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Photo courtesy of Stewart Butterfield. Licensed under Creative Commons 2.0.
Has Your RV Seen Better Days?
If you’ve ever gone RVing, you know the pleasure of seeing America from the windows of a motor home. RVs give you the mobility to see things you could never see from your house, and they let you meet people you never would’ve met otherwise. That means a higher quality of life for RVers! But an old, rundown RV can keep you from hitting the road. If that’s the case, it’s time for an RV remodel.
You’ve come to the right place! From inside to outside, we’ll give you all the best RV remodeling ideas you’ll ever find. With these 25 amazing tips, you’ll get back on the road again in no time. Let’s dive in!
Part I – Amazing Comfort With Interior RV Renovations
Part II – Renovate Your Fixtures and Avoid Headaches
Part III – Exterior RV Renovations: Look The Part
PART I – AMAZING COMFORT WITH INTERIOR RV RENOVATIONS
Photo courtesy of Aaron Headly. Licensed under CC 2.0.
The interior of your RV is your paradise. The look, feel, and function of your RV’s interior can make or break your traveling experience. RV interior renovations are pretty important! Here are a bunch of things you can renovate to spice up the inside of your RV.
1. Replace That Dinette Table With A Table And Chairs
Now, there’s nothing wrong with a dinette table. This setup stays bolted down while you’re cruising down the highway. But if your dinette is looking tired and outdated, why not replace it with an actual table and chairs? This will make your RV feel more like home. Plus, you can bring the best in dining room style to your RV.
2. Replace Your Worn-Out Carpet
Kind of a no-brainer, right? Just like in a house, the carpet in an RV has a huge effect on the overall interior look. Worn-out carpet just screams “old”! Why not replace it?
For detailed instructions on choosing new carpet, ripping out the old, and installing the new carpet, see this post from the Fun Times Guide to RVing.
3. Remove Your Tired Fold-out Sofa
Some people like fold-out sofas. Some people don’t. If you want to replace yours, keep these things in mind: your original fold-out sofa may be hiding something—an ugly wiring space, for example. If you replace it, you’ll want to take steps to cover up anything that wasn’t meant to be seen.
You need to measure your available space and the largest opening in your RV carefully. Even if your new furniture will fit in the space, it’s useless if you can’t get it through a door or window. Note: removing your old bolt-down sofa will leave holes in the floor. If your new furniture doesn’t cover these holes, you’ll want to fill them.
For further reading, see this thread on RVForum.net.
4. Install Wainscoting (Wall Paneling) Inside Your RV
A wainscot, or half-height wall panel, can really bring definition to a space. Wainscoting looks great in houses, so why not install it in your RV? For some inspiration, check out this board on Pinterest—Wainscoting In Campers.
5. Install Wallpaper on Accent Walls
Really, you could install wallpaper on all your walls. But you can also install wallpaper on your accent walls only, creating a nice balance between accent walls and non-accent walls.
Now, take note: as this post on DoItYourselfRV.com explains, RV wallpaper is not the same as house wallpaper. Some RVs even came with wallpaper that was bonded to the underlying luan plywood. Yikes. However, you can paint or wallpaper over the existing stuff without removing it.
6. Paint Your Other Walls
Great segue, eh? If you’re wallpapering your accent walls, you might as well update your non-accent walls so the whole thing holds together. As DoItYourselfRV.com explains, yes, you can actually just paint over the wallpaper that came installed in your RV.
7. Install Curtains in Your Windows
Photo courtesy of dwstucke. Licensed under CC 2.0.
Curtains really make an RV feel like home. We can’t overstate this! RV curtains are limited only by your creativity—especially if you make your own, as Julie from TheNewLighterLife.com did. For some amazing RV curtain inspiration, check out RV curtains on Pinterest.
8. Install New Vinyl Flooring in the Kitchen
The kitchen gets a lot of use. That means wear-and-tear on your vinyl flooring. New flooring can make a significant impact on the overall feel of your RV’s interior. Check out this post from DoItYourself.com for a step-by-step guide to replacing your vinyl flooring.
