{"id":2111,"date":"2021-11-15T23:38:11","date_gmt":"2021-11-15T23:38:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emilyronehome.com\/?p=2111"},"modified":"2021-12-13T02:21:52","modified_gmt":"2021-12-13T02:21:52","slug":"how-to-pop-up-camper-diy-remodel-on-a-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emilyronehome.com\/?p=2111","title":{"rendered":"How to: Pop-up Camper DIY Remodel on a Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Covid has caused a lot of change- notably in the way families feel comfortable traveling. Whether temporary or permanent, a lot of folks have stayed out of the sky and instead hit the road! And what better way to travel than a pop up camper? Let me teach you how to complete a pop-up camper DIY remodel like a pro and more importantly, on a budget.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We bought a pop-up camper! The title has been transferred, money paid, rig delivered to our driveway… now it’s real. The bones of the camper are great, especially for a ’99. But there were definitely signs of age and wear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’m going to break down this whole process into 6 different projects that took Piper the pop-up from drab to fab both affordably, and at a beginner’s skill level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This post contains affiliate links for your convenience which may reward me in the event of a sale. Note that I only recommend tools and products I have personally used and loved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project 1: Clean & Assess<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The exterior was filthy and both the interior and exterior of the canvas had signs of mildew. Because we did our homework<\/a><\/em> when buying our camper, we were confident the dirt and dust was only skin deep. But just to be sure, I recommend a thorough inspection while cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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First I tackled he exterior while the camper was closed. Thanks to @GoCleanCo<\/em><\/a>, I used their trusty bleach, hot water and Tide mixture to scrub everything down. I used a handheld scrub brush, and worked my way around the camper. After scrubbing a small section, I rinsed it off with a hose. I want to be clear, only use this on the hard exterior shell of the camper. The canvas is sensitive and usually has some form of waterproofing on the surface that you want to be careful with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Once the hard shell exterior was sparkling, I moved onto the canvas. To clean the canvas, you will need to crank the camper open. I used Oxyclean spray, a microfiber cloth, and plenty of good old fashioned elbow grease. The canvas didn’t come clean easily, and I may have been better off using Bass Pro Mold & Mildew<\/a><\/em> (I just didn’t want to go buy another product).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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After the canvas looked good as new, it was onto the cushions. Based on the state of everything else in the camper, my guess was they had never been washed. the cushion covers were dirty, and showed signs of stains and potential water damage. As I unzipped and removed them, they were partially wrapped with thin, dated, yellowed plastic wrap, I’m assuming in an effort to “waterproof”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I threw out the old plastic wrap and cushion covers, and had a cheap plan to recover them<\/a><\/em> (more on that later). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To start, I laid old blankets in the driveway as a barrier from the ground, and put all the bare cushions on top. I generously sprinkled baking soda and let them set for 2-3 hours before flipping and repeating on the other side. After both sides had been treated with baking soda, I sprayed them with half and half water and white vinegar, and let dry in the sun. this treatment took care of the scent my husband so lovingly referred to as “boy scout camp”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This should take care of most of the cleaning early on. The inside of the camper gets dirty during the DIY process, so it’s best to save that cleaning for the end!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Enjoying the reveal? Pin it <\/a>so you can keep it safe and save the project ideas for later!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project 2: Paint<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’m not sure if there is an interior surface of this camper that did not get refreshed by paint. Never underestimate paint’s power to transform! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first surface to get painted was the cabinets. This is actually my first experience painting cabinets (after I made a bold statement in the past regarding 5 reasons to NEVER paint wooden cabinets<\/a><\/em>). But never say never. This opportunity was different, and painting the cabinets brought so much fun color to this space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It is a time consuming process, but you want to be proud of your results so that means doing it right. My process included 4 steps: prep, prime, paint and optional- sealing. For the complete supply list and step by step tutorial, refer to the original post to learn how to paint wooden cabinets with maximum durability. <\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oh, did I mention the ceiling and walls also got a fresh coat of paint? I primed them too, then painted with the color Alabaster<\/em> by Sherwin Williams. Just the white paint alone helped to brighten everything up SO much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What a difference a clean white ceiling makes!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

After the cabinets, multiple surfaces received a coat of spray paint. I sprayed the refrigerator, stove and heater cover with Appliance Epoxy<\/a><\/em> spray, intended for interior metal surfaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n