Exterior Projects I Competed on the My Popup Camper
Here is a list of items that I have completed on the exterior renovation of my popup camper. I have done quite a bit and the change is drastic but I plan to do more. I also added my list of projects that I intend to complete this spring for the completion of the exterior reno. I could stop where I am at and the campers would still look great, but I want of course I want to do more.
Removed the Old and Peeling Decals
During the spring, I completely took every decal off the exterior part of the camper. I did this by using a hairdryer and a metal spatula. It took 3 hours in total to peel off the decals. I played my music the whole time, so it went by pretty fast, and it was kind of satisfying to tell you the truth. Once I was rid of all the decals. I gave it a good wash to get rid of any residue left by the stickers.
Do you have decals peeling off your camper? Do you want to repaint your pop-up camper but notice the decals need to come off first? Check out this post! How to Remove Factory grade Decals from Your Popup Camper Exterior
Pressure Washed the Exterior Camper
This was fun! And I saw such a dramatic change in the color of the camper. I used many different cleaners, but the pressure washer did the trick. If you don’t own one then head to your local car wash, they are just as powerful and do the trick. This makes a huge difference in the appearance of your exterior camper.
Painted the Exterior Hard Shell of the PUP
I repainted the camper shell from roof to sides with the same type of paint. This also allowed me to seal in all cracks from old caulking as well. The paint I used was made for campers and is waterproof. Once I was finished with the first coat, I applied it again to sections I thought I needed more, for instance on the rooftop or seams. I went for a clean bright white camper with a black edge.
Follow my tutorial on “How to Paint the Exterior Hard Shell of Your Pop-up Camper!”
Added Storage to the Tow Hitch
This was cheap and economical. I used what I had at the house and didn’t need to buy a thing. I made use of an unused black tote and fastened it with black zip ties. Now I have room for my chocks, wooden blocks, and more.
Do you need more space in your camper? Do you want an inexpensive and fast way to add storage? Check out this post! How to add additional storage to your tow hitch
Repainted the Wheels
I cleaned up all the wheels with a wired brush and repainted them white with rust-resistant spray paint.
Follow my tutorial on “How to paint the exterior of your pop-up camper!”
Cleaned and Repainted the Bumper, Trailer, and Hitch
My bumper and hitch were starting to rust and didn’t match the clean crisp white exterior shell. I used a wired brush and a lot of elbow grease to clean off the old and flaking paint.
I used rust-resistant paint and spray paint them all black. After a couple of coats, the camper looked new and bright again!
Follow my tutorial on “How to paint the tow hitch and bumper of your pop-up camper!”
All Around Canvas Stain Remover
I opened the camper and did an overall canvas and vinyl cleaning.
Waterproofed the Canvas
Once I was completed with the canvas and vinyl cleaning and it completely dried, I added a waterproof product to the camper. I used a dollar tree bump and got it completed in under 15 minutes.
Waterproofing Your Pop-Up Camper Canvas
DIY Awning and Clips
This was challenging, especially with the Kansas winds. But after trying different techniques I found one that worked for us!!!
How to Make a Popup Camper Awning Hanging Clips on a Budget
How to make a pop-up camper awning on a budget
Added Rack to Roof of Camper for Storage or Bike Rack
We love to bike ride and on bigger trips, we will take more items. We added a rack to the top of the roof and used a cargo carrier or fasten our bikes to the roof racks. Very convenient!!!
Follow my tutorial on “How to add a cargo or bike rack to your pop-up camper!”
My list to complete this year (2022)
- Add Decals to the Exterior Shell
- Paint All Trim Black
- Add an exterior light near the door. (Current one was broken off)
- Add a new lock to the camper door
- Freshen up the camper’s door
- Add a bottle opener