A 30 foot fifth wheel camper that was dated but in pretty good shape. A price of $10,000. A couple of years of painting, ripping and decorating “here and there.” The result, according to the person behind it, is a camper with a transformation you will not believe, all done on a budget.
The makeover comes from Christina of thediymommy.com, who shares it on a YouTube channel called Cozy DIY Home, in a 17 minute before and after video titled “My RV remodel on a budget.” The written tutorial and material links are on thediymommy.com.
The $10,000 Find
Christina found the camper in 2020 on Facebook Marketplace. It is a 2007, 30 foot Jayco fifth wheel. It was in pretty good condition, with a couple of things wrong with one of the wheel wells. The interior was okay, but definitely dated.
That leads to Christina’s first tip: look on Facebook Marketplace for really good deals on RVs. Similar new RVs of that length and fifth wheel style can go for something like $30,000, $40,000 or $60,000. This one cost $10,000. It was also bigger than the family’s previous camper, which they had bought for $1,000, also off Facebook Marketplace.
The second tip is just as important. Christina’s husband, Sean, who works in the trades, was able to check the camper over to make sure everything important was in good condition. Christina’s advice is to have someone who knows their stuff check out any RV before you buy it.
Doing It Almost All Alone
Christina loves decorating and DIY, and wanted to completely make over the interior to feel more like home, with more brightness and warmth. Christina did almost every single thing alone. Sean, an electrician, helped with a few jobs, adding new light fixtures and helping with one of the faucets. Everything else was Christina’s own work, with this encouragement: “If I can do this you can do it too.”
The project happened in three stages. First came the main room, then the girls’ bunk room in the back, and finally the main bedroom and the bathroom.
Rip It Out, Clean It Up, Paint It White
To begin, Christina ripped out almost everything inside. Most of the carpeting went, along with the vinyl wallpaper border. The dinette and the couch came out too.
There was one spending regret. Christina admits to spending more than planned on furniture. For anyone who wants to save money, the tip is to leave the old dinette and couch in place, recover the cushions, and use a slipcover on the sofa.
Next, the cabinet doors came off, which Christina calls an essential step when painting cabinetry. Then the whole RV got a really good cleaning with a degreasing cleaner.
Here is a point that may surprise people. Christina says it works perfectly fine to paint RV walls with regular latex paint, using a paint and primer in one. If you are nervous, do a coat of primer first. The color on the ceiling and walls throughout the RV is Whisper White by Behr.
In the main room, Christina brushed and rolled the paint. Later on, a paint sprayer came out. It goes faster, Christina notes, but it means more masking and more prep.
Your Own Camper Makeover Checklist
You do not need a fifth wheel to use these ideas. They work for a camper, a van, a cabin or a dated bedroom.
- Shop online marketplaces for deals. Christina’s two campers both came from Facebook Marketplace, one for $1,000 and the other for $10,000.
- Bring an expert before you buy. Someone who knows what to look for can spot trouble that a shiny interior hides.
- Do the work in stages. Christina tackled one area at a time: the main room, the bunk room, then the bedroom and bathroom.
- Take cabinet doors off before painting. It is an essential step, and it makes the whole job easier.
- Degrease first. A good cleaning with a degreasing cleaner gives paint a better surface.
- Choose an easy paint. Christina used latex paint with built-in primer. If that makes you nervous, prime first.
- Weigh the sprayer. A sprayer can save time, but it means more masking and prep than a brush and roller.
- Keep what you can. Recovering the dinette cushions and slipcovering the sofa can save money on furniture.
- Call in help for the electrical work. Christina left the light fixtures to an electrician and did the rest personally.
The Bottom Line
Christina’s story is a good reminder that a dated interior is not a dealbreaker. A smart purchase, an inspection from someone who knows the machine, and a lot of patient painting turned a 2007 camper into a bright, warm place that feels more like home.
It also shows what a budget makeover really takes. The project did not happen over a single weekend. It happened here and there over about two years, one room at a time. For anyone sitting on an outdated camper, or thinking about buying one, that is a hopeful thought.
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