The definition of remodeling is to change the structure or form of something. For many RV owners, the chance to remodel their home on wheels is a tempting task for the to-do list. Some turn this over to professionals and others go the do-it-yourself route.
According to Aaron Lane, Design Engineer and Director of Marketing for Creative Mobile Interiors in Grove City, Ohio, common changes customers want involve flooring, furniture and audio/visual upgrades. Many of these changes are to remove factory finishes and others are to reflect changing trends in furniture and technology.
Sean Shank, Corporate Communications Director for RecPro, an online RV parts and accessories supplier based in Bristol, Indiana, agrees with Lane in that consumers want to improve the comfort and decor of their RVs. This personalization makes the RV work better for their tastes and preferences.
“All of the competitors in the field are trying to discover the pulse of customer needs when it comes to their RVs,” Shank said. “We’re in the enviable position to figure that out whether the market is strong or weak.
“The theory is that if the RV market is strong, customers are buying new RVs. If they’re buying new RVs they want to immediately replace the (generally) terrible factory materials inside of their rigs with quality products. If the market is down and people are holding off on making major purchases, they direct that money elsewhere; upgrades.”
That means that Shank’s company, which centers much of its business on direct-to-consumer products, and Lane’s remodeling services company are poised to draw customers whatever way the market flows.
Based on sales, it is easy to track the type of changes that consumers ask for more often.
“We are upgrading to more durable and better looking flooring all the time,” Lane said. This upgrade is usually commercial luxury vinyl tile. “We’re often replacing carpet, though we do still add and replace carpet with new carpet too – we just use way better quality carpet than you typically find in RVs.
New or re-upholstered furniture is common too, often to replace damaged or lower quality vinyl leatherette – or to change from outdated looking designs to recliners, etc.
“In terms of audio/video, we change tube TVs out for new flat screens pretty often, as well as update satellites, in-dash radios, add Apple TVs, etc.,” Lane explained.
Of the three, Lane said that keeping up with the trends in technology are the most challenging.
“New flooring, re-upholstered valances, new blinds, new seating – that stays pretty steady,” he continued. “The biggest change over time is the tech people are looking for. It used to be that RVs were lucky to have one camera, now people want four. Used to be that people wanted the best satellite for TV, now they want streaming, Apple TV, gaming stations, etc.”
Customized bedroom inside toy hauler. [Photo/Creative Mobile Interiors]
Shank says RV manufacturers face a challenge when designing and manufacturing RVs. They are tasked with making a product that is engineered well, affordable and meet demands for better fuel efficiency. This means that the interior space amenities sometimes suffer.
“If [RV Manufacturers] are meeting the former then they are putting the best, cheapest product they can find inside of their vehicles,” Shank said. “Not to mention they’re always being charged with the task of cutting weight to bolster vehicle fuel economy. I’m sorry, but Vibranium doesn’t exist so you can’t get a completely lightweight product that’s stronger than steel. You cut too much weight and you’re cutting quality and durability.”
When the amenities inside don’t match the same level of quality as the outside, this creates a need to replace what isn’t working well or isn’t working at all. Shank said his company makes sure to keep the most requested items in stock, such as the furniture, which he said is RecPro’s “flagship” of products.
“When our company was founded it was with the idea of - ‘You get what you get and that’s just going to have to be good enough’ - was not good enough,” Shank informed The Buzz. “Our president figured if a person is spending $250,000 on a unit (or even $20,000) they should be able to rest their road-weary bones in luxury furniture that looks good, feels great, and lasts.”
Wanting to make changes in the way an RV looks and how its interior functions is also a matter of the pride of ownership that comes with owning a motorhome or travel trailer, Shank said.
“The RV world is a gigantic clubhouse rolling all over the earth. The members of this club take great pride in personalizing their RV, and they especially take pride in pointing at a portion of their RV they’ve worked on,” he explained.
Handling these projects on their own, RV owners also avoid delays that may be a factor when using a RV repair shop.
But, some consumers want something other than what is typically in an RV. Creative Mobile Interiors also handles special retrofits for those who want to make the living space meet their needs.
“We have a lot of customers who want specific items like a desk, or bunks,” explained Lane. “We always make the strongest effort to mesh those additions into the existing vehicle so it looks like it came that way.”
Other non-cosmetic remodels include modifying dinette tables, adding built in fireplaces and making units handicap accessible.
Just like remodeling a home, it isn’t necessarily something that the average RV owner should rule out doing on their own.
“It depends on the project and cost. Really, that’s what it always comes down to,” Shank relayed.
His company makes it easier for the do-it-yourselfer to make some changes on their own. Furniture arrives broken down into sections that can fit through the 22” doorway. Other projects require more expertise and patience.
“Other projects can be exceedingly complicated. If that’s the case, while we respect all of the DIYers out there, we always recommend going to a professional if you’re too much ‘in the weeds’,” Shank said.
Some RV owners, however, would rather leave the upgrading to professionals, such as those at Lane’s company.
“I think doing a project yourself is an OK thing, assuming you have the knowhow and experience,” Lane said. “That said, where it gets hard is when you run into issues, like water infiltration, needing a higher quality subfloor, needing to move electrical or plumbing.
“Only one in 100 jobs is easy, but professionals have seen almost everything at least once and are more prepared to deal with issues by having experts in all fields on staff,” he said.
Do-it-Your-Selfers should gauge the project carefully and look out for potential problems, Shank recommended.
“Well, first and foremost, safety,” he explained. “You’re working in tight spaces which creates a complicated working environment. Be careful.”
Another suggestion is making sure the replacement parts are the same or better quality. In this situation, doing research on the company before ordering a product is a good use of project planning time, Shank said.
“One of the most important items, and I cannot stress this enough, is know your substrate,” Shank cautioned. “This means calling your manufacturer and getting a thorough understanding of how thick your floor is, what it’s comprised of, and what systems (if any) are there. If you start all willy nilly attaching hardware to your floor you could be putting a screw right into a power line or a pump. If you want expensive repairs, that’s how you get expensive repairs.”
Lane suggested that there are some upgrades that can make a difference quickly and easily and can improve resale potential.
“I think flooring and upholstery are both very smart. Number one, they change the look and feel of a coach more than anything else (other than cabinetry, which is much harder to change),” he noted. “Number two, those items tend to be what wears out the quickest, so you may be getting rid of what someone else sees as an eyesore.”
Embarking on a remodeling plan for an RV may seem daunting. Many owners think if they change one thing, there will be more projects to follow. Lane said this thought and the idea that these changes need to be expensive are common but incorrect.
“There are ‘bang for the buck’ changes that can be made to freshen things up,” Lane optimistically expressed. “Customers are also a little more concerned with resale than they might need to be. As long as you’re not adding purple shag carpet, etc., I think most people buying a used RV can see past dinette cushion upholstery they don’t care for. I’m all for making your vehicle comfortable for you and your family – after all, that’s why you bought it! ”