Slightly bummed with Casita

[Dave8850]

My wife and I have a 2018 Casita Liberty, which we love. D SS once we bought it, we’ve had problems with cabinet latches. Whenever we travel, cabinets pop open. We’ve adjusted use of and packing of our cabinets to limit spillage when the cabinet doors pop open. Several times Casita has sent us replacement latches, which has helped somewhat. Recently I’ve discovered the cause. It is two fold. First the latches are poor quality. Most Casita owners know that. Secondly, some latches were installed improperly. They were installed too low so that the extended lip of the latch just barely engages with the cabinet. I discovered this by taking pictures of the engaged lock from inside of the cabinet. To get some pictures I reached onside and snapped the picture. To take others I put the camera inside the cabinet and used the timer to take a picture after I closed the canine door. So I asked Casita for new latches. I’ve made new cabinet doors so I could install new latches. Casita has refuse to give me new latches. I am well past the warranty period, but the problem was discovered and communicated to Casita several times during the warranty period. So to fix my cabinet latches clearly caused by casita’s manufacturing error, I had to give Casita $130 for new latches. Plus I replaced the doors on my own. Bummer. Advice to owners of casitas still under warranty with old latches: demand that Casita fix your cabinets. They know how to do it and now you do too.

[dkarp]

I have a 2010 Casita Liberty Deluxe and had the same problem with the cabinet door opening in the rear overhead. Sad that Casita still hasn't fixed it after all these years. Wonder how many calls they've had concerning this and if these calls are logged into a database. Dissatisfying how they have treated you and understand your frustration. There is a fix that worked for me. If a casita owner has cabinets with the plastic framing on the fiberglass opening there's a quick way to resolve it. On my casita the plastic framing pulls up or down easily (not glued) where the latch is located. I broke the head off a stick match and put the stick inside the plastic cabinet frame where the slot fits over the fiberglass. I have not had a problem since. Hope this helps some of you out there.

[Glenn Baglo]

If you're out of warranty, or not, why not just buy better quality latches? They are not that expensive.
Check out Lee Valley Tools for quality hardware.

[mary and bob]

I have read that better replacement latches are available from beetle freak.com. Haven't used them myself as we have an older Casita. I think the owner is a member here.

[patrick crawford]

I’v replaced those pesky latches with magnets. No moving parts and it works really well...

P@

[steve dunham]

On our 2013 Casita we only had issues with one door ( Dinette bench seat ) which was easily remedied.
Trailer manufacturers often cut corners in areas that are obvious to the customer and cause them constant irritation .
IE; Escape uses an off brand , lower cost trailer coupler . Every time we hookup or uncouple the trailer and I have to fight the coupler , and I get an irritating reminder .
A better coupler would have an additional upfront cost of $20 , now it’s a $200 repair

[kayaker51]

Originally Posted by Dave8850

My wife and I have a 2018 Casita Liberty, which we love. D SS once we bought it, we’ve had problems with cabinet latches. Whenever we travel, cabinets pop open. We’ve adjusted use of and packing of our cabinets to limit spillage when the cabinet doors pop open. Several times Casita has sent us replacement latches, which has helped somewhat. Recently I’ve discovered the cause. It is two fold. First the latches are poor quality. Most Casita owners know that. Secondly, some latches were installed improperly. They were installed too low so that the extended lip of the latch just barely engages with the cabinet. I discovered this by taking pictures of the engaged lock from inside of the cabinet. To get some pictures I reached onside and snapped the picture. To take others I put the camera inside the cabinet and used the timer to take a picture after I closed the canine door. So I asked Casita for new latches. I’ve made new cabinet doors so I could install new latches. Casita has refuse to give me new latches. I am well past the warranty period, but the problem was discovered and communicated to Casita several times during the warranty period. So to fix my cabinet latches clearly caused by casita’s manufacturing error, I had to give Casita $130 for new latches. Plus I replaced the doors on my own. Bummer. Advice to owners of casitas still under warranty with old latches: demand that Casita fix your cabinets. They know how to do it and now you do too.

I put locks on my cabinet doors. Key locks, it flips a bar behind the frame.

[dmad1]

I would like to see some pic. from Dennis and Patrick on their fixes.

[WaltP]

Originally Posted by steve dunham

On our 2013 Casita we only had issues with one door ( Dinette bench seat ) which was easily remedied.
Trailer manufacturers often cut corners in areas that are obvious to the customer and cause them constant irritation .
IE; Escape uses an off brand , lower cost trailer coupler . Every time we hookup or uncouple the trailer and I have to fight the coupler , and I get an irritating reminder .
A better coupler would have an additional upfront cost of $20 , now it’s a $200 repair

One of the first mods I did When I got my New Escape home was to replace the poor quality hitch it came with with a bulldog hitch like Oliver uses. Really a modest cost considering the cost of the tráiler and Well worth it for the added reliability and safety.


