We have been making some awesome progress on our Rockwood pop up camper project. Now that the roof rebuild is out of the way (you can find more on that here, here, and here), we have been working on the interior. The first thing on the agenda was demolition. We gave the camper a general cleaning and starting ripping crap out. 😆
REMOVING THE CABINETS
Okay, we didn’t literally start ripping stuff out. First, we took LOTS of pictures and labeled everything. This little Rockwood is made a little differently than our Coleman. Even though we now have quite a bit of experience with our other pop up camper, we wanted to make sure everything went smoothly when we put this baby back together. So as we went along, we documented everything.
Most of the cabinets were attached to the wall and the floor by a whole lotta screws. So to remove the actual cabinetry, we removed all the screws and lifted each cabinet up out of the camper. It helped that the roof and canvas were still off the camper at this point. It made the demolition move pretty quickly. We didn’t have to maneuver cabinets through a narrow door opening. We just lifted them up and over the side, and they were out.
When we got to the electrical and plumbing, it was especially important to take lots of pictures label everything. The heater, fridge, and converter all came out pretty easily. It was just a matter of removing screws. There is an access panel for the fridge on the outside of the camper. Just open that up, disconnect the propane and unplug the electrical. Once the screws are removed, the fridge pops right out.
PREPPING THE WALLS FOR PAINT
PREPPING THE WALLS FOR PAINTAfter we had everything cleared out of the camper, we pulled up the old linoleum. We’ll cover that in a little more detail when we post about the new flooring installation. I have a really pretty color picked out for the cabinets, but I knew I wanted the walls to be a clean white. The walls of this camper are a little different from our Coleman. Those had a textured wallpaper covering. These walls are made of luan and have that awful wood grain printed paper adhered to the surface, much like most RV cabinets. It makes painting a little tricky, so prep work is definitely a must.
We started by cleaning the walls really well and wiping them down with a TSP solution. This helps remove any built-up grime and oil. If you have any exposed wood, TSP (or any liquid cleaner for that matter) will make it swell, so be extremely careful. I avoided any exposed wood altogether and just hit that really well in the sanding step. Then I applied wood filler to any stray nail holes or deep scratches. They may be hidden in the pattern of the wood grain, but once you paint those surfaces, the nail holes will really stand out. If you want a pretty, smooth surface, patch those imperfections.
To sand all the walls down, we used a320 grit sandpaper. You don’t want to make deep scratches in the surface, but you do want to make sure the paint has some tooth to adhere to properly. An extra fine sandpaper works really well for this. Then you’ll want to wipe everything down with a tack cloth to remove the dust and tape off any surfaces you want to protect.
PAINTING YOUR POP UP CAMPER WALLS AND CABINETS
Once all the prep work was complete, we gave everything a good two coats of primer. Primer is super important, especially since the wood surfaces in your pop up camper are likely not really wood. You want a good primer that will adhere to most surfaces. We love Zinsser primers. We used Zinsser Cover Stain for this particular project, because it is oil-based, and we love the durability of oil-based paints and primers. They are a little harder to clean up–and they kinda smell awful, so use a respirator–but you can’t beat the finish. It goes on smoothly and sands easily. If you are looking for a water-based primer, we like Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3. It’s a little easier to clean up, but it also covers well. And either primer accepts both water and oil-based paint topcoats, so that is an added bonus.
Once the primer was dry, we applied two coats of Rustoleum white oil-based paint in a satin finish. We used dense foam paint rollers specifically designed for cabinet painting, and they worked like a dream. To cut in the edges, we used disposable foam brushes. Oil-based paint is really killer to clean up, so we opted for disposable tools on this step. The picture above shows what the walls looked like after two coats of primer, but I’ll give you a little sneak peak of what the camper looks like after two coats of paint, a new floor, and some partially finished cabinets. 😉
Yep, we are rebuilding all the cabinets from scratch. It’s been a long few weeks, and Justin is probably regretting this little project right about now. But she is really coming together nicely, and I can’t wait to share the rest of the remodel with you guys. Let me know if you have any questions on how we prepped and painted the walls, and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram. We are sharing lots fun pictures on our Instagram stories that we haven’t posted here, so head on over and check it out.
Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. The Pop Up Princessis a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking toAmazon.com. This means that if you choose to purchase an item from a link in this post, The Pop Up Princess earns a small advertising fee to help pay for future projects and posts… so thank you!
Happy Camping!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an experienced camper enthusiast and DIY expert, I can confidently say that the progress made on the Rockwood pop-up camper project is truly commendable. From the successful roof rebuild, which you can read about in detail here, here, and here, to the ongoing interior renovations, the dedication and meticulousness of the project are evident.
One of the first tasks undertaken was the demolition of the interior. However, it wasn't a haphazard tearing down of everything. Instead, a systematic approach was adopted. Careful documentation, including taking numerous pictures and labeling each component, ensured a smooth reassembly process. This attention to detail was crucial, considering that the Rockwood camper has a distinct construction compared to the Coleman camper the project owners were previously familiar with.
The removal of the cabinets involved unscrewing them from the walls and floor. By having the roof and canvas already detached, the cabinets could be lifted out of the camper without the need to navigate through a narrow door opening. This expedited the demolition process significantly.
When it came to dealing with the electrical and plumbing components, extra caution was exercised. Comprehensive documentation, including taking pictures and labeling, ensured a seamless reinstallation. The heater, fridge, and converter were removed by simply unscrewing them. The fridge, in particular, had an access panel on the outside of the camper, making its removal straightforward. Opening the panel, disconnecting the propane, unplugging the electrical connections, and removing the screws allowed for easy extraction.
Once the camper was cleared out, the next step was preparing the walls for painting. The old linoleum was removed, which will be discussed further in a future post about the new flooring installation. The project owners decided on a clean white color for the walls, which presented a challenge due to the luan walls' wood grain printed paper. To overcome this, thorough prep work was essential.
The process began with a meticulous cleaning of the walls using a TSP solution to eliminate grime and oil buildup. Care had to be taken to avoid exposing any wood, as TSP or any liquid cleaner could cause swelling. Exposed wood was addressed during the sanding step. Wood filler was applied to any nail holes or deep scratches that would become apparent once the surfaces were painted. Patching these imperfections ensured a smooth and flawless finish.
Sanding the walls was done using a 320-grit sandpaper. The aim was to create a surface with enough texture for the paint to adhere properly without causing deep scratches. After sanding, a tack cloth was used to remove any dust, and surfaces that needed protection were carefully taped off.
With the prep work complete, two coats of primer were applied. The choice of primer was crucial, as the wood surfaces in a pop-up camper are often not genuine wood. The project owners highly recommend Zinsser primers, particularly Zinsser Cover Stain, due to its oil-based formulation and superior durability. Although oil-based paints and primers are more challenging to clean up and have a strong odor, the finish they provide is unmatched. For those preferring a water-based primer, Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is recommended as it covers well and is easier to clean up. Both primers are compatible with water and oil-based paint topcoats.
After the primer dried, two coats of Rustoleum white oil-based paint in a satin finish were applied. The project owners found that dense foam paint rollers designed for cabinet painting worked exceptionally well, while disposable foam brushes were used for cutting in the edges. Cleaning up oil-based paint can be arduous, so disposable tools were chosen for this step.
The accompanying picture showcases the walls after the two coats of primer, providing a glimpse of the progress made with the new paint, flooring, and partially finished cabinets. The project owners are excited about the project's overall transformation and eagerly anticipate sharing more details of the remodel.
If you have any questions regarding the wall prep and painting process or would like to stay updated on the project's developments, don't hesitate to reach out. Additionally, make sure to follow the project owners on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes content and exclusive pictures.
Please note that this post contains Amazon affiliate links. The Pop Up Princess is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which allows the site to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. By purchasing items through these links, you can support future projects and posts on The Pop Up Princess. Your contributions are greatly appreciated.
Happy Camping!
