RV Renovation: Remodeling my Class C RV
Remodeling my RV has been an interesting journey. When I started thinking about diving into this lifestyle and living in California at the time, I knew I would run into issues attempting to remodel an RV. I needed something that was really “ move-in ready” for a few reasons.
Didn’t have the place/space to remodel.
Didn’t have the tools needed
My contractor and seamstress lived in Ohio.
What I ended up with, well, it was ugly, but nothing a bit of paint, an inexpensive couch cover, and run to Joann Fabrics for the dinette and new curtains from IKEA couldn’t solve. Some of the changes were temporary fixes. I quickly discovered while I was traveling for 2 weeks what I truly wanted to change.
I purposely purchased an RV with no slides. Yes, they give you a ton of room, but it is also one more thing to worry about. I had read multiple stories about leaks, issues with slides getting stuck. Which was not something I would know how to fix or handle.
So how can I take the space I have and make it bigger?
Over the next month, I will be posting videos of the changes I made in the RV with a final reveal in the last video. I’m actually still putting everything together and adding some final touches. It's amazing how much needed to be changed, modified, and figured out for a tiny home. It’s about the organization and determining where you want things to sit. That and having the time to complete it all.
I’ve created a list of all the things I did purchase and I do plan on getting together a final cost of everything I put into it, just to give an idea of what I spent to remodel. The receipts are still in the bag...waiting for me to add them up 😱
Thankfully I had friends that allowed me to park my rig in their driveway. The benefit of having a small RV, it can pretty much fit anywhere.
The toughest part of remodeling the RV is the small space and the amount of tape you will eventually use. I was painting in 100+ degree weather, during my hours after work and on weekends. Many times I forgot my camera so I could film the progress. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed with everything I needed and had to get completed before getting on the road for my first trip in the RV. Leaving my full-time job, picking up the RV, painting the RV, making dinette cushions with no sewing machine (home-ec skills came in handy), selling most of my things, cleaning both the RV and my apartment, and finally moving out of my apartment. Selling my car to Carvana. Organizing and reorganizing the RV once everything was in it.
Once I had left Samy’s Camera, it was then about the move out of the apartment and into the RV. My entire goal was to have the painting and basic remodeling is done before moving in. It was a tiring few weeks. The pets adapted quickly and found “their” spots to relax.
To see more you can check out my Instagram Stories on the remodel —> HERE.
Tools I used to remodel
Amazon was definitely the place to shop, unfortunately, they have made it really easy to spend your $$ money. I did head out to the stores, Target, Walmart, etc. looking for ways to organize and found a few items I needed, but Amazon was always cheaper, plus free shipping. Home Depot and Lowes were definitely the places I headed to for actual materials, paint, paintbrushes, etc. Also took a not-so-quick side-trip to IKEA in Burbank.
Below are a few of the items I purchased to remodel, decorate, etc, that were my favorite purchases so far. You can see my entire collection HERE
Recommendations
If you don’t have the parking space, the tools, try and find a rig that is ready to move in. I could have simply left it the way it was and just completed the remodeling in Ohio, but I had a month between picking it up and getting on the road, so I got done what I could because honestly, I didn’t know how my trip was eventually going to turn out.
Painting
Curtains
Recovering the Cushions.
Updating the bathroom.
Organizing my things.
