New Book Offers Tips on DIY Vintage Camper Renovations – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
Join popular creator Janelle Payne (a.k.a. Nailgun Nelly) for a journey through everything camper and RV with her latest book, DIY Camper & RV Reno: Restoring and Designing Vintage, Retro, and Classic Trailers and RVs with Nailgun Nelly (published Dec. 31, 2024, by Cool Springs Press).
Whether you’re considering a truly vintage home on wheels or a more contemporary (but not new) ride, this book’s buying guide helps with the pros and cons of different options and goes over all the red flags to look for. You’ll learn about the major systems and how to handle everything from simple repairs to electrical issues, plumbing, propane, and even water damage or roof resealing.
However, the real fun starts as you find your style and explore the techniques and projects to make that camper or RV yours:
- Flooring & ceilings: Create durable, wood-look wood-look floors with LVP; install faux beams
- Paint: Interior and exterior painting step-by-step guides for painting walls and cabinets; primers, best sheens; master exterior painting, including deoxidizing and waxing fiberglass and how to prep aluminum
- Wall design: creative paint designs and wallpaper, board and batten, shiplap; create texture with microcement; create arches; and use wood accents on the exterior
- Tile: Guides for peel-and-stick tile, real tile, wallpaper, vinyl sheeting, tiling small countertops, and showers
- Countertops and surfaces: butcher block, laminate counters, cutting boards, epoxy, hardware, shelving
- Faucets, fixtures, and hardware: Install beautiful bathroom and kitchen faucets, learn how to paint shower pans and bathtubs, install sinks, and cabinet considerations
- Seating and sleeping: options for couches and pullout beds; cushions, lightweight headboard options, and convertible/flexible spaces
Plus, find a special section on considerations unique to RVs and campers, including framing and wall types, how to keep decor in place while traveling, and built-in lighting. With Janelle coaching you every step of the way, and with hundreds of inspirational and step photos throughout, this book is your insider’s guide to taking that old camper and remaking it completely to your taste.
“In a world of sleek, modern campers and high-tech RVs, there is something enchanting about the charm and nostalgia that a vintage trailer brings – and they can be a unique canvas for creativity and restoration.” – Janelle Payne, a.k.a. Nailgun Nelly
Janelle Payne is the founder of Nailgun Nelly, who’s blog and social media is dedicated to RV/camper and home improvement. Janelle is a firm believer that anyone—including women of all ages—can tackle DIY projects with power tools. She has a passion for designing on a budget and quick, high-impact tutorials, and is well known for her transparent videos, where she shows the good and the bad that happens behind the scenes when renovating. This daily, realistic experience has led to explosive growth for Nailgun Nelly on social media. Janelle has developed partnerships with dozens of brands, including Wagner, Wish, RecPro, and Tile Club, and she has been featured by Insider, RV Enthusiast, Tiny House Talk, and more.
