Thorough, Thoughtful RV Renos: From Family Vacation to Family Business

By Carrie Hansen

In 2019, my husband and I began planning for the whole family to celebrate my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary at several national parks. Unfortunately, the pandemic canceled our plans and we had to look for another option. We found that an RV was the perfect solution, because we could take our beds, kitchen, and bathroom with us! My parents purchased a 2006 fifth wheel bunkhouse big enough to sleep all of us—five adults, three tweens/teens, and two dogs.

I had been interested in RV renovation for years, so I was over the moon with excitement and ideas! I had mountains of notes, resources, and screenshots compiled from pros such as Triana at RV Fixer Upper and Rachel at RV Family Reno. My mom was immediately on board with a renovation, but my dad and husband were not so sure. Both of them had the perfect skills and work experience, though, so with a bit of encouragement, they warmed to the idea. We were only going to paint the bunkhouse, but then a dream was born. What if we could renovate RVs as a family business? Each time we pulled up the carpet and laid a new piece of flooring, we agreed to more—more freedom, more risk, more life, and more dreams.

We wanted to test the market before diving into entrepreneurship, so we hesitantly asked my parents if they would consider selling the bunkhouse we had just finished renovating. They agreed, and it sold in less than 36 hours! This delayed the anniversary trip again, but we were still celebrating as we transitioned into full-time RV renovation. That’s when we began Driftless (RV) Renovators, LLC.

We renovated two more fifth wheels before finding Ralphie, a 2020 travel trailer by Forest River. This was our first pre-purchase rig, meaning someone contacted us about purchasing the RV and worked with us to customize the renovation to fit their needs and wants. This collaboration was a dream come true! We really enjoyed getting to know our clients and designing a rig specifically for them. They were new to RV ownership and extremely open to our thoughts and suggestions, as we were to theirs. Together, we created a home that made everyone proud.

Ralphie is full of thoughtful design and custom builds. The list is long, but to name a few, we added hidden laundry storage, a cabinet for garbage, a large drawer for shoes, a counter extension, corner shelves for bathroom storage, and an electric fireplace! It’s our goal to add a fireplace to every rig, because it adds wonderful ambiance and provides “free” heat when hooked up to shore power. It’s also our goal that every rig is ready to camp when it leaves us.

We understand that RV renovation is an investment and want to protect that by beginning with a solid rig. We spend a great deal of time inspecting RVs before finding one we feel is right for our next renovation. Once we bring it home to Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, we go over all the systems, making repairs and replacements where necessary.

We want to produce RVs that are more than just beautiful, because we believe function is equally important. After we’ve accomplished both beauty and function, the final touch on our projects is a thorough cleaning. Because of all this, we’re not the fastest renovators, but we hope to be counted among the most thorough and thoughtful.

There are so many aspects we appreciate about our small business, but what we love most is knowing we’re part of someone’s story. On the hardest reno days, we imagine the adventures and memories made in our rigs, and the love and laughter they hold. We’re grateful for the trust we’re given to create that space and we hope it shows in every aspect of our work. We are committed to quality RV renovation, and together we’re making home anywhere.

RV Renovation Tips

■ Renovate the right rig. RV renovation is an investment, so make sure you’re putting money into something that will fulfill all your needs and most of your wants now and in the future.

■ Don’t skip the inspection! Whether you buy from a private seller or a dealership, have it inspected! Water damage is common in RVs and can be costly to fix. If you’re comfortable doing the inspection yourself, invest in a $50 moisture meter—you won’t regret it.

■ Be prepared to pivot. Whether you’re doing the renovation yourself or hiring a pro, be ready to pivot, because something is sure to come up. Don’t worry, though—the solution often lends itself to a better renovation!

■ Use available resources. RV renovation has come a long way, and there are many trustworthy resources available! From inspiration pics to DIY video courses, information is at your disposal and can be helpful whether you’re renovating yourself or hiring it out.

■ Take your time. Don’t expect a quality renovation in a weekend (or even five). If you’re doing it yourself, take time to learn from the pros. If you’re looking to hire a renovator, be wary of quick flips. Most importantly, enjoy the journey! It’s worth all the sweat and pennies in the end.

Work With Us

■ Buy a renovated RV. We renovate whenever we’re not working on a client RV, and we offer rigs for sale as soon as they’re completed.

■ Pre-purchase an RV. After we inspect and purchase an RV, we offer it for pre-purchase, meaning you can partner with us to design the perfect home for you!

■ Bring us your RV. We renovate client rigs, too! Let us transform your RV into a beautiful and functional tiny home on wheels

■ Consult with us. We offer design and renovation consultations! If you want to renovate your RV, we’re here to help.

Follow Carrie and her husband’s renovations on Instagram @driftless_rv_renovators.