9. Replace Your Laminate Flooring
We’ve all wished for better flooring in our RVs, especially in older models. Replacing your flooring is a great idea—but you need to take some precautions. As this post from DoItYourselfRV.com explains, there’s a hidden danger in the laminate floors in RVs: they can contain formaldehyde. When you start cutting into your laminate flooring, you risk releasing formaldehyde into your RV’s interior air. Check out that post for details and precautions.
10. Reupholster Your Furniture…
Photo courtesy of Tino Rossini. Licensed under CC 2.0.
…any of it that you haven’t replaced, that is. If you’re keeping your upholstered dinette, your couch, or other furniture, why not refresh it with new upholstery? Get a quote from a local upholstery shop, as this post on TheFunTimesGuide.com suggests.
11. Install a Computer Desk for Working on the Road
In the last few years, a computer desk has become especially important to the RV lifestyle. If you’re a fulltime RVer and you work remotely, you need a computer desk in your RV! Luckily, these are easier to install than you might think. Check out this post from The Fun Times Guide for advice on choosing a spot and a style and getting it all installed.
PART II – RENOVATE YOUR FIXTURES AND AVOID HEADACHES
You know what ruins a great RV trip? Broken plumbing. Used cat litter spilling everywhere. Intolerable heat inside your RV. You get the idea! Why not check these things out before you hit the road? That way, you’ll nip potential problems in the bud.
Here are some great ideas to keep your RV functional. Keep reading!
12. Add An Inverter For 110v Power Anywhere
This tip comes to us from David Violette, the Quirky Observer over at Violette.com. As David says, an inverter is “very useful when not plugged in to shore power or not on a generator.” An inverter takes the 12VDC power from your RV’s batteries and converts it to 110VAC–the type of power you need to run almost every common appliance.
“Inverters have become almost a necessity in modern motorhomes,” David says. We couldn’t agree more. Many fulltimers depend on the internet to make a living. That means laptops, which charge off a 110VAC outlet. Aside from computers, all sorts of conventional gadgets run off 110VAC. Why not make this simple mod and enjoy all the benefits that come with it?
13. Update Your Plumbing
Well… sometimes this isn’t an option. If something went seriously wrong, replacing your RV plumbing is a necessity! However, you can also replace plumbing before you have a disaster. If you aren’t familiar with the fittings and tools of RV plumbing, check out this post from RVTipOfTheDay.com.
If you wait too long and end up with an emergency, check out this post about dealing with a burst water line.
For an in-depth tutorial on replacing plumbing, check out this video from The Do It Yourself World on YouTube.
14. Install A Porcelain Toilet
While you’re fixing up your plumbing, why not replace your plastic toilet with a real porcelain one? You’ll have the durability and beauty of porcelain, something that’s usually reserved for house bathrooms. Thanks to RVRoadTrip.us for this tip!
15. Add A Cat Litter Box Compartment
Over at RV Boondocking, there’s a great post about adding a cat litter box compartment to your RV. For all you cat lovers out there, this is a godsend! You can stick everybody’s least-favorite box out of sight and away from your nose. That means more time spent enjoying your RV, with your faithful pet by your side.
16. Replace Your Pantry
Photo courtesy of Apollo Motorhomes. Licensed under CC 2.0 Non-derivative.
The pantry is possibly the most overused and underloved fixture in your RV. Stuff gets shoved to the back, and it’s quite a project to pull all your dry goods out, clean the pantry, throw out the old things, and decide what to keep. Okay, right, to replace your pantry, you’ll have to do that and more; but why not take the opportunity to build a better pantry? You can design one that uses the space better and fits your needs exactly.
17. Install A Digital Thermostat
Analog thermostats tend to vary in accuracy. Some of them don’t kick on at the right time, and some kick on too early. A digital thermostat eliminates a great deal of these problems. Most digital thermostats are accurate to within +/- 1 degree Fahrenheit.
18. Add An Interior Fan
Airflow is super important, especially in the summer months. Whether you’re running AC or not, an interior fan is a great addition to your RV. It’ll keep things fresh, and you can run it when the weather isn’t quite hot enough for AC. That way, you save some energy. Thanks to RVRoadTrip.us for this tip!
