Chic Fifth Wheel Camper Renovated With Reclaimed Materials (Video)

For some who find that building a tiny home from scratch is an unaffordable option, renovating a vintage camper may be the way to go. We've seen high-end renovations, and even off-grid projects, now we've come across this stylish redo of a 1984 Fleetwood Prowler, a fifth-wheel model that would fit over a truck, done by North Carolina-based YouTuber Julia Fowler. Here's a video tour of the interior:

Fowler and her boyfriend purchased a used fifth-wheel camper for cheap, in cash, aiming to remodel it as an inexpensive tiny home with reclaimed materials and a lot of hard work. There was more water damage from a previous leak than they had anticipated, so they ended up rebuilding almost 80 percent of the camper from the frame up, taking them about six months. In this video below, you can see the renovation in progress, and Fowler goes into a bit of detail of what was redone to make it more comfortable (new insulation was added for example).

The pair reframed the roof above the sleeping loft to add a skylight -- a nice touch to let more natural light in. The seating area was renewed with a self-upholstered seat and yoga bolsters as armrests, with storage hidden underneath. More storage was added under the removable steps leading to the sleeping area.

In the kitchen, a sliding surface was put under the main counter, to give more prep space. The backsplash was made with metal from an old propane tank, while the counters were made from salvaged wood. A handmade towel rack made out of driftwood is hung above the sink. In another clever detail, mason jars with various spices are affixed to one side, giving an organized feel, and as well ensuring nothing flies off while the camper is in motion, while the old skateboard decks above the workspace double as shelving.

The bathroom is a real visual gem, plastered with wallpaper made from old maps. The sink is made from a metal bowl with a hole drilled in the bottom and updated with a DIY plumbing kit. The toilet appears to be of the composting kind. On the exterior, an old wooden door found at Habitat ReStore has been resized to fit the camper.

Fowler and her significant other plan to travel with it in the future, and to raise the roof and put on different siding to make a "proper tiny home." Regardless of the siding, this DIY reno is still great: created with love and imagination, this lovely project shows that a custom-made tiny home doesn't have to cost tens of thousands of dollars, nor does it have to fit a certain aesthetic. Depending on the materials at hand, one can always find a fixer-upper and start from there. To see more of Julia Fowler's videos, check out her YouTube channel.