Are you itching to jump into a camper remodel, but need a little kick in the butt encouragement?! I’m here to do just that. Hey there, fellow adventurers! If you’re anything like us, you know that hitting the road with a travel trailer in tow is an epic adventure. But let’s face it, sometimes those factory-standard interiors feel like you are taking a trip back in time. Really, why do even new ones, often feel so dark and dated?
But let me tell you, there is a lighter and brighter camper life waiting for you! Settle in and I’ll give you the run down of our own camper remodeling journey.
Our “Needy” Camper
We’ve been proud owners of a trusty camper since it was delivered from the factory and we’ve enjoyed many memorable road trips across the country with her while chasing our dreams of visiting all 50 States . But over the course of the years, our kids naturally grew, we became all too familiar with a few pain points in packing the 4 of us in it and I hate to admit, but I wasn’t the best at keeping up with the routine and proactive maintenance…all these led us to both needing and wanting to make some changes and updates to our camper.
We began noticing a growing soft spot in the floor right inside the entry door, then leaks on the front wall. I know that that these problems would continue to grow and cause further damage to our tiny home on wheels the longer we put off addressing them. So in the fall of 2022 a camper renovation project shot to the top of my priority list.
Planning Stage
Once my handy dad confirmed his recruitment to my project 😁, the planning stage began. First, I defined the scope of work and priorities;
1) Necessary repairs: damaged floor and walls
2) Design and layout: Desirable modifications to create more floor space, seating, clothing more accessible, shoe storage
3) Cosmetic updates: lighten, brighten and make the space feel more homey. Including paint, update fixtures and accessories, cover upholstery, new bedding, luxury vinyl flooring
I spent countless researching materials for the must do repair projects including appropriate flooring and wall repairs. I also did a lot of research in how to address the root cause…sealing up all the potential points of water entry. Then the fun part was looking into other camper remodels for design and style inspiration.
Necessary Repairs
The repair process started from the outside and worked in. The first step was to address the source of the leaks. That meant caulking and sealing all the gaps with non leveling lap sealant on the vertical surfaces. On the roof, I used self leveling sealant and then opted to use a roof sealant tape as an added precaution.
After the outside was sealed, we began demo of the inside. The first thing to go was the bed and frame at the front. This allowed us to pull back the linoleum flooring and the front wall to assess the extent of the water damage. We ended up tearing up most of the floor, then proceeded to replace or reinforce floor joists as needed before putting in new insulation and OSB.
Once the new subfloor was in place, we installed luxury vinyl plank for its durability and aesthetics. The front wall was replaced with a bead-board look paneling.
Design and Layout
Once the necessary repairs were addressed, I set out to design a space that would improve our experience inside by addressing some of our pain points.
One of the best decisions we made was to reconfigure the front bed to better suit our desire for more functional space. The original floor plan had a built in queen bed frame which lifted up for storage beneath. Under the bed was the only place we really had to store clothing and overflow pantry items while traveling. However it was quite inconvenient and awkward to retrieve items from there. The bed also served as our only seating besides the tiny dinette. However, it fell short for comfort or practicality in that regard. Another area that our camper was not meeting our needs in was floor space. Especially as our kids grew into larger bodies, it became more cramped and uncomfortable trying to function inside the tiny space.
By making this one change in removing the bed we successfully addressed three of our biggest pain points. In place of the bed, we installed 2 benches that pull together to form a full size bed. Laundry baskets fit under the bench and slide out for each access to clothing. We almost doubled our floor space with the addition of foot room between the benches. There is now comfortable seating for 4 in addition to the dinette. We can even slide the dinette table over to the front seating area for a more roomy dinner setting. Plus we were able to build in a shoe rack on the end of one bench to eliminate the pile of shoes that forever lived on the floor in front of the door!
I happened to find these benches at Aldi. They were outdoor loungers, made of wood and included cushions. With just a few modifications, they fit perfectly into the space.
Cosmetic Updates
To lighten and brighten the space, I opted for a modern farmhouse aesthetic with black fixtures, white and grey textiles and a few accents pops of green
Choosing the right materials was crucial to the success of the project.
For all of the interior, I wanted durable, easy-to-clean surfaces that could withstand the wear and tear of an adventurous family of four while still looking great. I needed a paint that would adhere to multiple surface types. After much research, I opted for Sherman Williams Extreme Bond Primer and ProClassic interior acrylic paint. (Personal tip: Be sure to ask at the counter if your employer is in their system as a discount partner. We saved 50% through my husband’s employer discount).
To achieve a quality finish, I opted to purchase and take on a paint sprayer. I was quite intimidated with it to get started. So I did a practice run in my unfinished basement where the quality didn’t matter. It didn’t take long to get the hang of it. I do recommend purchasing a different spray tip than the one that comes with the machine in order to achieve a good looking finish in the confines of small spaces like cabinets.
When it came time to take on the painting portion of the project, I first sanded all surfaces and wiped them clean with water. I masked the interior like crazy to protect everything that I didn’t want painted. We removed the benches, all cabinet doors and bathroom door to paint them outside. Personal tip: Be sure to cover your hair when spraying inside the unit. It will be hard not to collect overspray and brush against wet walls in the tiny space. I simply had my hair in a pony tail and let me tell you I had a MESS. Paint and primer that did not come out for weeks!
Once painting was complete and the paint set up, we reinstalled the doors with new black hardware. I updated the faucet to a modern black farmhouse style. I covered the dated brown dinette cushions with slip covers from Amazon. I updated all the window treatments to crisp white curtains hung on easy to remove rods. Once everything was white, I craved a balance of some area of interest. So I hung a vinyl stick on wall paper as an easy clean back splash.
One of the most rewarding aspects of our remodel was putting it all together with little finishing touches that truly made the space feel brand new (yet comfortably familiar).
Completion and Final Touches
After weeks of hard work and late nights, our camper remodel was finally complete – and let me tell you, the transformation was amazing! We completed it just in time to take it to cross country camp in the summer of 2023. I can’t wait to take our fresh camper on many for adventure this year and in the years to come. It was so worth the efforts we put into the camper remodel!
If you’re thinking about embarking on your own camper remodel adventure, my advice is simple: go for it! With a little creativity, a lot of patience, and a healthy dose of elbow grease, you can transform your camper into a space that’s uniquely yours – and create memories that will last a lifetime. Happy travels!
If you are intersted in details of the items I used in our camper remodel, check out this Amazon list.
