Getting Comfortable on the Open Road with Your RV

As more employees work from home, they realize that home can be anywhere with a decent internet connection. Lately, recreational vehicle (RV) sales have been soaring, and people are finding that even though they purchased a used RV, they would like to remodel their vehicle to meet their or their family’s needs. However, is a complete RV overhaul necessary to make you happy and comfortable in your RV? Use these tips to help you decide to remodel your RV.

Good Bones

If your RV is falling apart, then it might be more cost-effective to purchase a newer RV than it would be to gut the entire RV and start from scratch. When you consider remodeling your RV, make a wish list and determine a budget for your project. Keep in mind that your budget may have to adjust if you find any surprises in your remodeling process. Suppose you are in the market to purchase your RV, look at the underside and the subfloor before your purchase.

• Underside or undercarriage – the RV’s underside has a host of components that affect how comfortable you are in your RV to include electricity and water. When you are looking at your RV’s underside, visually check every bracket and leaf spring as these can break or come out over time. If your RV has an exhaust system, check to ensure that your exhaust system is free from rust and that all brackets are intact. Finally, check all rubber tubing and connectors to verify that you do not have any leaks.
• Subfloor – When you are looking to remodel your RV, take a look at your unit’s subfloor. Walkthrough the RV and determine if there are any soft spots in the flooring. Weak spots in the flooring may indicate water damage, and the wood or flooring is rotting underneath. Trouble areas include around toilets, under sinks, and in front of the shower area. While it is possible to patch areas that have rotten, this could be a costly part of your budget renovation.

Big Ticket Items

The two big-ticket items when it comes to remodeling your RV are the cabinets and other storage areas, as well as the appliances. When you look at your RV cabinets, determine if they are intact and possibly just ugly or are genuinely falling apart. If the cabinets are just unsightly, they can get a facelift with some paint and some new hardware. You should test the appliances in an RV before your purchase; however, if you have broken appliances in an RV that you already own, invest in repairing or purchasing appliances as part of your remodeling budget.

Reduce and Reuse Whenever Possible

The easiest way to cut costs with your RV renovation is to use the power of a fresh coat of paint. There is a major markup for RV specific items such as bathroom fixtures and window treatments. Check out your local home improvement store for things that could fit your needs while keeping the costs down. If your RV has functioning furniture but needs a facelift, consider either a slipcover or wrapping the offending furniture.