Casita question about propane system

[texastall]

On the 1991 Casita I am looking at there is an opening with vented cover just to the left of the door about 4 feet from the ground. I thought it was a battery box but it has what appears to be a gas control? Would that be for the refrigerator ... stove? The seller inherited the trailer and has no idea what is what. I looked for an owner's manual online but no luck.

[Jon in AZ]

Aah… those are the fridge controls. There should be a small 3-way fridge on the inside of that space.

If you purchase this Casita, you might want to buy the A-Z Casita Guide by Eileen Gllick. It’s way more thorough than any owner’s manual with lots of pictures. Available in print or PDF.

[texastall]

Thank you!

[Mary F]

Yes! What Jon said.

For what it's worth, we used to have a 1989 Casita. It was a long time ago, now (we moved up to a 17' in 1999 - I think); and I remember the 16' was different. (Ours had what became the Liberty floorplan. Do you know which bed arrangement you have?)

[texastall]

It's the deluxe so bed is the table zone which must be for short folks. As tall as I am I will be sleeping in the walkway on an air mattress. I don't think this has a propane heater which I would not be using anyway.

[texastall]

Thank you for that. I am supposed to connect with the seller tomorrow to tow it home. There is some kind of adapter I have to get as my 4runner just has the regular 4 plug?

[Jon in AZ]

There is a 4-flat to 7-round adaptor, yes, and most auto parts stores and possibly even Walmart carry it. But that means you won’t have trailer brakes or battery charging. You will need to upgrade your 4Runner to 7-round and add a brake controller before you tow with a full load.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

... You will need to upgrade your 4Runner to 7-round and add a brake controller before you tow.

I edited that for you. I would not tow even an empty Casita with a 4Runner or similar midsized SUV without a brake controller, unless maybe its just once across town going slow and easy.

I'm surprised a 4Runner that has a Class III (2") tow reciever doesn't already have a 7 blade, my 2008 Tacoma came with one. The Tacoma didn't have the brake controller, but there was a plug for it behind the left drivers side kick panel, you just need a wiring adapter like... https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...ha/3041-P.html

The good news is, adding a 7 blade and brake controller isn't that hard. You need a fused 12V circuit run from the vehicle battery for charging the RV battery, and you need a brake line that runs to under the dash, where you also need to find 'switched' power, ground, and the vehicle's brake pedal switch, these 4 wires go to a Tekonsha P2/P3 or equivalent brake controller. The existing 4 pin has the rest of the wires you need.

[John in Santa Cruz]

oh, and IMHO, don't get suckered in with a wireless brake controller. Brakes are too much of a critical safety item to trust to flakey wireless.

[texastall]

Thanks to everyone for your help. I slept on it and determined I needed to listen to those familiar with travel trailers telling me to hold off. Hopefully, something else better for my needs will find me again.

[daveandalice]

You should try and visit a fiberglass gathering/rally and get familiar with the different models and layouts

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer...97.8020588&z=5