DIY Camper Ideas

Have you been itching to take your camper out on the open road, but worry that you and your traveling partners will miss the comforts of home? The easy solution is to outfit your camper with as many of those comforts as it can hold, but that might not be a solution for the traveler on a budget. Luckily, there are no shortage of do-it-yourself solutions out there for those who want to make their camper a true home away from home without breaking the bank.

Space Savers

Though you’re probably traveling to spend as much time outside of the camper as possible - seeing the sites, exploring nature, playing with the kids - there’s no getting around the fact that you’ll be cooking, sleeping, washing and relaxing in there for however long you’re on the road. That being the case, you’re going to want to make as much use of your limited space as possible to keep everything organized and to keep you and your traveling partners from feeling cramped.

Shoe Holders

Tired of shoes being strewn around the camper for anyone to trip over? An over-the-door shoe holder can be cut into sections and then screwed to your bed’s storage compartment for easy organization. Just follow these simple instructions to ensure that your shoes will be out of the way and right where you need them first thing in the morning.

That same model of shoe holder can also be of use in the bathroom. Just hang it over the side of your shower curtain and use the compartments to hold all your soaps, shampoos and other accessories. Easy access without the clutter!

Collapsible Laundry Bin as Garbage Can

Anybody who’s been out on the road for a significant length of time knows the importance of having a can for all the garbage that inevitably piles up. Rigid plastic models take up a lot of valuable space, however, and aren’t easily packed. Luckily, this inventive individual discovered that a collapsible laundry bin works great as a trash can. It takes up almost no storage space in its flattened form, freeing up a ton of room for other items essential to your excursion.

Homey Touches

It’s not enough that your camper have enough space to move around in; there’s also the matter of whether you’re actually going to enjoy spending time in there. This is an extremely important consideration for travelers who plan on being on the road for weeks or even months at a time, as nothing sours the enjoyment of a trip quite like being forced to spend time in a space that just isn’t livable.

Stylish Blackout Curtains

After a long day of fun, all you want to do is return to your camper and sleep straight through to morning. That may be difficult, however, if your curtains aren’t set up to block out the waning sun or the light created by surrounding campers. Still, blackout curtains can be very bland and sterile, not at all the look most people want in a home away from home. Not to worry, you can Velcro the blackout liner to the outward side of your curtains so that you can still enjoy the design of the inward side. Just sew sections of Velcro to the top of the liner and the top of the curtain so that you can sleep well in the dark and enjoy the style of your curtains in the light.

Homemade Kid’s Hammock

In many ways, the enjoyment of your trip is going to depend a great deal on how much your traveling partners are enjoying themselves. That goes double if you’re camping with kids; nobody, for example, is going to have a restful night if your little one is fussing over not having a comfortable space to sleep. Instead of shelling out for a kid-sized mattress, why not try this do-it-yourself camper hammock? The space saving design allows for easy storage and for it to be positioned or hung just about anywhere in the camper. Now, the only fights from your kids you’ll have to deal with will be over who gets to sleep in the hammock that night.

Energy Savers

Perhaps the most difficult part of making your camper a home away from home is replicating all the modern comforts and conveniences you’ve grown to rely on. Something as simple as keeping your camper a comfortable temperature - a capability we take for granted at home - can prove a challenge while out on the road, a challenge made all the more difficult for travelers on a budget.

Bubble Wrap Insulation

Everybody loves popping bubble wrap, but did you know that that poppable packing material can also be used to insulate your camper? By following these simple instructions, you can make use of all that bubble wrap laying around your house to keep out the cold at nearly no cost. What’s more, easy installation and removal means that you can take it down when guests come by and put it right back up when they leave. Try to get wrap with larger bubbles, if possible; it insulates more effectively than wrap with smaller bubbles and provides a better view.

Solar Panels

Power is a precious resource when you’re out an extended excursion, doubly so if you’re trying to make use of energy-sapping appliances like televisions, refrigerators or microwave ovens. By installing solar panels to your camper, you can be sure to always have a source of green energy on hand to power everything you need to make your trip as comfortable and convenient as possible. Our solar system bundle is a must for serious travelers who typically do not set up camp at locations with electrical hookups, as the power it provides will extend the runtime of your camper’s battery and lessen or outright eliminate the need to run a generator.