Finish Work to Consider When Planning an RV Renovation

Fixing up used RVs is all the rage right now! If you're considering renovating a RV, it's important to remember that what works for making over or updating a home doesn't always work on a camper, trailer or motor home. There can be huge temperature fluctuations, so you have to be aware of what furniture, decor, equipment and appliances can be installed to withstand extreme heat and/or cold.

In this premium video lesson, RV maintenance and repair expert Dave Solberg walks you through a few of the dos and don'ts that you should keep in mind when planning an RV renovation. Some of what Dave discusses include:

Flooring: With temperature changes, your floors are going to undergo expansion and contraction, so you'll want to install flooring that will float well. Whether you opt for carpet (most RV companies use the cheapest possible carpet), vinyl, or wood, you should take Dave's recommendations into account to ensure you get the right quality.

Weight distribution: On Dave's demonstration rig, he removed the bed at the front of the unit and installed a Murphy bed at the back. This change means he has to account for how the weight is distributed. Dave advises that at least 10 percent of the vehicle's weight is at the tongue, which will prevent fishtailing. Before and after doing your renovations, be sure to take your rig to a CAT scale and get it properly weighed so you known exactly what your numbers look like.

Paint and wallpaper: If you're thinking about installing wallpaper or any kind of material on the walls that involves panels joining, you're going to have seams. For those seams, Dave recommends against using a putty to cover them. Temperature swings and road vibration are going to cause that putty to shrink and crank, revealing the seams and weakening the integrity of the materials. Instead, he'd probably use a bat strip that matches the color/pattern on the wall.

In addition to these considerations, Dave walks you through some other things you should keep in mind when planning renovations for your vehicle. Take some time to think about all of the different ways you can weatherproof your RV and prepare it for the elements, and you'll save yourself headaches down the road.