Hi, I am Laura

[Laura F]

Hi y'all, I'm Laura and I just signed up! I am in the process of purchasing a 13ft Casita. It has been (almost) completely gutted, I'm not even sure what year model it is (80's maybe?), and I have no idea what I've gotten myself into. But I know it is going to be a fantastic journey and I am really looking forward to some great advice from all of you experts. Thanks in advance!

[Sid]

Welcome Laura!
Hope you enjoy the site and your new passion!

[DeanCHS1980]

Hi Laura,

Welcome! Congrats on the Casita 13'. Wishing you the best fixing up, camping, and traveling in your egg!

Take care,

Dean

[Jan Dyke]

welcome, remember 1 step at a time and if you have a question, stop and ask
Jan

[WaltP]

Welcome to the world of molded fiberglass Laura. Once you get it usable you're in for a lot of fun.
Hopefully you got a title with your Casita and I'd hope that should give the date.

We all like pictures here and they'll help with any advice you need as you fix it up.

Walt

[LMWEISS]

Originally Posted by Laura F

Hi y'all, I'm Laura and I just signed up! I am in the process of purchasing a 13ft Casita. It has been (almost) completely gutted, I'm not even sure what year model it is (80's maybe?), and I have no idea what I've gotten myself into. But I know it is going to be a fantastic journey and I am really looking forward to some great advice from all of you experts. Thanks in advance!

Good luck. Hope you enjoy many safe trips.

[Captleemo]

Welcome Laura. You will sure find a lot of knowledgeable people on this forum when it comes to molded fiberglass trailers. What part of Texas are you from?

[Laura F]

Thanks for the welcomes, y'all.

This is actually a 'barter' purchase. I'm working on getting the title so I can figure out exactly what year it is. I cannot find any tags on the outside. I'm also working on clearing a spot in the backyard for it, so I have not taken delivery yet. I need to get it on-site so I can really see what I'm dealing with.

Here's a photo of the interior. Let's be honest.. have I lost my mind?

[WaltP]

On top of the frame, close to the propane tank and on the driver's side, there's a stamped number representing the overall production order of your Casita. If you'll find it and let us know, someone will know the approximate production date. They can be a bit hard to read.

Walt

[WaltP]

Thanks for the picture. It identifies your Casita as an early '80's model. The window mount of the AC and the tilt-out side window were gone by the '90s.

Walt

[Tom 72]

As long as you didn't pay more than around $20,000, you will be fine. Darn things hold their value.
Seriously, this venture can generate some of the best memories of your life!

[Scoboatn]

Welcome. This site is a great resource. Lost of people willing to help. I'm in the middle of a Burro Resto. Lots of work, but it is really rewarding. The main thing I have learned is everything takes about 3X longer and cost about 3X more than I thought.

Have fun. Good luck.

[thrifty bill]

Just realize the upper and lower cabinets provide the structural strength for the unit. Without them, the roof is not adequately supported. Often there is a vertical wall or supports from the lower cabinets to the upper for additional strength.Vertical walls attached to cabinets, such as for a closet provide additional strength.

Make sure the floor is solid, no rot, before building out the interior. Its a lot easier to replace flooring with the cabinets out. Covered parking is very helpful to you during the project time, as jobs always seem to take longer than planned.

The good news is many have gone before you, so you can learn from their mistakes and triumphs too.

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by Tom 72

As long as you didn't pay more than around $20,000, you will be fine. Darn things hold their value.
Seriously, this venture can generate some of the best memories of your life!

IMO, $20,000 for a gutted 13-foot Casita would be way out of line. On could purchase a fully functional trailer for much less. Perhaps this is a typo and you meant $2,000.

[Tom 72]

It was intended to be a humorous way to make the point about retained value. I figured most people would get that I wasn't serious about $20,000. When I said 'Darn things hold their value', that was a clue.
So was when I started my next sentence with 'Seriously'
Sometimes we need to think outside the box.

[thrifty bill]

I think that $20,000 figure was a joke. In its current state, more like $500 to $1000. Best suited for someone really handy as it is going to be a lot of work. Are the original fiberglass cabinets included? That would be a plus for sure. It's a ground up rebuild, given it's a barter item you are off to a good start $$ wise!

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by Tom 72

It was intended to be a humorous way to make the point about retained value. I figured most people would get that I wasn't serious about $20,000. When I said 'Darn things hold their value', that was a clue.
So was when I started my next sentence with 'Seriously'
Sometimes we need to think outside the box.

Yes, but did the OP realize you weren't being serious, being somewhat new to the forum. That was my concern.

[Laura F]

So I got her home this weekend. Poor thing had been sitting discarded in a salvage yard for I-don't-know-how-long, windows open, exposed to all sorts of weather, baking in the sun. She looks much better after going through the car wash, well, on the outside, at least. The inside is rough, rough, rough. Now the real fun begins. Still working on getting the title.

WaltP - I think I found the number you referred to: 86CAB16402. Any help in identification is appreciated.

[LMWEISS]

Hope you get it back together soon and hit the road.

[WaltP]

Originally Posted by Laura F

WaltP - I think I found the number you referred to: 86CAB16402. Any help in identification is appreciated.

Nope, that's not it. It'll be a pure number, no letters. On the top edge of the fork in the frame, A number like 5302 would say it's the 5302nd Casita ever made. They are often hard to see through the paint, rust, and crud.

Walt