on copper propane and any water lines. If propane hose cracks and water gets into line it will flow to low point, freezing can then crack the pipe. Same for water lines.

[tractors1]

If the yellowed vents aren't brittle, could paint them with Krylon Fusion paint for plastics. If they are, you can get new ones from Little House Customs, possibly Casita.

Home | Little House Customs

[Cathi]

Welcome! Lucky find for you. Did they say why they used it so little?

[ccol265]

We were very lucky. The casita was at a RV consignment place close to our house, so I didn't get to speak directly with the owners, just their agent. It was early Sunday morning, there was a a gentleman there ahead of us that decided he needed more time to think it over and a lady on the phone from Oklahoma that was ready to jump in her car and come, but we grabbed it first. We put a deposit down while we transferred funds from savings - took a couple of days. When we came to pick it up the agent said he had all kinds of people stopping and calling - could have sold it many times over.