What To Look For In An RV For Remodeling

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Does buying an RV and remodeling sound like a great idea? If you are in the planning stage of buying or remodeling you will find this post useful.

In this post, I will share how we decided and bought our RV and what to look for when buying an RV for remodeling.

Storytime: How we decided to buy our RV

As a family we like camping and exploring the nature, but I personally hate tents. Camping in a tent with kids is just a no-no for me.

Buying an RV has been in our plans, but in a future (in the next 3-5 years). One day we decided to look for an RV to rent for a weekend trip. As we were both searching online for an RV to rent, Michael found this one and it was up for sale.

This RV is 2005 Voyage and it was a good price and low mileage. Michael went to check it out and he sold on the mechanical side of things and how spacious it was inside. After some consideration and research we decided to buy it.

Because we do not do anything half way, we decided to do a complete overhaul to modernize it and to make it our own.

FAQ:

Can you remodel an RV?

You totally can! It will take time and work, but in return you will get your own home on wheels to feel like your own

How do you modernize an RV?

It depends on how much work you can do. You can start by replacing light fixtures, hardware, window treatments and furniture. You can also paint the walls, cabinets and replace flooring.

How can I fix my old RV?

You can do cosmetic work (replacing light fixtures, furniture, etc) or doing full-on remodel and renovating your RV completely.

Our reasons for remodeling our RV

Could we have used to RV without remodeling it? Absolutely. If fact, many of our friends were discouraging us from remodeling it, but for it was decided already.

These were our reason for us to remodel our RV:

The smell. Just like any old house or an RV it smelled and we wanted to get rid of it. Removing old carpet, furniture, and repainting it will defiantly kill the smell.
The look. I am an interior designer, I care how my living space looks like, so does my family. We are used to changing the spaces that don’t reflect us.
The project. I was well overdue for a good DYI remodel and this seems like a good, sweet project.

What do look for when buying an RV for remodeling?

Water damage and structure

Check out the cab or the trailer to make sure that were is not water damage on the inside or no rust on the outside. You don’t want to deal with water damage on your first remodel, or second, or ever.

Understand RV classes and types

All RVs can be divided into two main categories: motorcoaches and towable rigs (or trailers). You can learn more here about different categories and advantages and disadvantages to them, but thinking of those ahead of time will help you make a decision that is right for you.

Your budget

Think of how much you are willing to spend on an RV total and then add a couple thousand for unexpected expenses. Here are some “hidden” costs, expenses that don’t come mind at first thought: taxes and registration fees, insurance, mechanical/electrical/operational (we had to replace a pump, which is not that expensive, but still add to the total cost).

So if your total RV budget is $25,000, for example, and you are planning to remodel it, then you would need to look for an RV that’s around $15,000.

Space and layout

Do you like the configuration of the RV? Does it sleep as many people as you need for your family? Those are important questions to ask yourself before committing to a purchase.

Conclusion

Remodeling an RV is fun and rewarding, but it’s also a lot of work. I hope this post gave you some pointers to begin your search.

I would like to hear about your RV for remodel search process and your finds. Share your stories in the comments.

In the next post I will share about our design plan and the logic behind it. Also our Phase 1 remodel: what has been done and what’s coming. Also tips to save you money on your remodel.