As many of you know, I’ve spent the last year remodeling a 1971 vintage camper with my fiance, Nabil. It’s been a long journey. At one point, we thought we were finished and took a long (cursed) road trip, only to learn that many things needed to be replaced or fixed. Finally, I feel that Apollo (that’s his name) is complete enough to share with the world. Hooray!!! I thought this day may never come. Per request, below I’ve listed the products and camper appliances we used and recommend. Any of these would be a great addition to any camper, tiny house, van, or bus!
Watch a Full Video Tour of my Finished Vintage Camper Remodel:
My Favorite Vintage Camper Products & Appliances
Below you can click on each product or appliance you are interested in learning more about. I have written a short description and review of each. I recommend and use ALL of these products. I have tried many other products that I would not recommend, and those are not listed here. Please note that some of these links are affiliate links, which means I will receive a small commission from the sales.
How to Choose the RIGHT Appliances & Products
Every project is different, and you need to consider several variables before purchasing your products and appliances. For a list of materials and appliances I used in my Tiny House build, click here.
- Budget. This is the largest factor in deciding on products and appliances for your project.
- Space. Do you need to spend more to get the most compact appliance? Or do you have room for something a little larger that might cost a fraction of the price?
- Weight. My camper only weighs 1,100 pounds, and that is because I considered the weight of every single item I purchased for my remodel. Saving weight will pay off over time, as you won’t need a larger (more expensive) tow vehicle and you will save money on gas.
- Off-Grid Vs. On-Grid. Sometimes it doesn’t make sense to spend a lot of money on off-grid appliances if you don’t ever use them. Are you always going to park in a location with power? Maybe dropping thousands on a solar generator isn’t worth it. Or, on the flip side, if you are planning to “dry camp” most of the time, you will be happy with a simple and compact system (like the Kodiak) that I recommend.
- Eco-Friendly. If this is important to you (and it should be), you will need to consider the impact the product or appliance makes on the earth before you purchase it.
- Will you really use it? Sometimes you think you need something, but once you’ve actually “lived” in your camper, tiny house, or van you find out you don’t actually use it that often. Remember that the world is big, and there are A LOT of public resources you can use, such as showers, restrooms, and laundry facilities. I suggest try to living-with-less, at first, and later add items as you need them.
Jenna.
Love your posts, videos and pics! Have you done a recent video of your Hunter (since 2019)?
We purchased a 72 Compact Jr that needs a LOT of TLC. What you have so far will be very helpful. Interested in any Lessons Learned in the last 2 years as well as any additions.
C
Hi. I purchased a Compact Jr. last year and will be starting the remodel this summer. Mine will need to be torn down to bare bones. Can you tell me what type of wall liner/insulation you have? I did notice that you had some heat reflective lining when you were showing the storage under the seats. Silly question is this: From the outside in, it’s fiberglass shell, then silver heat reflective lining, then ??? I don’t even know where to start. Could you tell me what lining you have? Thank you!! Love Apollo! Great colors!!
Look up a site called Gone Boondocking
You can likely adapt his methods to suit your way of doing things. Have fun out there!
Interesting post. I’ve heard good things about the Trailer Valet TVXL25 XL, so it’s nice to hear you’re using it successfully when truck towing just won’t cut it.
Reducing the weight of your camper by considering each material used makes perfect sense, and is something that is often overlooked.