I am still quite new to FGRVing. While I had planned to be "traveling" ie my "travel" trailer at this time, my brand new
Casita has become a nice fixture and potential guest house along side of my home. The only traveling it has done other than a trip from Rice, Texas home, is up and down my driveway.
All of that aside, one of the things I started to do immediately after getting home, was to consolidate and put together a book that contains all of the documentation for my trailer. I used a 3" 3-ring binder with protective sleeves for each piece of documentation. It is my intent to keep this book with the trailer at all times to answer many of the questions I see popping up on the forums on this site for both the
Casita and other named brands of trailers.
I find myself frequently referring to my
Casita book to find answers to my questions. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers are complete in documenting their product.
Not all of the documentation came with the trailer, though Casita does provide a pouch with most of the documentation that comes with the various components in the trailer. I found it interesting that a few minor items Casita had little or no information. I found some of it by Googling the information on the Internet. I printed out my findings and added them to the book. I also included all of the sales receipts and related documents, photos, brochures, business cards and other items related to the purchase of my trailer.
I say all of this because I have found that if one does not collect as much information on a product, trailer, car, etc. immediately after purchase, you will never get the documentation or information you seek. Companies keep poor or incomplete records in many cases. And if they are using components from other companies, then getting any documentation after the fact may be almost next to impossible.
An example of one component for which I experienced this with Casita is the installed TV antenna (if you select that option). In my case, after my harassing Casita, I finally was given a one page sheet of paper that had a diagram of the antenna. No specifications, no antenna gain, no pictures, no real
electrical diagrams. Even the manufacturer is in question. I have to go by Casita's word on this. The antenna is installed in the front of the trailer between the shower wall and the shell of the trailer. From what I can tell, this is a Chinese made antenna that probably cost about $10 to $15. Need I say more. In retrospect, I would have opted to install my own antenna. I suspect that for most camping situations, this antenna will be worthless.
The purpose of this post was to suggest that for those who have not done so yet, that they put together their own book. In my opinion, that should help maintain or increase the value of a trailer at resale. It not only helps the owner, but also future owner's to find resources and information about the trailer that may not otherwise be available.
While some of you have great memories, I have to confess to living in the era of the "golden years" of my life. Unfortunately, good memory is not a part of the "golden years". So a book like this is a huge help.