Remodeling a 1962 Winnebago trailer turned into quite the adventure. After seeing articles about people “glamping” their campers, we decided it would be the perfect DIY project to take on together. We both love camping and creating, so restoring a vintage trailer felt like a natural fit.
My husband began searching online for an old, rundown camper and eventually came across a Craigslist ad that simply read, “old camper for sale”—no photos, no details. After requesting more information and seeing photos, we decided to go for it. The seller agreed to deliver it under one condition: we had to keep it, whether we liked it or not. We agreed.
When the camper arrived, it was in rough shape—we were honestly surprised it made it down the highway. The seller had been using it as a hunting shack, and it even came with mounted deer antlers.
We were excited to get started, but the project ultimately took three years to complete. The first year, my husband broke his leg. The second year, we discovered a major leak that required removing large sections of the ceiling and wall structure. All the while, we were both working full-time, fitting in work during weeknights and weekends through the spring, summer, and fall. Living in Minnesota, our window for working on it was limited, and we had no strict deadline.
As we removed the rotting, moldy wood, we uncovered a few surprises: a snake skeleton, a mouse skeleton, two vintage aprons, and the original sales flyer. The aprons and flyer were a highlight—we turned the aprons into pillows and framed the sales flyer for the finished trailer.
To add modern conveniences, my husband built a custom cabinet to house an air conditioner, microwave, and furnace. At the same time, we aimed to preserve the original look of the 1962 Winnebago’s golden, varnished wood interior. We brought a sample to a local paint store to create a custom-matched stain. The original cupboards and hardware were retained, while the floor plan was modified to include a sofa bed and bathroom. We sewed new booth cushions and curtains, used a futon mattress for the sofa/bed, and sourced vintage lighting from a secondhand store. The exterior was repainted, keeping the original Winnebago stripe design intact.
Three years later, the remodel was complete. We were thrilled with the results and couldn’t wait to take it on its maiden voyage. We celebrated our 36th anniversary on that first trip—and loved every minute of it. We’re looking forward to many more adventures with our glamper.
BEFORE PHOTOS
