Vintage caravan renovation tips & inspiration guide

Sleek design, spacious interior and major holiday vibes. Is there anything cooler than a vintage caravan? Yep, a vintage caravan renovation!

Use our top 5 vintage caravan renovation tips below to ensure that your project is smooth sailing from start to finish.

Along the way, you’ll find pictures and ideas from 11 of the best vintage caravan renovations in Australia, so that you can get inspired and bring your plans to life!

Plus, we also reveal how to make a return on the money you invest in your vintage caravan!

Let’s get started...

Tips for your vintage caravan renovation

1. Buy a used caravan in decent condition

Image: Bilby the Lovebug_ (1970 Millard Caravan available on Camplify)

Make your vintage renovation a thousand times easier by buying a used caravan that is still in reasonable condition. Unless you’ve got a lot of time or you’re particularly handy on the tools, you’ll probably want to avoid these problems:

• Rust and corrosion (don’t forget to check under the vehicle).

• Signs of damage or an accident.

• Asbestos in the walls.

• Cracks in the chassis.

• Internal water damage and leaks.

• Poor repair jobs.

• Bare tyres.

• Chips and cracks in the windows.

• The caravan is leaning due to poor suspension.

Spend at least a few days or even weeks scouring sites like Gumtree and Caravan Camping Sales to find well-kept vintage models. And look at various makes and models from the same decade to get a feel for a fair price.

Always arrange for an inspection and ask the owner lots of questions before purchasing. If you don’t think you have the expertise to assess the caravan yourself, consider asking a professional mechanic or a knowledgeable mate to come along with you.

2. Choose lightweight materials

Image: Sandy the Vintage Caravan_ (1973 Viscount Royal available on Camplify)

Keeping your vintage caravan as lightweight as possible will make it easier to tow, store away and move manually. It will also make your tow vehicle more fuel-efficient, saving you big bucks at the bowser.

Vintage caravans were traditionally built with heavy timber frames and aluminium cladding or composite panels. Modern caravan manufacturers have done away with the timber frame and now use lightweight composite sandwich panels. If you did want to replace the cladding on your vintage caravan, this would be the way to go.

However, there’s plenty of easier ways to reduceyour caravan's weight, such as:

• Replace old heavy cushions with lightweight modern foam inserts.

• Replace the flooring with lightweight vinyl planks or vinyl wrap.

• Replace heavy AGM deep cycle batteries with lightweight lithium batteries.

• Use flexible-solar panels instead of rigid solar panels.

• Use appliances (fridges, washing machines, etc.) that are designed small and lightweight for campers.

1. Take care when replacing insulation

Image: Vintage Birdie_ (1986 Viscount Regency available on Camplify)

If your caravan is true vintage, you can never be too sure what kind of nasty surprises might be hiding in the walls. In particular, you need to be cautious of asbestos, which requires professional removal.

The whole caravan is likely to become enveloped in a cloud of dust when pulling old insulation out of the walls. Prepare the interior by stripping it bare and make sure that you wear a high-quality face mask, goggles and gloves.

The quickest way to remove all the crumbly bits of insulation from hard to reach places is to use a broom, dustpan and vacuum. Having someone there to hold open a garbage bag also makes the job a lot easier.

4. Avoid a flaky paint job

Image: Skye_ (1968 Hillandale available on Camplify)

Follow some basic rules when painting the exterior of your vintage caravan to avoid a flaky paint job.

Start by giving the exterior a thorough wash and scrub, as dust and dirt will prevent paint from sticking properly to the surface. Then protect the windows by covering them with newspaper and masking tape.

You’re going to want to apply two undercoats of paint to prevent flaking and peeling. Choose water-based paint for the exterior because they are much more durable and UV resistant than oil-based paints.

Always try to paint on a cool and shady day, as it will prevent the paint from drying too quickly and becoming tacky.

5. Retain the vintage

Image: Dolly the Caravan_ (1978 Viscount Supreme available on Camplify)

Don’t remove all the classic charm in your vintage caravan. Try and salvage as much of the original build as possible and simply give it a face-lift. You only have to look at some of the examples on this page to see what a simple renovation can do for a vintage van!

If there’s a bit of rust on the cladding or metalwork, it can be easily fixed most of the time with a wire brush, sandpaper, liquid rust remover and a layer of sealant. And don’t forget the wheels, which can be treated the same way.

Similarly, any damage to the internal walls can often be mended with some filler and then sanded back before painting.

If your cabinetry is looking worse for wear, unscrew it all and pull it apart. Sand back the old surfaces, paint an undercoat and then later paint to your desired colour scheme. Whilst you’re at it, clean up the metal hinges with sandpaper and WD40 before reassembling everything.

Inspiration for your vintage caravan renovation

Thinking up awesome and unique caravan renovation ideas is super tricky - so why not borrow from other vintage van owners all around Australia!

Whilst social media is great for sourcing ideas, we suggest that you start by browsing through hundreds of privately-owned caravan rentals listed on Camplify. All the inspiration you could ever need, all in one place!

To get you started, here are 5 more of the best vintage caravan renovations on Camplify:

Millie the Vintage Caravan

A pet-friendly 1974 Millard caravan (sleeps 3).

Josie

A comfy 1984 Jayco Pop-Top caravan (sleeps 2).

Sunny the Caravan

A brightly-coloured 1973 Evernew Retro Classic (sleeps 4).

Salty the Caravan

A beach-themed 1970 Viscount Ambassador (sleeps 4).

Let’s Go Boho

A spacious 1999 Windsor Windcheater (sleeps 2).

Earn a return on your vintage caravan renovation

There’s a quick and easy way to start earning a return on your vintage caravan renovation - rent it out on Camplify when it’s not in use!

Don’t just let your caravan gather dust while it sits in the driveway. Lease it out to other verified travellers and make money from the comfort of your own home.

Why Camplify?

Each year, heaps of Aussies earn up to $10,000 by hiring out their caravan through Camplify. It provides a quick and easy way to generate long-term passive income and earn a return on their investment.

And the best part is, Camplify takes care of many of the expenses involved in hiring out your vehicle, including:

• Comprehensive hire insurance.

• 24/7 NRMA nationwide breakdown cover for hirers.

• Dedicated customer support.

If you’re interested in joining Camplify as an owner, try our earnings calculator and see how much income you could generate each year by renting out your unused caravan!