Flo the Caravan

By Karen Wilson

I found Flo, a 1978 Millard Pop Top Caravan, on Facebook Marketplace. She looked modern and I thought she would only need a few projects before she was ready to hit the road—but I was so wrong. Once we had her in front of us, my husband and I started to take a closer look and realized that while the structure and condition were great, the work done inside was not. For instance, the underside of the ceiling was rotten, so it was only a matter of time before it would have fallen in. The previous owners had covered this up and said there were no leaks. Ultimately, we decided we would need to do a full renovation inside.

For six months we chased a mystery leak that would come, go, and reappear again. We eventually solved this through trial and error when we found two loose screws in the pop top scissor arms that were causing the problem. After solving this issue, it was full steam ahead to challenge ourselves and learn new things.

There are so many fantastic and helpful Instagram caravan accounts; we used them to learn and to see like-minded people all doing caravan renovations too. Now people find my Instagram account helpful and inspiring, which is amazing! It’s so exciting to be able to help others who are starting the same caravan renovation journey like I did. I’ve made lovely friendships and hope one day we get to catch up and have a laugh in person.

Flo has had many themes, including her luxe boho look, dreamy palm trees, and flamingo elements. She also has a signature pink color, seen on her gas bottle, caravan lock, first aid kit, and totem tennis set! Next up is a pink logo and pink pinstripes on her fresh white exterior. Her natural timber and black-and-white color base are a blank canvas, so her decor can be regularly changed to suit the occasion.

Flo features new 240V wiring, Wi-Fi kitchen lights, a Google Home connection, and a TV with Telstra TV channels. Flo’s layout maximizes the use of such a small space—she has loads of storage under beds with easy-access gas-lift struts. Flo has full-sized double and single beds and a couch that folds out to a single bed with flip-lid storage underneath. She also has a kitchen, including a fridge and ample cupboard space. I’m always looking for perfect storage solutions to fit perfectly in the van, which led me to create a triple seagrass storage pocket for her. I now have a side hustle making and selling these on Etsy because they are a must-have item for caravan wall or door storage.

I love DIYs. I’ve made cushions out of placemats and a no-wiring pendant light. I enjoy tinkering, too, and do as much as I can in and around our busy day-to-day lives. It’s taken a while, but I’m in no rush. I’ve done most of the reno myself, but always have my husband to help when I need it. That said, painting the inside was definitely a family affair. I hope to continue these highlights by using Flo for relaxing weekend getaways with the family.

The van has opened me up to a whole new world I never knew existed. We will be weekend travelers and are excited for our maiden voyage. We’ve used Flo in our backyard so much already—with two teenage girls, it’s become a great sleepover retreat. It’s like Flo has her own free caravan park and facilities at home! ■

About the author: Karen Wilson lives in Geelong in Victoria, Australia. Follow her restoration with Flo @flo_the_caravan