Walt

[steve dunham]

Originally Posted by WaltP

One of the first mods I did When I got my New Escape home was to replace the poor quality hitch it came with with a bulldog hitch like Oliver uses. Really a modest cost considering the cost of the tráiler and Well worth it for the added reliability and safety.


Walt

Thanks Walt , maybe I will order up a Bulldog hitch and then this Fall when the local welding shop has an opening , I can get it installed .
If Escape would have offered a first rate coupler as an option I would have gladly purchased it . The present hitch seems unreliable and IMHO is a safety issue
Had a work trailer come unhitched once , not something I wish to repeat .

[tidewater]

Originally Posted by WaltP

One of the first mods I did When I got my New Escape home was to replace the poor quality hitch it came with with a bulldog hitch like Oliver uses. Really a modest cost considering the cost of the tráiler and Well worth it for the added reliability and safety.


Walt

On Walt's advise, I also went with a Bulldog. I got tired of feeling around the Bigfoot hitch to make sure it was properly engaged (a bit paranoid perhaps) but I can clearly see that the Bulldog is engaged visually due to the design. Plus it's much more robust.

jack

[kayaker51]

Originally Posted by Dave8850

My wife and I have a 2018 Casita Liberty, which we love. D SS once we bought it, we’ve had problems with cabinet latches. Whenever we travel, cabinets pop open. We’ve adjusted use of and packing of our cabinets to limit spillage when the cabinet doors pop open. Several times Casita has sent us replacement latches, which has helped somewhat. Recently I’ve discovered the cause. It is two fold. First the latches are poor quality. Most Casita owners know that. Secondly, some latches were installed improperly. They were installed too low so that the extended lip of the latch just barely engages with the cabinet. I discovered this by taking pictures of the engaged lock from inside of the cabinet. To get some pictures I reached onside and snapped the picture. To take others I put the camera inside the cabinet and used the timer to take a picture after I closed the canine door. So I asked Casita for new latches. I’ve made new cabinet doors so I could install new latches. Casita has refuse to give me new latches. I am well past the warranty period, but the problem was discovered and communicated to Casita several times during the warranty period. So to fix my cabinet latches clearly caused by casita’s manufacturing error, I had to give Casita $130 for new latches. Plus I replaced the doors on my own. Bummer. Advice to owners of casitas still under warranty with old latches: demand that Casita fix your cabinets. They know how to do it and now you do too.

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[dkarp]

Originally Posted by dmad1

I would like to see some pic. from Dennis and Patrick on their fixes.

Here ya go and depending on your situation it may take 1 or 2 match sticks stacked on top of each other. Frame pulls down really easy and you can see how I inserted into the slot. I didn't need glue to make them stay in place.
Let me kmow if you have any questions.

[Jann Todd]

Originally Posted by kayaker51

I put locks on my cabinet doors. Key locks, it flips a bar behind the frame.

They make thumb latches like that and you wouldn't need a key.

[patrick crawford]

I would like to see some pic. from Dennis and Patrick on their fixes.

here's one... all the doors got 2 magnets (closet door got 3) on the opposite side from the hinges at the top and bottom. they're rare earth magnets and amazingly strong. the washers that let the magnets be magnets can't be stainless steel. i've never walked into the trailer after towing all day and found a cabinet door open with this setup.

p@

[Tom McRae]

I replaced our doors (cabinet, bathroom and closet) with ones I made from 3/8 " oak plywood and used magnets to replace the latches. No problems.

[jgilliam1955]

Originally Posted by patrick crawford

I’v replaced those pesky latches with magnets. No moving parts and it works really well...

P@

How does this work? Pictures? I have only one door that is giving me problems. I use Velcro. But magnets seem better idea.

[Pattyp]

anyone have a picture of the old latch vs the new latch?

[Terry G]

Originally Posted by jgilliam1955

How does this work? Pictures? I have only one door that is giving me problems. I use Velcro. But magnets seem better idea.

I have one door on my 1996 Casita that is a problem and I always use a bungee cord before I move the trailer. But a bigger problem is that in 1996, Casita used hinges that had removable pins. I've replaced quite a few hinges but after every trip I still have to go around with pliers and push the pins back in.

[redbarron55]

If you would like to shrink the significance of the slightly bummed over the latches just wind out your awning (if equipped) with the wind blowing...