PART III – EXTERIOR RV RENOVATIONS: LOOK THE PART
The exterior of your RV makes a statement. What statement will it be? Leaky, rundown, about to stall out on the road? Or well-loved travel machine? Revamp your RV’s exterior, and you’ll find yourself with a vehicle (and home) you can be proud of. Here are some great ideas—let’s dive in!
19. Repaint Your Exterior
Pretty obvious, huh? But it’s worth saying. The paint job not only decides whether your RV looks great or not, it also protects your home from moisture. If you’re painting a vintage trailer, this post from VintageRevivals.com has great tips.
For larger RVs, it’s probably a good idea to hire a professional. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
East:
http://www.truckbodyshop.com/dupont.html (NJ/NYC)
http://www.andysautocoachworks.com/RV-Service-CT.html (CT)
http://www.route44rvcollision.com/ (MA)
Midwest:
http://www.precisionpaintingrv.com/ (IN)
http://www.procustominc.com/ (IN)
http://www.fleetpainter.com/ (OH)
West:
http://www.xtremegraphics.net/ (Nacogdoches, TX)
http://www.universal-collision.com/ (CO)
http://www.arvrepair.com/ (NV)
To help save money on your paint job, check out these 6 tips for decreasing the cost of your RV paint job from DoItYourself.com.
After that new paint job is done, take steps to protect it. This post from DoItYourselfRV.com gives you 9 things to avoid so your paint job stays nice and clean.
20. Replace Your Tires
Photo courtesy of Mary Jo Humphreys. Licensed under CC 2.0.
This one is more than just cosmetic. Driving an RV with bald tires is dangerous! The legal limit for tread depth is 2/32”, though experts recommend having at least 4/32” left. Any less than this, and you really should replace your tires. For a quick overview of caring for RV tires, check out this post from RVUniversity.com.
21. Replace Your Battery
Engine wiring often keeps working, even when it’s breaking down. As long as the connection is maintained, the RV will run, and you won’t know that a problem is right around the corner. If your battery is old, corroded, or looking dubious, it’s a good idea to replace it before something happens. For a guide to wiring your RV battery, see this post from Everything About RVing.
22. Replace Your Windows
Courtesy of Michael McCauslin. Licensed under CC 2.0.
To be clear, you really can’t replace your windshield yourself—you’ll need a professional for that. But you can replace your side windows with a little knowledge. This post from the Fun Times Guide to RVing gives you a great overview of the process. Hey, this could be the Holy Grail of RV renovation!
23. Replace Your Entry Door
Do it before it gets this bad! As this post from DoItYourself.com explains, replacing your RV door isn’t hard—the hard part is finding a door that will fit your RV. That article will give you step-by-step instructions for the process.
24. Add Bigger Mirrors
Photo courtesy of GMA Lou. Licensed under CC 2.0 Share Alike.
On a Class A or Class C motorhome, big mirrors are key to safe driving. While all motorhomes will come with adequate stock mirrors, you may find that you want larger mirrors. If that’s the case, check out this post from RVShare.com about finding cheap replacement RV mirrors.
25. Add A Backup Camera
Along the same lines—why not add a backup camera to really help you back up safely? Of course, you can’t rely on a camera alone to maneuver your RV, but a backup camera can give you another visual source to supplement your mirrors. Thanks to RVRoadTrip.us for this idea!
26. Add A Solar Power System
Again, we’re indebted to RVRoadTrip.us for this brilliant idea. Solar panels provide free energy after installation. For times when you have to boondock, solar panels can turn your RV into a totally independent home. That means you really aren’t tied down. Plus, you’re helping the environment when you get your power from the sun. What’s not to love?
Wrap Up—Get Out There And Hit The Road!
After all that, you’ve practically got a brand new RV on your hands. Don’t let it sit in the driveway. Get out there and see our great country. That’s the beauty of RVing—going where your heart takes you and seeing the incredible landscapes of America. You’ve invested in your RV. Now enjoy it!
