Would it really cost that much more per trailer to use stainless steel hinges?
Today I finished replacing the 6 most problematic cabinet latches in the Casita. All but one of the new ones works great. That one looks like it’s going to be pretty touchy. But it should still be an improvement over the old one.
Then I moved on to replacing rusty hinges on the pantry over the refrigerator.
Let’s just say it wasn’t a fun task. I scrubbed and scrubbed and got most, but not all, of the rust off the pantry door and the fiberglass cabinet.
Rust under the hinges, and rust deposits on the fiberglass cabinet.
The new screw hole patterns do not match the old ones exactly, so I have filled in the old holes with glue and toothpicks. The new screws will overlap the old holes by about one-half.
I’m taking a break from trailer projects for a day or two because this one has really gotten on my nerves.
The hinges on the lower kitchen cabinet are also rusting, so I will have to replace them, too. But I may wait until after our next camping trip to get to them.
I’m getting crabby and impatient with my projects. Do I ever need this upcoming getaway!
Tinycamper's Blog 
EmilyO
/ March 15, 2014Wow, yours look like that I had better take a peek at mine. I want to attempt my outside hinges on the door and move them inside this summer, so they are less tempting for someone to enter.
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tinycamper
/ March 15, 2014Emily, I think living in the humid Southeast has a lot to do with it. I bet yours are fine. 🙂
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Kim
/ March 15, 2014Oh man. I’m getting crabby just looking at this. I’m sure all that hard work will pay off soon as you are lolling about at your water-front campsite.
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tinycamper
/ March 15, 2014Thinking about lolling on a waterfront site is what’s keeping me sane! Well, kinda sane, anyway! 😀
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Anne H
/ March 15, 2014Once the project is done, your before and after photos will be so satisfying! I spent part of today cleaning out the Escape after my big trip – it smells so fresh!
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tinycamper
/ March 15, 2014Don’t you just love it when the trailer is sparkling and smells like clean! That’s when it’s fun to just go sit in it and dream of future trips.
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judilyn
/ March 15, 2014How far from your house is the campground?
Virtual hugs,
Judie
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tinycamper
/ March 15, 2014Judie, it’s about an hour and a half away. But once we get there, it feels like a world away!
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judilyn
/ March 15, 2014What fun! I was trying to remember which state you live in. That’s a nice distance to enjoy the whole day on the day that you travel. It takes us more than a day to get much of anywhere because of the limited driving time available at any one time. With no transplant in the immediate future, we are trying to work out a way to be gone for a couple of months this spring/early summer.
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tinycamper
/ March 15, 2014We’re in NW Georgia. Up in the hills where it’s pretty.
I do hope you can find a lovely place to visit. It can rejuvenate one’s whole perspective on life, can’t it?
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Sue
/ March 15, 2014That is quite a project– time to go gave some camp out fun!
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tinycamper
/ March 15, 2014That’s the plan–starting March 24! 🙂
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Jo
/ March 15, 2014I think you have more patience than anyone I know, so if this got on your nerves it must have been a bear. Yes it is time to hit the road and relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
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tinycamper
/ March 16, 2014Jo, I am really burning out on working on the Casita and not getting to go camping in it. So maybe the trip will give me an attitude re-set. I sure hope so! 🙂
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Wayne Scott
/ March 16, 2014A few things to consider;
GOOP, I believe that stuff on fiberglass would be a great adhesive. Combine that with some of those plastic mollies and wow, that is a fix. CLR to remove rust and calcium. I kn ow what you mean about the repairs that can get on your nerves, for sure.
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tinycamper
/ March 16, 2014Wayne, I’ve never used plastic mollies. Will check that out at the hardware store Monday. Also am not familiar with CLR so will check that out, too.
I do know Goop. 🙂
I really appreciate your help!
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Horst
/ March 16, 2014Congratulations!!!…..I guess I need to bit the bullet and do mine……at least I don’t have the rust….yet….take care and have a super week..Horst sends
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tinycamper
/ March 16, 2014You probably won’t have the rust in Texas. Georgia and Florida is a different story!
You have a super weekend, too!
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cozybegone
/ March 16, 2014I get so upset when I can’t get an area to clean up like I want….darn it! Toothpicks? And glue…what an idea… Don’t suppose a Magic Eraser would clean it up…Lv those things?
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tinycamper
/ March 16, 2014Carla, I have tried almost everything except a Magic Eraser. Didn’t think of it! On my list now. Thank you! 🙂
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Gerri Jones
/ March 16, 2014You are so right…there is no reason that better quality products could be used on the Casita. It seems like most of the Casita folks end up correcting all the things the factory SHOULD have done right in the first place. Anyway, yours will be right and better once you finish!! It does look like a messy job, though!!
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tinycamper
/ March 16, 2014Gerri, overall I have been extremely pleased with the Casita’s quality. After having an Aliner, to me the Casita looks like a paragon of how to get things right.
They are very conservative about making any changes, but eventually they do make an improvement here and there. But then there are the irritants like cheap hardware, an upper refrigerator vent that will leak unless you install a drip tray, and a stove cover that rattles that go on and on!
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Judy Crankshaw
/ March 16, 2014Now that I have enough bandwidth to see your photos, I can understand why you are so aggravated at these hinges. Good job to take this project on!
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tinycamper
/ March 17, 2014Hope to get it finished tomorrow. Then I can move on to washing the trailer and getting ready for an actual camping trip.
Mods used to be so much fun. Now heck with the mods. I just want to be on the road!
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lynne
/ March 16, 2014There are times when I just cannot do a job that is tedious and those hinges look like they will need that type of close attention. Go slow and reward yourself when you have made a little progress.
We have things like that to do…..and they may never get done!
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tinycamper
/ March 17, 2014Lynne, I used to be so worried about keeping the camper looking good. Now I am frustrated at the long winter and just wish we could take a LONG road trip and to heck with how the camper looks.
We are in bill payoff mode. Hopefully we can run away from home next winter–if I survive having my wings clipped until then!
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Old Guy
/ March 19, 2014Glad you are getting ready to go on a camping trip..I just got back from Missouri,,Left on 3-06-14..Went to Table Rock Lake,,In Lampe,Mo…Back to Petit Jean State Park ,Ark..Got really lucky weather was fantastic..One evening of rain & light Snow…Can’t wait until the next trip..Plotting & planning now….When you go I hope you have great weather..We took stuff for all weather conditions..But only needed a light jacket..Old Guy
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tinycamper
/ March 20, 2014Hi, OG. Good to hear from you — and GREAT to hear that you had such a good trip. How did you score that beautiful weather? 🙂
We’ve canceled our trip. The cold front that is coming through would make it miserable for us. We are cold weather wimps.
Instead we will try to get to a Mississippi beach in mid-April.
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Old Guy
/ March 20, 2014Hi,,I have no idea how or why we Where blessed with such good weather, But it was Great…By April the weather should be much nicer along the Coast…It was nice to get a break from Cabin Fever…I know you are counting the days until you can get under way.. When you do go I hope you have Fantastic weather..Old Guy
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