🔧 Mods & Upgrades
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The Improvements That Made Our Casita Better
One of the best things about owning a Casita is making it your own. Over the years, I’ve made a number of upgrades that have improved the way we camp. Some were for convenience, some for comfort, and others simply made life a little easier on the road.
Not every modification is necessary, and you certainly don’t need to do them all. My goal is simply to show you what has worked well for us, why we made each change, and whether I think it’s worth the time and money.
I hope these ideas help you build a Casita that fits the way you camp.
🔐 Keyless Entry Door Lock
One of the first upgrades we made to our Casita was replacing the factory door lock with an RVLock keyless entry system. It may not seem like a big change, but it’s one of those upgrades you appreciate every single camping trip.
Before installing it, our conversations usually went something like this: “Do you have the key?” “I thought you had it!” “Can you give me the key? I’m heading back to the trailer.” Now we simply walk up, enter our code, and we’re inside. No digging through pockets or worrying about losing a key while hiking or exploring.
Installation only took about 10 minutes and was one of the easiest upgrades I’ve made to our Casita.. Since the lock runs on AA batteries, I replace them about once a year as preventative maintenance. I also keep one of the backup keys in my 4Runner at all times, just in case the batteries ever fail.
💡 Road Ready Tip: Program your keypad code before your first camping trip and keep one backup key hidden safely in your tow vehicle. Hopefully you’ll never need it, but it’s inexpensive insurance against dead batteries or an unexpected lockout.
👉 Check Current Price on Amazon →
📹 WYZE Cam v4 Pet Monitor
As RVers, our dogs are our favorite travel partners—but they can’t go everywhere with us.
That’s why we installed a dedicated RV hotspot and a WYZE Cam v4 inside our Casita. It allows us to check in on Jamie whenever we step away for a short time, giving us peace of mind that he’s comfortable and relaxed.
Whether we’re making a quick trip to the campground store, doing laundry, or grabbing a bite to eat nearby, it’s reassuring to be able to look in on him from our phone. If something doesn’t look right, we know immediately and can head back.
If you’re interested in building the same setup, I’ve put together a step-by-step guide showing exactly how I installed the camera, powered it inside the Casita, connected it to our dedicated hotspot, and configured everything for reliable remote viewing.
🟢 Explore My Complete Wyze Camera Setup →
💡 Road Ready Tip: A camera is not a substitute for keeping your dog safe. Before leaving the trailer, make sure the weather is appropriate, your air conditioner is working properly when needed, Jamie has plenty of fresh water, and you’re comfortable with the amount of time you’ll be away. The camera simply gives us another way to keep an eye on him.
🟢 Check Current Price on Amazon →
💡 LED Awning Lights
Want to add a little atmosphere to your campsite after the sun goes down? These LED awning lights are one of our favorite upgrades. They’re inexpensive, easy to install, and really transform the campsite in the evening.
I did customize mine, so before you order them, here’s how I installed them:
- I removed the factory 120-volt plug and wired the lights into a 12-volt circuit inside my Casita.
- I mounted the controller just behind and to the right of the awning above the entry door using clear silicone adhesive.
- To route the wiring inside the trailer, I drilled a small 1/16-inch hole near the controller location and sealed it after the wire was installed. Drilling the small hole gave me a clean, permanent installation with no wires hanging outside the trailer.
- Before mounting the light strip, I lightly marked a straight reference line with a pencil along the awning so the lights would install evenly.
- I peeled the adhesive backing off a little at a time while working toward the rear of the trailer.
- Once I reached the desired length, I trimmed the strip only at one of the manufacturer’s marked cut locations (look for the small scissors symbol).
💡 Road Ready Tip: Measure twice—cut once! Test-fit the light strip before making any cuts. Once you’ve shortened it, you can’t make it longer again. If you’re converting the lights to 12 volts like I did, make all measurements and trimming before making the electrical connections.
🟢 Check Current Price on Amazon →
🚽 Dometic Platinum 421 Toilet & LUXE Bidet NEO 185
In 2020, I installed the Dometic 320 elongated ceramic toilet in our Casita, and I’ve never regretted it. I’m a big guy, and the original toilet always felt like sitting on a bucket. The elongated bowl made the bathroom feel much more like home and was one of the best comfort upgrades we’ve made.
Then I decided to take it one step further.
Since I already had the toilet removed, it made perfect sense to install the LUXE Bidet NEO 185 at the same time. Looking back, that may have been the best part of the entire project. The bidet added another level of comfort that I never expected to have in a 17-foot travel trailer.
One unexpected bonus? We now use far less toilet paper than we used to. That means our black tank doesn’t fill nearly as fast, and there’s simply less waste to deal with when it’s time to dump the tank. After using a bidet for a few camping trips, I honestly wouldn’t want to go back.
Unfortunately, it appears the Dometic 320 is being phased out. If I were upgrading my Casita today, I’d choose the newer Dometic Platinum 421, which offers the same elongated porcelain bowl along with a soft-close seat and other updated features.
👉 Check Current Price on Amazon – Dometic Platinum 421 →
👉 Check Current Price on Amazon – LUXE Bidet NEO 185 →
🛠️ Thinking about making this upgrade? I put together a complete step-by-step installation guide, including the two modifications that made this installation go smoothly in our Casita.
👉 Read My Complete Toilet & Bidet Installation Guide →
🚪 Replacing the Bathroom Door with a Curtain
Let’s face it… the factory bathroom door was always in the way. Every time it was open, it seemed to be blocking part of the cabin, and I found myself constantly moving around it. After living with it for a while, I decided there had to be a better solution.
I removed the bathroom door altogether and replaced it with a high-quality fabric shower curtain. I simply cut the curtain in half lengthwise, hemmed the cut edge with a sewing machine (or you can have a local seamstress do it for just a few dollars), and hung it using Command Hooks spaced evenly across the shower side of the bathroom entrance.
The difference was immediate.
Instead of wrestling with a swinging door, I simply move the curtain aside as I walk in. When I step back out, it naturally falls back into place. It gives us all the privacy we need while making the bathroom feel much more open and easier to use.
Out of curiosity, I weighed the original bathroom door and mirror after removing it. Together they weighed 25.6 pounds! I never realized just how much weight was swinging into the cabin every time that door was opened. Removing it not only improved the flow through the trailer, but it also eliminated a surprisingly heavy door that was always in the way.
One thing I never expected was how much I would enjoy the look of the curtain itself. During the day, sunlight filters through the bathroom window, and at night the bathroom light softly shines through the fabric. The colors really come alive, giving the trailer a warm, inviting feel that the old door simply couldn’t provide.
I honestly wouldn’t go back to the factory door.
💡 Road Ready Tip: Choose a quality fabric shower curtain rather than a thin plastic one. It hangs better, looks more like part of the interior, and naturally falls back into place after you walk through. If you don’t