DIY RV Renovation: Update Your Pop-Up Camper or RV with Fresh New Vinyl Trim
Hi! Welcome to Campfire Travelers. Back in 2015, we transformed our little pop-up camper into a shining, clean, and updated home on wheels for less than $1000. We took what we learned and wanted to help others in their own DIY RV renovation. You can learn more here. And if you ever have any questions please feel free to contact us here.
Revamping your pop-up camper or RV with fresh new vinyl trim is a DIY project that can give your vehicle a much-needed makeover. Whether your trim has yellowed, broken, or split over time, replacing it is a simple process that will improve the appearance of your camper and protect it from the elements. With just a few tools and some time, you can make your camper look like new again. In this post, we'll walk you through the process of removing the old trim, cleaning and repairing any damaged areas, and installing the new trim for a fresh and finished look.
I can't tell you how excited we are to finally have the inside of the camper finished! We had one last to-do list item before it was time to take off for our Fourth of July trip and let me tell you - we finished just in the nick of time!!
Now, if you have an older RV that has been exposed to the elements for a long time I'm sure your trim might have looked something like ours. Yellowed, broken, split, dirty.
Honestly, I expected this trim to give me grief and it was pretty much the opposite! I pulled the old vinyl out using a flathead screwdriver and needle-nose pliers by simply pulling it up and sliding it out the end. After it was out I did a good deep clean looking for any missing or rotted screws and replaced a few as I came across them. We also resealed the edges with white RV sealant - which I also highly recommend.
Our new trim was purchased at a local RV parts store, but can now be found on Amazon. We went with heavy-duty, honestly because that's all that was left in stock, but I would still make the same decision. I feel like it's going to hold up longer. The trim comes in white, black, colonial white, beige, and brown.
I found directions on installation through the forums of Pop-Up Portal. But really, it is really just a pinch-and-push method because the vinyl is very flexible. The only tool I used was a flathead screwdriver and only in areas where the metal track was warped.
At the ends, cut your trim a few inches longer and it doubles it back underneath for a finished look.
This cost about $20 and gave the top of the camper a much fresher look and now we know those screws are protected from the elements. The total time should take you about an hour and a half to remove the old trim, clean, replace a few screws if needed, and install the new trim.
And about two hours if your twins won't stop asking for snacks.
Questions? Feel free to contact us.
* 2023 Update - Our vinyl trim still looks like new! I still highly recommend this exact trim, especially the ease of installation.
If you’re curious about how we renovated any other parts of our 1999 Palomino pop-up camper please check out the links below or visit our main page here.
The BEST way to clean the canvas
Why we painted the furnace cover
Creating new blackout curtains
Creating a new nightlight and replacing outlets
And if you ever have any questions, please feel free to check out our FAQ to contact us or leave a comment below!
