Caravan renovation as failures & successes - Glamper Edition #7
Tina and Chris, accompanied by their sons Henry and Emil and their beloved dog grandma Molly, took the courageous step on April 30, 2020 and purchased their faithful companion for adventures, the caravan "Carli". A Knaus Eifelland 500TK built in 2001.
When they first laid eyes on Carli, they could hardly believe that it was already two decades old. Carli was in a remarkably good condition that impressed everyone - immaculately maintained and immaculately preserved.
Although they had originally planned to remodel Carli to their liking, Tina and Chris briefly considered on the evening of their purchase whether this well-preserved caravan should not just stay as it was. The idea of renovating an old caravan had long fascinated Tina, but Chris was skeptical. He saw the immense amount of work and the many challenges that would come with it. They did not have a suitable driving license, a suitable parking space - let alone a covered one - and they also knew next to nothing about camping. The idea of vacationing in a caravan was new territory for both of them. They were new to camping .
In March 2020, Tina's second son was born - at the same time, the corona pandemic broke out and her husband was suddenly stuck working from home. The summer was marked by her older son starting school, which meant that from now on, vacation was only possible during school holidays. This unique combination of events was finally enough to finally convince Chris that they needed a caravan. And they were lucky: They managed to buy one just in time, just before the big rush began.
The vision behind the caravan renovation
When Tina decided to renovate the caravan, she already had many dreams and ideas in her head. The color concept for the caravan renovation changed as did her taste, her mood and herself.
She knew full well that the bathroom needed to be completely renovated and that all the cabinets needed to be freshly painted white.
During the renovation process, the rest of the vision emerged. Some decisions were made based on price, others based on the availability of materials . Some elements have since been changed, such as the lamps, while others were deliberately designed so that Carli can easily change his outfit .
Your inspiration
4 upgrades that are taken into account in every subsequent caravan renovation
large seating area can be permanently converted into a comfortable bed with slatted frame
Remove the shower cubicle and install a bathroom without being surrounded by plastic walls
Insert shelves into the wardrobe
Buy an air conditioner and prepare the plexiglass panel for it
Fails in caravan renovation
Tina and Chris would definitely approach some of the renovation work during the caravan renovation differently today. For example, she still likes the look of the sink in the camper kitchenette , but it is definitely impractical. It is too small and water and dirt always collect in a corner. It may be charming to look at, but it is not ideal for everyday use.
The idea of using a fruit bowl as a sink in the camper bathroom no longer seems so appealing to Tina. It was a creative idea, but it doesn't offer the desired functionality.
And then there's the kitchen worktop - although she's having a hard time doing it - Tina will probably have to replace it with a lighter wooden version this spring. The overall weight in the caravan has simply become a problem and she has to make pragmatic decisions here when it comes to the functionality and charm of the caravan.
The next project
Tina’s next project is the exciting “Carli slims down” project .
She has decided to make her caravan lighter and more agile. This means that she is saying goodbye to her heavy worktop and will no longer have a hob in her camper.
Instead, she plans to prepare meals almost exclusively in her outdoor kitchen in front of the caravan.
Tina has another wish that she would like to fulfill: a mover for maneuvering her caravan. This would make maneuvering on campsites much easier and would take away her worries about reversing and parking. Unfortunately, this purchase is not possible at the moment because the caravan weighs too much and they do not have the payload capacity.
Pep-Talk for all those who don’t dare to renovate their caravan
We would do it again and again and have never regretted it! Except for the three days when we painted everything white! We regretted it then! We wanted to throw in the towel and we would have liked someone to tell us: "Everything is normal! It was the same for us! Noses appear, paint peels off here and there, you think it will never end and you'll make everything worse than before, BUT... next week the world will look completely different! Hang in there! A few weeks of work brings you so many wonderful weeks and months of vacation and unforgettable experiences and priceless comfort! Go for it!"
