By Cheri Sicard
In the video below we join Bob Wells of Cheap RV Living (winner of one of our 2024 RV video awards) and Thomas, who undertook a complete Casita trailer renovation.
Thomas bought his used fiberglass travel trailer for only $1,900. He knew it would need some work. It turned out it did not need some work—it needed everything. The Casita had severe water damage and rot. It also needed a new axle.
With so much wrong, this RV restoration became a labor of love. Thomas’s Casita trailer renovation entailed rebuilding the travel trailer from the ground up. He turned a 10 x 20 tent in his driveway into a workshop and did the entire renovation there. He did the work himself—the fiberglass, carpentry, plumbing, painting, and electrical.
Before he could even begin, the fiberglass shell had to come off the frame. His exceptional rebuild included the installation of a Dickinson heater, a new floor, vertical supports, and custom cabinetry.
As Thomas was working full time, it took him four summers to complete this massive renovation of the tiny space.
He has since retired, so now he can enjoy the fruits of his extensive labors. He says after replacing everything, it’s now like having a brand-new trailer. In fact, with amenities like rooftop solar, lithium batteries, an inverter, a DIY composting toilet, and more, it’s better than new.
As much work as it all was, Thomas said he enjoyed the project and process.
Take a look at the video and be sure to leave your thoughts about Thomas’s Casita trailer renovation in the comments below.
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Thank you, Cheri! 🙂 He certainly is/was creative! I admire the finished product, especially in light of him doing everything himself. I would not want to travel so primitively, but I guess that is borne out by the term I use to describe us. We travel, we do not camp. 😉 Have a great day and safe travels! 🙂