Retro Remi Camper Gets a Tropical Update

By Mo Belanger

BLAKE AND I have always known we wanted to travel and explore the United States with our two dogs, Lola and Zara. We live in South Florida, but we’ve road tripped west to spend time in Utah and Colorado throughout the past four years, all while tent camping and living out of our Toyota 4Runner. After weighing the options of a van or a tow-behind camper, we decided a tow-behind was the best choice for us. We got to work researching different makes and models, and realized there were huge benefits to lightweight, simple, durable, fiberglass campers. We liked the idea of a renovation to really make the camper our own, and we weren’t afraid of a project!

Remi is a 1980 Burro camper. Similar to a Scamp or Casita, the Burro is a lightweight fiberglass dream. Our model is a 13-foot camper with a dry weight of about 1,200 pounds, so it can be towed with our Toyota 4Runner, Meg. The 4Runner is named after megalodon sharks, and now we have Remi, named after their trusty partners, remora! We always dreamed of having a tiny home we could tote around the country, so when Remi popped up on Facebook Marketplace in April 2021, we jumped in the car and drove four hours to pick her up with no hesitation! It’s been an adventure ever since.

We began renovations immediately and found that our subfloor and metal frame were rotted and unstable. We had a brand new custom frame made by a local welder, and we replaced the subfloor with Bluewater 26 Coosa Board, a fiberglass composite material used on boats, to ensure longevity and water resistance. Since the subfloor restoration was a big job, we wanted to do it once and do it right. We took the camper shell off its trailer and worked on it while it was propped up at each corner on cinder blocks. Once the subfloor was traced, cut, and installed, the pieces were fiberglassed together. We then had to put the camper back on the new trailer, and we used elevator bolts to secure it. This was definitely our biggest and most nerve-wracking project!

The renovation process was honestly exhausting. We both have full-time jobs, so we would work during the day and begin on the camper as soon as we were done. The most tiring job was the upside-down fiberglass work—both the subfloor and the infamous Burro carpet on the interior seam required long stretches of upside-down fiberglassing in the Florida summer heat. One of our last big projects was finishing our solar setup and running water. We had basic handyperson experience prior to our restoration, just from owning an old Florida home, but the Burro took our skills and problem-solving capabilities to a whole new level! The challenge was both fun and interesting, and we learned a lot through trial and error.

OUR OTHER PROJECTS INCLUDED:

• Sanded, fiberglassed, and body filled the overhead interior seam

• Installed cork underlay and plank flooring. This was one of our most time-consuming projects, as no wall or corner is straight in the Burro. Everything is wonky, so to speak, so each piece of flooring had to be traced and cut to fit the interior.

• Repainted the interior

• Cut new cabinets and cabinet doors to create storage

• Cut custom cushions and had them upholstered with durable Sunbrella fabric

• Removed each window, took them apart, put them back together again, and reinstalled them with new sealant.

• Installed a new fan, a new sink, a propane dual-burner stovetop, a butcher block countertop, and a drawer system for our IceCo fridge and freezer

• Cut, sealed, and installed a custom teak dinette table

• Created an exterior mountain mural, which is perhaps the most popular upgrade

We’re very proud that we did all the work ourselves. However, we recently met with Daniel and Raquel of Retro Renos—they’re a husbandand-wife duo running a fiberglass-camper renovation business, and we have seen them do some great work. Our door was sagging and needed to be rehung with new hinges, so we trusted this project to them. We’re also working with Retro Renos to see what other upgrades we could add on to Remi in the future!

Our usual design style is bold, bright, and tropical, but in such a small space we decided to go with a simple, clean, black-and-white style that pulled subtle notes of our tropical Florida home, including the seafoam-colored upholstery and tropical accent wallpaper.

We have a few finishing touches to make, but we are so happy to finally be where we are and to see all the progress we’ve made. Mostly, we’re looking forward to all the adventures to be had in our camper!

Mo shares her travels on Instagram at @thebeachyburro